PUBLICATIONS
BELL ISLAND NEWSPAPERS
BELL ISLAND NEWSPAPERS
THE BELL ISLAND MINER
1913-c.1941
1913-c.1941
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On March 29, 1913, The Bell Island Miner began publication as a weekly newspaper. William M. Dooley was the first Editor, followed about a year later by William J. English. When he died in 1917, his daughter Bessie B. English took over as Managing Editor and remained so until about 1940. The excerpt on the right is from the first issue and states the paper’s mandate.
This excerpt was republished in The Nfld. Express, May 25, 1973, p. 2. |
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The Bell Island Miner was a weekly newspaper that started publication March 29, 1913 on Bell Island. During its run, many of the news stories of Bell Island published in the St. John's Daily News originated with The Bell Island Miner. According to the Encyclopedia of Newfoundland, V. 1, p. 169, it became a monthly in 1926 and was still in existence in 1941. However, the Yearbook and Almanac of Newfoundland shows it as a weekly, published on Saturdays at least up until 1932. [Note: Ron Pumphrey edited a second weekly called the Bell Island Miner in 1965. Only one issue of that publication is extant, June 18, 1965 at the Public Reference Library, Arts & Culture Centre, St. John's.]
Proprietors and editors (according to "Historical Directory of Newfoundland and Labrador Newspapers," Suzanne Ellison and the Encyclopedia of Newfoundland, V. 1, p. 169):
Proprietors:
William M. Dooley and M. Cook, 1913-c.1926?
Ellen English and James J. Miller, 1926-? [Ellen English was the widow of W.J. English.]
Editors/Managers:
William M. Dooley, 1913-1926? [In fact, Dooley was succeeded by W.J. English c.April 1914. English died in 1917. This is confirmed by the Yearbook and Almanac of Newfoundland for 1915-17.]
Bessie B. English, 1926-? [In fact, she was editor from her father's death in 1917 until c.1940s. The Yearbook and Almanac of Newfoundland for 1918-20 does not name anyone with the newspaper listing for those years. In 1921, Miss B.B. English is listed as Editor and Publisher, then as Editor through 1932 (the last copy of the Yearbook I have access to right now).]
Printers:
M.A. Dunn, ?Mar. 29, 1913 - Sept. 12, 1924
Albert Shapter, Sept. 12, 1924 - c.1927? [Information on printers from Bown, Sept. 12, 1924.]
It was also recorded by Leo C. Murphy in "Our Bell Island Budget" in The Daily News, Sept. 19, 1924, p. 8: "Mr. Shapter, the new Typographical foreman for the Bell Island Miner, arrived at Wabana on Friday afternoon [the 12th] to take up his duties here."
From Leo C. Murphy in "Our Bell Island Budget" in The Daily News, Oct. 8, 1924, p. 7:
"The Bell Island Miner again makes its appearance after the summer vacation, and it has all the aspects of a modern, breezy newspaper. The whole plant has now been reorganized; a new drum cylinder press installed, and quite a lot of equipment added. Mr. A.G. Shapter, formerly of The Halifax Herald, Union Publishing Co., and other newspaper plants, is in charge of the Job and Printing Office. Mr. M.A. Dunn, formerly of The Miner, has opened a printing office on Martin's Road. He is one of the good old type printers, and as he has also a plant installed, he hopes to maintain a generous share of the public patronage."
From Leo C. Murphy in "Our Bell Island Budget" in The Daily News, Dec. 28, 1926, p. 5:
"Mr. Wm. Walsh, foreman printer at the Bell Island Miner, has resigned his position and left for St. John's on Friday."
The issue for June 16, 1913 is held at the Public Reference Library, Arts & Culture Centre, St. John's, NL
It contains local, personal and social news, letters to the editor, poetry and serial fiction, public notices and advertisements. The editorial in that issue ridiculed W.F. Lloyd for denying the charge that he disinfected his office after the visit of some sealers. (Note: W.F. Lloyd (1864-1937) was a newspaper editor (Evening Telegram) and Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1918-1919.)
Two issues, Oct. 24, 1930 and Nov. 22, 1930, are held at the Centre for Newfoundland Studies, MUN Library.
Proprietors and editors (according to "Historical Directory of Newfoundland and Labrador Newspapers," Suzanne Ellison and the Encyclopedia of Newfoundland, V. 1, p. 169):
Proprietors:
William M. Dooley and M. Cook, 1913-c.1926?
Ellen English and James J. Miller, 1926-? [Ellen English was the widow of W.J. English.]
Editors/Managers:
William M. Dooley, 1913-1926? [In fact, Dooley was succeeded by W.J. English c.April 1914. English died in 1917. This is confirmed by the Yearbook and Almanac of Newfoundland for 1915-17.]
Bessie B. English, 1926-? [In fact, she was editor from her father's death in 1917 until c.1940s. The Yearbook and Almanac of Newfoundland for 1918-20 does not name anyone with the newspaper listing for those years. In 1921, Miss B.B. English is listed as Editor and Publisher, then as Editor through 1932 (the last copy of the Yearbook I have access to right now).]
Printers:
M.A. Dunn, ?Mar. 29, 1913 - Sept. 12, 1924
Albert Shapter, Sept. 12, 1924 - c.1927? [Information on printers from Bown, Sept. 12, 1924.]
It was also recorded by Leo C. Murphy in "Our Bell Island Budget" in The Daily News, Sept. 19, 1924, p. 8: "Mr. Shapter, the new Typographical foreman for the Bell Island Miner, arrived at Wabana on Friday afternoon [the 12th] to take up his duties here."
From Leo C. Murphy in "Our Bell Island Budget" in The Daily News, Oct. 8, 1924, p. 7:
"The Bell Island Miner again makes its appearance after the summer vacation, and it has all the aspects of a modern, breezy newspaper. The whole plant has now been reorganized; a new drum cylinder press installed, and quite a lot of equipment added. Mr. A.G. Shapter, formerly of The Halifax Herald, Union Publishing Co., and other newspaper plants, is in charge of the Job and Printing Office. Mr. M.A. Dunn, formerly of The Miner, has opened a printing office on Martin's Road. He is one of the good old type printers, and as he has also a plant installed, he hopes to maintain a generous share of the public patronage."
From Leo C. Murphy in "Our Bell Island Budget" in The Daily News, Dec. 28, 1926, p. 5:
"Mr. Wm. Walsh, foreman printer at the Bell Island Miner, has resigned his position and left for St. John's on Friday."
The issue for June 16, 1913 is held at the Public Reference Library, Arts & Culture Centre, St. John's, NL
It contains local, personal and social news, letters to the editor, poetry and serial fiction, public notices and advertisements. The editorial in that issue ridiculed W.F. Lloyd for denying the charge that he disinfected his office after the visit of some sealers. (Note: W.F. Lloyd (1864-1937) was a newspaper editor (Evening Telegram) and Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1918-1919.)
Two issues, Oct. 24, 1930 and Nov. 22, 1930, are held at the Centre for Newfoundland Studies, MUN Library.
Information about the Bell Island Miner in Addison Bown's "Newspaper History of Bell Island":
In September 1912, equipment was on the way from Halifax for a weekly newspaper to be known as The Bell Island Miner, edited and managed by William Dooley with W.J. English as foreman.
On February 3, 1913, the type and machinery for the Bell Island Miner was shipped to Wabana on the S.S. Mary. W. Cook resigned from the Fisherman's Advocate [St. John's newspaper] to become foreman under W.M. Dooley.
About April 1914, W.J. English became Editor and Manager of the Bell Island Miner.
In June 1915, The Bell Island Miner advocated for a telephone system between St. John's and Bell Island.
On Sept. 12, 1924, Albert Shapter of St. John's took up duties as a printer with the Bell Island Miner. The former printer, M.A. Dunn, opened a business of his own on Martin's Road.
About March, 1928, A.J. Shapter moved to Halifax with his family to carry on his trade as printer. He had been working in the Stores Record Office after leaving the Bell Island Miner. [Item does not say when he left the newspaper.]
In July 1935, John Basha was erecting a building on Town Square close to the office of the Bell Island Miner. [Note: John Basha had premises on the east side of Town Square on the north side of the Wabana Shoe Store, roughly opposite the intersection with No. 2 Road. ]
In September 1912, equipment was on the way from Halifax for a weekly newspaper to be known as The Bell Island Miner, edited and managed by William Dooley with W.J. English as foreman.
On February 3, 1913, the type and machinery for the Bell Island Miner was shipped to Wabana on the S.S. Mary. W. Cook resigned from the Fisherman's Advocate [St. John's newspaper] to become foreman under W.M. Dooley.
About April 1914, W.J. English became Editor and Manager of the Bell Island Miner.
In June 1915, The Bell Island Miner advocated for a telephone system between St. John's and Bell Island.
On Sept. 12, 1924, Albert Shapter of St. John's took up duties as a printer with the Bell Island Miner. The former printer, M.A. Dunn, opened a business of his own on Martin's Road.
About March, 1928, A.J. Shapter moved to Halifax with his family to carry on his trade as printer. He had been working in the Stores Record Office after leaving the Bell Island Miner. [Item does not say when he left the newspaper.]
In July 1935, John Basha was erecting a building on Town Square close to the office of the Bell Island Miner. [Note: John Basha had premises on the east side of Town Square on the north side of the Wabana Shoe Store, roughly opposite the intersection with No. 2 Road. ]
The Bell Island Miner began publication in 1913 with William Dooley as managing editor and William J. English as foreman. William English was editor in 1915. He died in 1917, at which time his daughter, Bessie, took over as editor and manager. She was listed as "editoress" of the newspaper in the 1936 Directory for Bell Island. She continued publishing The Bell Island Miner until the 1940s.
Profiles of Personnel
William Michael Dooley (1875-19??). He was born in Battle Harbour, Labrador, and educated at St. Patrick's Hall School in St. John's, NL. He worked with the editorial department of the Saint John (New Brunswick) Telegraph, Saint John Times, and Campbelton (NB) Graphic, and as a correspondent for the Associated Press before returning to Newfoundland in 1907, where he became editor of the Corner Brook Western Star. He founded the Bell Island Miner in March 1913. (The foregoing information is from the Encyclopedia of Newfoundland, V. 1, pp. 636-637.)
The following information is from Addison Bown's "Newspaper History of Bell Island":
In September 1912, equipment was on the way from Halifax for a weekly newspaper to be known as The Bell Island Miner, edited and managed by William Dooley with W.J. English as foreman.
On February 3, 1913, the type and machinery for the Bell Island Miner was shipped to Wabana on the S.S. Mary. W. Cook resigned from the Fisherman's Advocate [St. John's newspaper] to become foreman under W.M. Dooley.
About April 1914, W.J. English became Editor and Manager of the Bell Island Miner.
There was no report in Bown on why Dooley left the Bell Island Miner, or where he went after that.
Information in the 1913, 1915 and 1919 Directories for Bell Island:
1913: Neither Dooley, nor any of the others associated with the newspaper are listed in the 1913 Directory for Bell Island; perhaps the directory information was taken before March 1913.
1915: He is listed in the 1915 Directory as "a miner." Did he leave the newspaper to work in the mines, or did the person taking the information misunderstand when told that he worked at the Bell Island Miner newspaper? On the other hand, W.J. English is listed as editor and "job printer" of the Bell Island Miner in 1915.
1919: He is not listed in the 1919 Directory for Bell Island. There was no report on when Dooley left Bell Island.
Information in the Encyclopedia of Newfoundland:
After he left Bell Island, information about W.M. Dooley is sparse and undated. The Encyclopedia of Newfoundland article on him says that he wrote articles concerning Newfoundland for international publications and that his attempt to start a Sunday newspaper in St. John's failed after just one issue. It goes on to say that he was an adventurer and explored much of northern Labrador.
Searches in Newfoundland Vital Statistics and on Ancestry.com failed to find any reference to Dooley after 1915. No death date was found.
The following information is from Addison Bown's "Newspaper History of Bell Island":
In September 1912, equipment was on the way from Halifax for a weekly newspaper to be known as The Bell Island Miner, edited and managed by William Dooley with W.J. English as foreman.
On February 3, 1913, the type and machinery for the Bell Island Miner was shipped to Wabana on the S.S. Mary. W. Cook resigned from the Fisherman's Advocate [St. John's newspaper] to become foreman under W.M. Dooley.
About April 1914, W.J. English became Editor and Manager of the Bell Island Miner.
There was no report in Bown on why Dooley left the Bell Island Miner, or where he went after that.
Information in the 1913, 1915 and 1919 Directories for Bell Island:
1913: Neither Dooley, nor any of the others associated with the newspaper are listed in the 1913 Directory for Bell Island; perhaps the directory information was taken before March 1913.
1915: He is listed in the 1915 Directory as "a miner." Did he leave the newspaper to work in the mines, or did the person taking the information misunderstand when told that he worked at the Bell Island Miner newspaper? On the other hand, W.J. English is listed as editor and "job printer" of the Bell Island Miner in 1915.
1919: He is not listed in the 1919 Directory for Bell Island. There was no report on when Dooley left Bell Island.
Information in the Encyclopedia of Newfoundland:
After he left Bell Island, information about W.M. Dooley is sparse and undated. The Encyclopedia of Newfoundland article on him says that he wrote articles concerning Newfoundland for international publications and that his attempt to start a Sunday newspaper in St. John's failed after just one issue. It goes on to say that he was an adventurer and explored much of northern Labrador.
Searches in Newfoundland Vital Statistics and on Ancestry.com failed to find any reference to Dooley after 1915. No death date was found.
William J. English (1861-1917): He was born in St. John's in 1861 to Elizabeth Born (1833-1921) and Joseph English (1832-1909).
William's father, Joseph, was born in Job's Cove, Conception Bay. The family moved to St. John's about 1836 and he received his education there, then apprenticed as a newspaper man. In 1880, he founded the Terra Nova Advocate "as a voice for Catholics to counteract the pro-Protestant bias of the press of the day." He later left the newspaper business for a position with the government. William's maternal grandfather was also a civil servant.
William's sister, Anastasia English, has been hailed as "Newfoundland's first published woman author." In 1899, she published what is believed to be the first novel published in Newfoundland, Only a Fisherman's Daughter: A Tale of Newfoundland. She wrote short stories and poetry for local publications, and was listed as a journalist in the 1935 Census.
In September 1912, equipment was on the way from Halifax for a weekly newspaper to be known as The Bell Island Miner, edited and managed by William Dooley with W.J. English as foreman.
On February 3, 1913, the type and machinery for the Bell Island Miner was shipped to Wabana on the S.S. Mary. W. Cook resigned from the Fisherman's Advocate [St. John's newspaper] to become foreman under W.M. Dooley.
About April 1914, W.J. English became Editor and Manager of the Bell Island Miner.
Work in progress...
William's father, Joseph, was born in Job's Cove, Conception Bay. The family moved to St. John's about 1836 and he received his education there, then apprenticed as a newspaper man. In 1880, he founded the Terra Nova Advocate "as a voice for Catholics to counteract the pro-Protestant bias of the press of the day." He later left the newspaper business for a position with the government. William's maternal grandfather was also a civil servant.
William's sister, Anastasia English, has been hailed as "Newfoundland's first published woman author." In 1899, she published what is believed to be the first novel published in Newfoundland, Only a Fisherman's Daughter: A Tale of Newfoundland. She wrote short stories and poetry for local publications, and was listed as a journalist in the 1935 Census.
In September 1912, equipment was on the way from Halifax for a weekly newspaper to be known as The Bell Island Miner, edited and managed by William Dooley with W.J. English as foreman.
On February 3, 1913, the type and machinery for the Bell Island Miner was shipped to Wabana on the S.S. Mary. W. Cook resigned from the Fisherman's Advocate [St. John's newspaper] to become foreman under W.M. Dooley.
About April 1914, W.J. English became Editor and Manager of the Bell Island Miner.
Work in progress...