HISTORY
BUSINESSES
The Bell Island Steamship Company
The Bell Island Steamship Company was incorporated in 1903.
J.B. Martin, the largest general merchant on Bell Island at the time, was the co-founder in 1903, along with George Neal (wholesale merchant of St. John's) of the Bell Island Steamship Company, which served the travelling public and kept the Island supplied with freight from St. John's until 1955. Their first ferry was the steam tug Progress. The Mary was also bought to carry freight around Cape St. Francis. Their last ferry, the most popular of all, was the MANECO, Bell Island's first car ferry, which was specially built in 1931 to carry six motor cars. Captain J.C. Colbourne became part of the company after its inauguration. He was superintendent of Dominion Pier at the time; he acted as ships' husband for the steamers at Bell Island. The name MANECO was made up from the first two letters of the owners' names: Martin, Neal and Colbourne.
There is no mention of the Bell Island Steamship Company or its owner or employees in the 1904 Directory for Bell Island, or the 1908 St. John's Directory.
In February 1908, the S.S. Mary was flying the "new house flag" of the Bell Island Steamship Company - a white flag with a large red bell in the center.
In the 1913, 1915 and 1919 Directory for Bell Island, J.B. Martin is listed as "agent for Bell Island Steamship Company."
The Bell Island Steamship Company was not listed in either the 1949 or the 1952 telephone directory.
J.B. Martin, the largest general merchant on Bell Island at the time, was the co-founder in 1903, along with George Neal (wholesale merchant of St. John's) of the Bell Island Steamship Company, which served the travelling public and kept the Island supplied with freight from St. John's until 1955. Their first ferry was the steam tug Progress. The Mary was also bought to carry freight around Cape St. Francis. Their last ferry, the most popular of all, was the MANECO, Bell Island's first car ferry, which was specially built in 1931 to carry six motor cars. Captain J.C. Colbourne became part of the company after its inauguration. He was superintendent of Dominion Pier at the time; he acted as ships' husband for the steamers at Bell Island. The name MANECO was made up from the first two letters of the owners' names: Martin, Neal and Colbourne.
There is no mention of the Bell Island Steamship Company or its owner or employees in the 1904 Directory for Bell Island, or the 1908 St. John's Directory.
In February 1908, the S.S. Mary was flying the "new house flag" of the Bell Island Steamship Company - a white flag with a large red bell in the center.
In the 1913, 1915 and 1919 Directory for Bell Island, J.B. Martin is listed as "agent for Bell Island Steamship Company."
The Bell Island Steamship Company was not listed in either the 1949 or the 1952 telephone directory.
The Bell Island Transportation Company
The Bell Island Transportation Company was incorporated in 1913 to operate the Beach Tramway.
Ownership:
J.B. Martin, businessman at the Front, George Neal, Businessman of St. John's, and Captain Colbourne, each had shares in the MANECO and called themselves the Bell Island Transportation Company. They also owned the tram system that operated on the Beach Hill. (Source: Sydney Bown, personal interview, June 14, 1991.)
The first mention I have found of the Bell Island Transportation Company was on April 2, 1913, when a Bill known as "A Bill Relating to Construction of Tramways on Bell Island" was introduced in the House of Assembly. It gave the Bell Island Transportation Company a franchise for 50 years to operate a tramway across the Island. The Government voted $1000 annually toward the upkeep of a wharf, which was then being built, and an annual subsidy of $100 for carrying the mail over the hill. The sum of the wharf was the amount it had cost the Government per year over the previous ten years for the upkeep of the public wharf. The rates to be charged on the Tramway were set for five years at $1.25 per ton for freight, and 10c each way for passengers. All machinery for its operation was to be imported duty free. The wharf was expected to cost $14,000. (Source: Bown)
When the above Act was passed, it was called An Act for the Encouragement of the Construction of Tramways at Bell Island." This Act granted to the Bell Island Transportation Company, Ltd., the exclusive right for fifty years to install and operate on Bell Island, including power or other tramways, elevators, skips or other devices; not to interfere, however, with the right of the Dominion Iron and Steel Co. or the Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Co. or other mine owners to install and operate any tramways, &c., necessary for their business of mining. The Company was granted land at the Beach for wharf, &c., and for twenty years a sum of $1000 per annum for use of public wharf and a guarantee for twenty years of five percent, on paid up capital. The Company was further given power to light Bell Island by electricity and to make necessary erections, and all machinery, &c., was admitted duty free. (Source: Yearbook & Almanac of Newfoundland, 1914)
The Bell Island Transportation Company was not mentioned in the Bell Island Directories for 1913 or 1915.
The 1919 Directory for Bell Island is the first time the Bell Island Transportation Company was listed; W. [Walter] Squire was the Manager. No other individuals are listed as working with the company.
In 1930, the Bell Island Transportation Company introduced a system of delivering freight by truck. (Source: Bown)
The Bell Island Transportation Company was listed in the 1949 telephone directory as Transportation Company, Wharf: 254R, and Office: 254W. The Beach Tramway had ceased operation in 1948.
The Bell Island Transportation Company was listed in the 1952 telephone directory with the same phone numbers as 1949.
Ownership:
J.B. Martin, businessman at the Front, George Neal, Businessman of St. John's, and Captain Colbourne, each had shares in the MANECO and called themselves the Bell Island Transportation Company. They also owned the tram system that operated on the Beach Hill. (Source: Sydney Bown, personal interview, June 14, 1991.)
The first mention I have found of the Bell Island Transportation Company was on April 2, 1913, when a Bill known as "A Bill Relating to Construction of Tramways on Bell Island" was introduced in the House of Assembly. It gave the Bell Island Transportation Company a franchise for 50 years to operate a tramway across the Island. The Government voted $1000 annually toward the upkeep of a wharf, which was then being built, and an annual subsidy of $100 for carrying the mail over the hill. The sum of the wharf was the amount it had cost the Government per year over the previous ten years for the upkeep of the public wharf. The rates to be charged on the Tramway were set for five years at $1.25 per ton for freight, and 10c each way for passengers. All machinery for its operation was to be imported duty free. The wharf was expected to cost $14,000. (Source: Bown)
When the above Act was passed, it was called An Act for the Encouragement of the Construction of Tramways at Bell Island." This Act granted to the Bell Island Transportation Company, Ltd., the exclusive right for fifty years to install and operate on Bell Island, including power or other tramways, elevators, skips or other devices; not to interfere, however, with the right of the Dominion Iron and Steel Co. or the Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Co. or other mine owners to install and operate any tramways, &c., necessary for their business of mining. The Company was granted land at the Beach for wharf, &c., and for twenty years a sum of $1000 per annum for use of public wharf and a guarantee for twenty years of five percent, on paid up capital. The Company was further given power to light Bell Island by electricity and to make necessary erections, and all machinery, &c., was admitted duty free. (Source: Yearbook & Almanac of Newfoundland, 1914)
The Bell Island Transportation Company was not mentioned in the Bell Island Directories for 1913 or 1915.
The 1919 Directory for Bell Island is the first time the Bell Island Transportation Company was listed; W. [Walter] Squire was the Manager. No other individuals are listed as working with the company.
In 1930, the Bell Island Transportation Company introduced a system of delivering freight by truck. (Source: Bown)
The Bell Island Transportation Company was listed in the 1949 telephone directory as Transportation Company, Wharf: 254R, and Office: 254W. The Beach Tramway had ceased operation in 1948.
The Bell Island Transportation Company was listed in the 1952 telephone directory with the same phone numbers as 1949.
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