The Register Wednesday Evening April 20th, 1927
Harbourville-By-The-Sea
At this time I am presenting some Harbourville ship-building facts, for the benefit of the readers of the Register, and more especially our fellow suburbanite - for part of the year - S.C. Parker, Esq., whose exceedingly reminiscences are appearing in the columns of the Register weekly. I do this the more cheerfully, because it conclusively proves what I have heretofore said, about our prosperity over here before Confederation and its accompanying evils choked us off and sent our young blood over to Uncle Sam. Of course it was in their blood, for even over here our ancestors also were of that noble band of men and women, who when the Tea incident occurred in Boston Harbor, would not fight against the King, and so migrated to the nearest spot under their own flag - Nova Scotia. So when the evil days "struck in" our youngsters felt the urge "of the blood" and hiked south, and so persistently did they go that it is said today that there are more Kings County boys and girls living in Boston and its suburbs there are in Kings County, Nova Scotia. Brother Parker [S.C.] estimates that in those days there were no ships built at Harbourville, but that in the later years little dinky ships like Ben Bezanson’s motor boat were actually built, and he ably assisted in launching them.
Cast your eagle eye over this list, dear friend, and also bear in mind that between the years mentioned there were three and four hulls on the stocks at a time. Here are a few of them-
Away back in 1850, the late Jimmie Hamilton, who had inherited a big slice of land here from his father, an Empire Loyalist, who in turn had received it from his King, started in and built a little coaster, of about fifty tons. That started the ship-building industry at Harbourville, and before two years had rolled around, practically every piece of available place of land near tide water was an embryo ship-yard.
About a year after Jimmy Hamilton built his little coaster, the keel was laid in that same Emmerson Spicer yard "Chip" mentions, for a 1300 ton full rigged ship. It cannot now be learned definitely for whom she was built, but the builder was the late Charles Barteaux. In due time this ship was launched and got ready for sea, with the late Captain Harry McArthur as her master. For years she plied the waters of the Seven Seas, running between the ports of New York and the Orient, which by the way was her name. She ended her career years afterwards by being burnt at sea.
By this time Charlie Barteaux was putting the finishing touches to the Barque "Eskimo", whose Captain, when she was ready for sea, I am unable to name. But Charlie was not through yet, for he had the two-master "Saladin" to finish up and get her into the sea, where she belonged," which was did" and with the late Captain Card she sailed between Nova Scotia and Boston, Philadelphia, New York and other ports for years, finally being lost at sea.
Then along the "Ida", another two master, built for Captain Sam McBride (now deceased), who sailed her for years until she also finally disappeared beneath the waves.
Next came the "Harvest Queen", also a two-master, which in the hands of Captain Will Grimes proved a "fast one". This vessel met a tragic fate, while homeward bound racing in a bitter gale, and never came back, nor any of her crew. But that will be a future story as Kipling would say.
She was followed on the stocks, by the two-master "Fannie Given", built by the late Alex Given, and when ready for sea was put in command of the late Captain W. Connelly, and was in the Harbourville-Boston trade. It was this ship that the "Harbourville Queen" was racing home with, when she and her crew were lost.
Then Alex. Given built a Brigantine, which when launched was named the "John Given", and under the command of Captain Fisher, was one of the Boston-Harbourville fleet, that made our burg the prosperous place it was in those days.
In the meantime, Charlie Barteaux was finishing the Barque, "A.C. Jones", and she also took her place in the Harbourville money-makers. I am sorry I could not learn who her master was.
Now, friend "Chip", these ships were all built between the year of our Lord 1850 and the year 1865.
The brig "Goldfinder" was built and launched in 1866 and was sailed for years by the late Captain Sam McBride, father of Captain Charlie McBride of Waterville and Captain Will McBride, of Kentville.
The next was the schooner "Dreadnaught" which was completed in 1870 launched, and in command of the late Captain Brown, sailed the southern waters for years.
She was followed by the Brigantine "Eva Parker", built by the late D.B. Parker in 1873,and captained by the late Captain Ingram Slocumbe, also made good for many years.
Next came the Brigantine "Sadie", builder unknown, but with Captain Johnnie Charlton, made good.
In 1874,the two-master "Playfair" took the water at Harbourville, builder likewise forgotten, and under the command of Captain Lockhardt Morris, now living in Rockland, Maine, was a valuable unit of the Harbourville fleet, until she met her fate years later "somewhere at sea".
1880 saw the launching of the two-master "Misty Morn", commanded by the late Captain Peter Connor. By this time "Chip", Confederation began to get its work, as well as what Uncle Sam did to us, on account of our butting in when he had his little private scrap with his Southern States, and poor old Harbourville got it "in the neck" until there is nothing left but the poor old wreck on the hill; Bloom Morris and one or two more. Even Commodore Perry has left us, but we still have our Board of Trade, which does not take a back seat to any board in the province. Captain Curry is ready for sea with a load of Fred Fisher’s apples; so also is Captain Dixon, with a cargo from elsewhere.
Miss Jennie Fisher visited her aunt, Mrs. Bernard Morris, during the week.
Fred S. Fisher, of Somerset, laid of his fight about apple inspection long enough to haul over several loads of apples for shipment across the Bay. He reports hard hauling, especially up the mountain.
I must not forget not to place on record Captain Charles I. McBride, of Waterville, one of our old Harbourville boys, also that veteran of every sea on earth, Captain I.B. Morris, who probably has "boxed the compass", around Cape Horn oftener than any other living sea-faring man on this entire coast, who is well remembered in every port of the Orient, and who by the way in his four-score neighborhood, still navigates his handsome two-sticker yacht during winter cruises to Southern waters. It is to these gentlemen I am indebted for the above story of Harbourville ships.
The "Ruby L. "arrived Saturday with merchandise, making her second trip of the season. She left for up the bay after discharging cargo.