Where Trenton made its mark
Bid underway to locate site of first pouring of steel in Steeltown
Attention history buffs: the Town of Trenton is looking for help to solve a bit of a mystery.
Coun. Don Hussher and local historian John Ashton are trying to find the exact spot where steel was first poured in the town back in 1883.
Trenton was the first place in Canada where steel was produced, using the Siemens process in an open-hearth furnace.
Hussher said the general area where the first pouring of steel took place is behind where the axle hammer is situated on the Main Street, near where Smelt Brook empties into the East River. However, they would like to pinpoint the specific location.
He said the town wants to designate the location as a heritage site and erect a cairn to recognize it.
Ashton has been researching Trenton’s industrial heritage for the past eight years, and said he recently discovered new information. “The conclusion is, it wasn’t in the spot where everybody thought it was.”
Hussher said the steel works was situated in Trenton because of the fresh water required, which was obtained from Smelt Brook. “We have many different drawings for the buildings, but no record of where the structure was – how far from Smelt Brook.”
The Eastern Chronicle reported in 1882 that the Nova Scotia Steel Company was making good progress in construction of its works at Smelt Brook, with the stone foundation of the buildings laid, the frame of the main shop erected and two sidings built.
On July 31, 1883, the newspaper reported that: “Their melting furnace has already been well tested and does its work very satisfactorily. Their first steel casting was made on the 25th of July. At present they only make 10 tons of steel per day but this quantity can be increased to 30 t per day.”
Hussher is hoping residents of the town may have drawings, pamphlets, booklets or other information that will lead to the discovery of the location. “Anybody out there just might have the key to the puzzle.”
Hussher said it’s important for any community to know its heritage “to be able to recognize our ancestors and what went into developing this town. Every town has a uniqueness,” and he noted that Pictou County towns were founded on a variety of industries – mining in Stellarton and Westville, shipbuilding in Pictou, shipbuilding and steel works in New Glasgow. He said Trenton had steel and glass making, along with railcar manufacturing and a paint factory. “It tells what the community was founded on.”
He said the site will be designated a municipal heritage site, but eventually he’d like to see it receive provincial or federal recognition. “Some day, with permission of the land owner, it would be nice to have the site designated as a Canada or Nova Scotia Heritage site or both. To do this, we have to know the location.”
The project is part of the revitalization of the town’s Main Street, and the cairn will be part of a heritage walk that tells the story of Trenton’s industrial history.
The Main Street Revitalization Plan, developed in 2006, is being completed in several phases.
To date, an axle hammer that was used as a forging press in Trenton for more than 100 years has been installed on the street, and a replica of a ladle was erected in 2010. In 2015, one of the last cabooses built at the railcar plant in 1967 was added and an open-air activity structure used as a gathering place was constructed.
Improvements were also made to sidewalks, lighting and landscaping, along with adding benches and information panels.
It’s hoped to expand to the waterfront in the future, and include recreational trails.
If anyone has any information pertaining to the location of the first pouring of steel in Trenton, they’re asked to contact town hall at 902-752-5311.