PENOBSQUIS PAPER MILL

This paper mill was located at Penobsquis, near Sussex, King's County, New Brunswick, Canada which had a railway station on the Intercolonial Railway line. The mill is thought to have produced coarser varieties of paper. In addition to supplying New Brunswick, large quantities of paper were exported to other parts of the Dominion.

In 1870 it was said that "The papermill at Penobsquis bids fair to become one of the most important manufacturing institutions in the dominion. Over sixty persons are employed, and the number is being steadily increased. Not only is the manufacture well patronised by consumers in New Brunswick, but large quantities are exported to other parts of the dominion. We have been informed by one of the company engaged in the enterprise that new machinery will shortly be introduced, and that henceforth they will endeavour to make the supply equal to the demand." ("McAlpine's Maritime Director for 1870-71")

Family Photo Believed to be of Daniel Hughes

Daniel Hughes would have arrived there about October 1870 from England and stayed for a few years before moving on to the Halifax area of Nova Scotia.

In 1871 this mill was being run by a joint stock company named the "New Brunswick Paper Mills" which had a nominal fixed capital investment of $20,000 with $10,000 actual floating capital employed. The mill, which was powered by steam and water to the equivalent of 50 horse-power, ran all year. For raw material it used 450 tons of straw and rags per annum (valued at $6,000) for an output of 312 tons of paper (valued at $37,400).

The 1871 census shows the mill directly employing 19 men, 3 women and 2 boys who earned a total of $7,072 per annum. In addition to Daniel Hughes, the actual papermakers were John Cunningham, James Pickles, Robert Smith and William Ma(itland?).

In 1881 the staff included Thomas F. Pomroy (foreman); Daniel B. Godard and his sons Henry and Leonard (pulp makers); Seth Williams (papermaker); Philip Grossett (paper finisher) and James Godsoe (mill fireman). William Vincent was a paper company agent.

In mid June 1894 it was reported: "Springdale, June 15 1894. It is now settled beyond a doubt that the paper mills near Penobsquis are to resume operations. Messrs. F. A. & H. J. Webb, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, both practical paper makers, have leased the mills and are now at work overhauling the machinery which has remained idle for 4 years. They have men at work repairing the long sluice which conveys the water from the spring to the buildings and expect to have everything in operation in a little over a week. At present they will not branch out extensively, but will simply run the paper mill and will import most of the pulp. It is, however, their intention to move the pulp machine now in the lower mill up to the main building in the near future, and when this is done the mill will employ the same number of hands as formerly. This revived industry will have a beneficial effect on this part of the county."

Sources:

Biggar, Emerson Bristol "Canada, A Memorial Volume" (Montreal, Quebec 1889)

Hughes, Kathy M. (Family Photo)

New Brunswick census returns (1871,1881).

Sweetser, M. F. "The Maritime Provinces, A Handbook for Travellers" (Boston, U.S.A. 1891)

Newspapers:

New Brunswick "Kings County Record"