About 1865, James Cairns, who was married to Lottie VVaddell, opened his mill in Kelly’s Cross, along the South Melville Road. This location is always referred to as the “saw-pit”. While most mills made use of circular saws, Mr. Cairn’s used “up and down saws”. He operated the mill until 1880, when he sold the equipment to John Stordy of Crapaud.

Mr. Anthony Collett also built a sawmill in Westmoreland, around the same time, 1865. As a matter of fact there is a short road between Westmoreland and Maplewood named after Mr. Collett. Mr. Arthur French who was operating a carding: mill in the same area, had dammed up a stream of water, and was using the power to operate his mill. Mr. Col- lett’s mill was built close by so that he was able to make use of the same water power. This mill was kept in operation until 1890 when it was sold to Samuel Leard, who operated it for only one year. Mr. Samuel Vaddell and son purchased it, and served the needs of the people in the area, for miles around, until 1900. In that year the mill was purchased by Arthur French and his brother Edward. For thirty-seven years they operated the mill, and their names became household words among the farmers and people over a wide area.

In 1937, they sold it to Aeneas Matters, who was unfortunate enough to have an accident in which he lost his leg. They say “you can’t keep a good man down”, and it wasn’t too long after the accident that he was back to his job. Those who knew Aeneas readily agreed that not only was he a good suwyer, but also had a ready wit, and many’s a long wait for a job to be completed seemed that much shorter. He regretfully closed the mill down in 1952. It stood idle for a few years as a monument to those who provided a very necessary service in a time when trans— portation was poor, and the need for lumber was great. Finally, the mill was torn down, and the Government constructed a dam on the site.

Westmoreland had been blessed with sawmills for history provide us with information that in 1850, William Leard built what may well have been the first mill in the area. If there was a great need for a saw mill in 1865, there must have been a still greater need fifteen years previous, when the early pioneers were cutting their way through the forests. In 1890, this mill was taken over by Mr. Leard’s son, William, who operated it until 1929. It was destined to remain in the Leard family until it closed in 1971. After William retired, his two brothers Stafford and Eldon took over his operation. Not only did they saw lumber, but they crushed grain, and provided material to make lobster traps.

We find also that there was a sawmill in South Melville, operated and owned by Charles Dunsford who sawed lumber for over twenty years.

Another sawmill was operated in South Melville for a short time by William Beer.

The first venture of Mr. Collett into the business of mills, finds him building and operating a carding mill in Westmoreland. It is not too difficult to realize the value of such a mill in the area. It provided the ladies with the opportunity of literally taking the wool off the sheep’s

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