Town of Stellarton, Pictou County

Town of Stellarton, Nova Scotia

Stellarton - Nova Scotia

Stellarton is one of the five Pictou County Towns, it is located along the East River south of the Town of New Glasgow.  It was named after a bed of coal known as “stellar” or “oil” coal. The original name for the area was Albion Mines, the name given by the General Mining Association to their collieries in 1827. At a public meeting held in 1870, the place was renamed to “Stellarton” to represent the high-oil content coal known as Stella coal that was abundance in this area.

Stellarton has a rich history in coal mining and is the hometown of Sobeys, a Canadian Grocery icon. The area we now know as Stellarton, was first settled by some families from the Ship Hector in 1774. A few years later coal was discovered and led to the development of the first pit that became known as the MacGregor Seam.

In February, 1775, a patch of land was granted to Donald Cameron, a veteran of the capture of Quebec. Settlement was begun here prior to 1789 by Donald McKay senior. Coal was discovered in 1798, and by 1807, John McKay was doing some surface mining.

In 1825 the Nova Scotia reserved mines were leased to the Duke of York who gave the lease to Rundell Bridge and Rundell, Jewellers, in payment of debts. They gave it to the General Mining Association whose stock they owned and in 1827 the Association purchased Dr. McGregor’s farm, began setting up equipment, built the Mount Rundell Mansion for their agent and began raising coal in September. In 1828 about 170 people lived at Albion Mines.

The War of 1812 increased the demand for coal and the area became known as Coal Mines Station, that was later changed Albion Mines until 1870. The town was then renamed to Stellarton after a type of torbanite known as “stellarite” that sparkles when burned.

In 1889, the town of Stellarton was incorporated.

Pictou County coal cart

Central School was built in 1899, and in 1914 the four-room brick school was constructed. The four-room Park Street School was completed in 1920. Pictou County Vocational High School was completed and opened in September, 1963. The new 21-room G. R. Saunders Elementary school was_ completed. early in 1966.

A way office was established at Albion Mines in 1841 and a Post Office was set up in 1852. ·

The Trades and Labour Journal moved its place of publication to Stellarton from Springhill in 1882. In 1898 it became a semi-weekly, the Maritime Mining Record. The Worker’s Weekly was published about 1919 to 1928 by Muir and_ Bell. The Stellarton Star was begun by N. Cameron in 1911. It ended its existence in 1912.

One of the earliest railways in North America was constructed by the General Mining Association between Albion Mines
and the coal loading ground below New Glasgow, 1836 to 1839. The line went into operation late in September. 1839. The Intercolonial Railway was completed early in 1867 and a station was built by March. 1875. A new railway station was built in 1887. Construction of a new Railway Station was begun in September, 1904.

In 1904 the Egerton Tramway Co. Ltd. , completed their tram line connecting Westville, Stellarton. New Glasgow
and Trenton.

1889 Stellarton Map Birds eye view map

At Albion Mines. the General Mining Association began mining ore in 1828 and in 1829 a blast furnace was erected for
making pig iron. Its ruins were still standing in 1855. Two blast furnaces were erected about 1893 but iron production was exhausted by the early 20th century. In 1872. the General Mining Association sold its rights to the Halifax Coal Company. Six
lives were lost in a mining accident on October 12. 1880. In 1880. an explosion in the Ford Pit killed 50 miners. The Allan shaft was begun in 1904. It killed four miners in 1924. Explosions occurred in 1929 and 1932. In 1935 7 miners died and in 1950. 7 more were burned. The mine caught fire in 1951 and was permanently closed.

Coal mining remained the main industry in Stellarton until oil started to replace coal in the 1950’s. These days there are only one active open pit coal mine, operated by Pioneer Coal.

More recent industrial enterprises include: Pictou County Dairy Ltd .. which was formed in 1913, D. Porter & Son, Ltd.,
who purchased the MacArthur Woodworking Plant soon after 1911 and were incorporated in May, 1960; Wear Well Garments Ltd .. which grew out of Stella Bedding Co. Ltd., a firm founded by Richard Chisholm about 1950 and burned out in October, 1959, Donato, Faini & Figli (Canada) Ltd., an Italian Textile firm whose plant opened March 24, 1959. Scotian Fiberglass Products Ltd., and Clairtone of Canada, Ltd., whose plant was officially opened June 21, 1966.

Sobeys, Canada’s 2nd largest grocery outlet still maintains it’s headquarters in Stellarton. Their first self serve supermarket opened here in 1949 and now has expanded to include more than 1300 stores in 10 provinces.

Stellarton - Pictou County

The Museum of Industry  contains hundreds of artifacts related to the Pictou County coal industry era,  of which many came from the former Stellarton Miners’ Museum after it closed. If you have not yet had a chance to see the museum (Maritime’s largest museum) then we highly recommend you check it out, it is rich in Pictou County history associated with coal mining, steel production, manufacturing and ship building. The museum not only deals with industry but allows you to explore and learn about those who invented and the people that made a living here.

Population in 1961 was 5,327.

Population in 2011 was 4,485.

 Just like most other regions in Nova Scotia, Stellarton has experienced a significant decrease in population since the 1980’s (Stellarton had a population of 5,433 in 1981), but still remains to be one of the top residential areas of Pictou County.

[Source: Nova Scotia Place Names – T. Brown / Places of Nova Scotia – C. Bruce Fergusson / stellarton.ca / museumofindustry.novascotia.ca / statcan.gc.ca]




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