|
|
History
History
Established as Blanchard’s Village in the 1700’s, Acadians farmed the area for sixty years before moving further up the valley. German immigrants arrived via Pennsylvania in 1766 and one year later took over the empty fields and resumed the Acadian dykes. In 1765, township was granted to Hillsborough, named in honour of Lord Hillsborough—the Secretary of State and one of the Lord’s Commissioners of Trade and Plantations. Hillsborough was later incorporated as a Village in November 1966. Hillsborough’s first elected Mayor, Vaughn Snider, is still active in various community projects, committees and organizations today.
While the Acadians and early German settlers of the area focused on farming, the rich woodlands could not be ignored. Soon, lumbering became a profitable business in the area. Vessels were loaded with lumber and shipped to the British market—to be used for the sailing masts of the British fleet.
Little is known of the first discovery of gypsum in Hillsborough. However, there is evidence that individuals mined the mineral and sold the raw gypsum to masters of small coasting vessels—who would resell the material elsewhere. In 1854 Calvin Tompkins purchased the mineral rights for a large parcel of land, located in what is now the Village of Hillsborough, and he established the Albert Manufacturing Company. A large milling establishment was erected to crush, grind and calcine gypsum. The gypsum, obtained from nearby mines and quarries, was transported to the mill via horse carts at first, and later by locomotive. After being processed, gypsum products were transported to the wharf where it was shipped locally and to the United States. In 1873, a fire resulted in the total destruction of the mill and adjacent buildings; however, a new mill was built and put into operation in 1875. The completion of the Intercolonial railway in 1876 opened up the Canadian market to the local company and trade rapidly increased. A second fire in 1911 again destroyed the mill and surrounding buildings. As before, the mill was rebuilt and when it re-opened in 1912, it was the largest of its kind in Canada at the time.
The Canadian Gypsum Company purchased the mill from the Albert Manufacturing Company in 1930 and operated the establishment until 1980. In the later years, wallboard and other gypsum products were shipped by truck. When the Canadian Gypsum Company closed its operation in 1980, the Village of Hillsborough became owners of all the gypsum properties within the Village limits. The Village Council promoted “free land” in an effort to attract some industrial base, employment opportunities and to enhance the quality of life in Hillsborough. As a result, the former gypsum company land has been used for the following projects:
- Salem & Hillsborough Railroad Inc.
- Hillsborough Municipal Office & Public Library
- Gray Brook Marsh Wildlife Habitat & Trails
- Nelson’s Waste Remediation & Recycling Depot
- Riverside Modelers Remote Control Airplane Field
- Hillsborough Wetland Park & Visitor Information Centre
- W.H. Steeves House Museum
- Kiwanis Senior’s Apartments
- Burro Hills Golf Course
- Kiwanis Community Centre
- Ballfield
- Caledonia Place Senior’s Apt.
|
There is still an abundant supply of gypsum close to the Village. Gypsum dry products such as agriculture gypsum, wallboard, plaster-of-paris, dental plaster, etc. are always in demand. Other natural assets in or near Hillsborough include: rich marshlands which could be utilized for agriculture purposes; oil shale; natural gas; and woodland. Due to its recent growth, tourism and recreation could become the new “industry” in Hillsborough.
|
