HISTORY
HEALTH
HEALTH
TIMELINE OF DOCTORS
IN THE MINING YEARS
Created by Gail Hussey-Weir
May 2, 2022
IN THE MINING YEARS
Created by Gail Hussey-Weir
May 2, 2022
The information below comes from various sources, mainly the Daily News newspaper as recorded in Addison Bown's "Newspaper History of Bell Island." Other sources include: Year Book and Almanac of Newfoundland; Census of Newfoundland, 1921, 1935 and 1945; various city directories and telephone directories. Dates that begin with "c." are approximate.
In order to visualize the timeline for which doctors were practicing on Bell Island, in what time period and who they were working for, I have devised the following table. The first physician to practice on Bell Island was brought in by the first mining company, Scotia, probably in 1894 when construction started on the mining infrastructure. After Dominion Company bought into the operation in 1899, they employed their own doctor, so there were two doctors practicing on the Island from 1900 until 1913, when H.A. Giovannetti set up a private practice. Thus, from 1913 until 1922, there were three doctors practicing on Bell Island, one for each of the mining companies and one in private practice. In 1922, the two companies merged, and the Scotia Company doctor, Carnochan, was let go, leaving two doctors to serve Bell Island, the Dominion Company doctor, Lynch, and Giovannetti in private practice. In the table below, I list Dr. Lynch first under "Dominion," then further down I change "Dominion" to "DOSCO" to show when the two companies merged. (When they merged in 1922, the new company name was actually "BESCO," but it did not last long. It became "DOSCO" in 1929 and was known as that locally from then on.)
In order to visualize the timeline for which doctors were practicing on Bell Island, in what time period and who they were working for, I have devised the following table. The first physician to practice on Bell Island was brought in by the first mining company, Scotia, probably in 1894 when construction started on the mining infrastructure. After Dominion Company bought into the operation in 1899, they employed their own doctor, so there were two doctors practicing on the Island from 1900 until 1913, when H.A. Giovannetti set up a private practice. Thus, from 1913 until 1922, there were three doctors practicing on Bell Island, one for each of the mining companies and one in private practice. In 1922, the two companies merged, and the Scotia Company doctor, Carnochan, was let go, leaving two doctors to serve Bell Island, the Dominion Company doctor, Lynch, and Giovannetti in private practice. In the table below, I list Dr. Lynch first under "Dominion," then further down I change "Dominion" to "DOSCO" to show when the two companies merged. (When they merged in 1922, the new company name was actually "BESCO," but it did not last long. It became "DOSCO" in 1929 and was known as that locally from then on.)
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PHYSICIAN
R.J. Freebairn
G.H. Thompson J.L. Cock Dr. Fortin H.P. Gouthro W.L.C. Carnochan H.A. Giovannetti J.B. Lynch J.B. Lynch J. Land W. Templeman A.S. Crummey G. Dawe B.J. Egan J.R. Young J.B. Wilson G. Buckingham R. Dominic J. Derjanecz B. Derjanecz G. Lathouris W.J. O'Connor R.J. Kavanagh S.W. Tucker Robert Smith Gloria Isada ? Isada A. Laurie Ayar |
SCOTIA CO.
c.1894-1900
1900-1907 c. 1904-06 1907-1922 |
DOMINION
1900-c.1903
c.1903-1906 1906-1913 1913-1922 DOSCO 1922-1941 1942-1965 |
PRIVATE
1913-1925 1931-c.1934? 1934-1942 c.1943-c.1949 c.1952-c.1955 c.1954-c.1958 c.1954-c.1957 1958-1962 c.1958-1965 1957-1968 HOSPITAL, 1965 onwards: 1965-c.1967 1965-1966 1967-c.1976 1969 1969-1976 1973-2015 1984-85 c. mid-1980s c. mid-1980s c.1990-2018 2013-2022? |
PORT DR.
1926-34? 1932-1941 ? |
DIST. SURGN
1926-1934? 1932-1941 ? |
Dr. Robert Jardine Freebairn practiced on Bell Island from c.1894 to 1900 with Scotia Company and from 1900 to c.1903 with Dominion Company.
Dr. George H. Thompson was practicing on Bell Island from 1900 to 1907 with Scotia Company.
Dr. James Lyall Cock was practicing on Bell Island from c.1903 to 1906 with Dominion Company.
Drs. Fortin and Koch were both practicing on Bell Island in 1906, and left for England in October of that year to take post-graduate courses.
Dr. Henry P. Gouthro practiced on Bell Island from 1906 to 1913 with Dominion Company.
Dr. William Lorne Campbell Carnochan practiced on Bell Island from 1907 to 1922 with Scotia Company.
Dr. Humbert Adrian Giovannetti practiced on Bell Island from 1913 to 1934. From 1926-1934, he was the District Surgeon and Port Doctor for Bell Island.
Dr. John B. Lynch practiced on Bell Island from 1913 to 1941. In 1932 [or 1934?], he was appointed Port Doctor and District Surgeon.
Dr. J. Land practiced on Bell Island from 1931 to sometime before 1935.
Dr. Walter Templeman practiced on Bell Island from 1934 to 1965.
Dr. Arthur S. Crummey practiced on Bell Island from c.1943 to c.1949.
Dr. Gerald Dawe practiced on Bell Island from c.1952 to c.1955.
Dr. John R. Young practiced on Bell Island from c.1955 to c.1957.
Dr. Bernard J. Egan practiced on Bell Island c.1954-c.1958.
Dr. G. Buckingham practiced on Bell Island from c.1958 to 1965.
Dr. Rufus Dominic practiced on Bell Island from 1957 to 1968.
Dr. James B. Wilson practiced on Bell Island from 1958 to 1962.
In 1898, Dr. Robert Jardine Freebairn was medical officer with the Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Company at Wabana. He was likely Bell Island's first physician and may have been working there as early as 1894 when work began on the infrastructure that was needed to begin mining in 1895. In the first decade after mining started, operations would shut down sometime before Christmas and the Nova Scotian officials would return to their homes in Nova Scotia for the winter, until mining started up again in late spring after the snow melted and the arctic ice had moved out of Conception Bay. It is not clear if Dr. Fairbairn remained on Bell Island during those winters.
In 1900, Dr. Freebairn was medical officer with the Dominion Company, and Dr. Thompson was with the Scotia Company.
In the 1904 McAlpine's Directory for Bell Island, Dr. Cook [Cock?] was listed as the physician for Dominion Company, and Dr. Thompson was with the Scotia Company.
In the 1904, 1905 and 1906 Year Book and Almanac of Newfoundland, in the list of "Medical Practitioners in Newfoundland," the names listed for Bell Isle are "Geo. H. Thompson and Jas. Lyall Cock."
In 1906, Dr. Henry P. Gouthro of Gambo began his practice on Bell Island with the Dominion Company.
In 1907, Dr. W.L. Carnochan was the Scotia Company physician. In the 1907 Year Book and Almanac of Newfoundland, in the list of "Medical Practitioners in Newfoundland," the names listed for Belle Isle are W.L. Carnochan and H.P. Gouthro.
Also in 1907, Dr. William Edward Jones of Avondale was erecting an up-to-date drug store on the Green on property he had purchased from W.K. Murphy. [The name of this drug store was Wabana Drug Store and would be managed by Louis Lawton, who later purchased it from Dr. Jones. It is not clear if Dr. Jones ever actually practiced medicine on Bell Island.]
In the 1910 Year Book and Almanac of Newfoundland, in the list of "Medical Practitioners in Newfoundland," the names listed for Belle Isle are W.L. Carnochan and H.P. Gouthro. When Dr. Gouthro was on vacation in the Fall of 1910, he was relieved by Dr. Lynch of Sydney.
In the 1913 Directory, Dr. William L. Carnochan was listed as the Scotia Company physician, Dr. Henry P. Gouthro was the Dominion Company physician, and Priscilla Rees was "caretaker of surgery."
In 1913, Bell Island had two drug stores: The Bell Island Drug Store and Wabana Drug Store. The Bell Island Drug Store was owned by Dr. H.A. Giovannetti, who took up private? medical practice on Town Square at the corner of St. Pat's Lane in about 1913. [He left in 1934.]
In August 1913, Dr. J.B. Lynch had newly taken up residence on Bell Island in the employ of the Dominion Company.
In February 1914, a man who had been struck by an ore car in No. 2 Slope was attended by Dr. Cron and Nurse Shepherd. Dr. Cron was then replacing Dr. Carnochan, the Scotia Company physician, who was on a visit to Canada.
In 1915, Drs. Carnochan, Giovannetti and Lynch were practicing on Bell Island.
In 1918, the three doctors on Bell Island, Drs. Carnochan, Giovannetti and Lynch, were battling the outbreak of the Spanish Flu.
In 1919, the same three doctors were on Bell Island.
In 1922, Dr. Carnochan moved to the United States, following the merger of the two mining companies.
From 1926-1934, Dr. H.A. Giovannetti was the District Surgeon and Port Doctor for Bell Island.
In April 1931, Dr. J. Land began practicing on the Island. [He was not listed in the 1936 Directory for Bell Island, and does not appear in the 1935 Census, so must have left sometime before that.]
In 1932, Dr. J.B. Lynch was appointed Port Doctor and District Surgeon.
In 1934, Dr. H.A. Giovannetti, who had begun practice on Bell Island around 1913, left for the United States.
In 1934, Dr. Walter Templeman set up in private practice on Bell Island.
In 1935, Dr. Hy Drover was practising on Bell Island. [He was not listed in the 1935 Census or in the 1936 Directory for Bell Island, so he may have been there as a locum.]
In the Fall of 1937. Drs. Lynch and Templeman were kept busy giving inoculations.
In February 1939, "Dr. James McGrath (later Minister of Health) and Dr. J. Peters set up a clinic in the Masonic Hall to inoculate residents against Diphtheria and Typhoid, and were conducting X-rays for Tuberculosis."
Dr. J.B. Lynch died in January 1942 at age 65.
Dr. Templeman served in the Royal Canadian Medical Corps during World War II, following which, he returned to Bell Island to take up the position of Chief Medical Officer for the DOSCO Wabana Mines.
In 1957, Dr. Templeman took over the Company Surgery for private practice.
In 1965, Dr. Templeman was named Chief of Medicine for the newly built Bell Island Hospital that was later named in his honour. Due to ill health, he retired later that year and died September 3, 1966.
Dr. George H. Thompson was practicing on Bell Island from 1900 to 1907 with Scotia Company.
Dr. James Lyall Cock was practicing on Bell Island from c.1903 to 1906 with Dominion Company.
Drs. Fortin and Koch were both practicing on Bell Island in 1906, and left for England in October of that year to take post-graduate courses.
Dr. Henry P. Gouthro practiced on Bell Island from 1906 to 1913 with Dominion Company.
Dr. William Lorne Campbell Carnochan practiced on Bell Island from 1907 to 1922 with Scotia Company.
Dr. Humbert Adrian Giovannetti practiced on Bell Island from 1913 to 1934. From 1926-1934, he was the District Surgeon and Port Doctor for Bell Island.
Dr. John B. Lynch practiced on Bell Island from 1913 to 1941. In 1932 [or 1934?], he was appointed Port Doctor and District Surgeon.
Dr. J. Land practiced on Bell Island from 1931 to sometime before 1935.
Dr. Walter Templeman practiced on Bell Island from 1934 to 1965.
Dr. Arthur S. Crummey practiced on Bell Island from c.1943 to c.1949.
Dr. Gerald Dawe practiced on Bell Island from c.1952 to c.1955.
Dr. John R. Young practiced on Bell Island from c.1955 to c.1957.
Dr. Bernard J. Egan practiced on Bell Island c.1954-c.1958.
Dr. G. Buckingham practiced on Bell Island from c.1958 to 1965.
Dr. Rufus Dominic practiced on Bell Island from 1957 to 1968.
Dr. James B. Wilson practiced on Bell Island from 1958 to 1962.
In 1898, Dr. Robert Jardine Freebairn was medical officer with the Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Company at Wabana. He was likely Bell Island's first physician and may have been working there as early as 1894 when work began on the infrastructure that was needed to begin mining in 1895. In the first decade after mining started, operations would shut down sometime before Christmas and the Nova Scotian officials would return to their homes in Nova Scotia for the winter, until mining started up again in late spring after the snow melted and the arctic ice had moved out of Conception Bay. It is not clear if Dr. Fairbairn remained on Bell Island during those winters.
In 1900, Dr. Freebairn was medical officer with the Dominion Company, and Dr. Thompson was with the Scotia Company.
In the 1904 McAlpine's Directory for Bell Island, Dr. Cook [Cock?] was listed as the physician for Dominion Company, and Dr. Thompson was with the Scotia Company.
In the 1904, 1905 and 1906 Year Book and Almanac of Newfoundland, in the list of "Medical Practitioners in Newfoundland," the names listed for Bell Isle are "Geo. H. Thompson and Jas. Lyall Cock."
In 1906, Dr. Henry P. Gouthro of Gambo began his practice on Bell Island with the Dominion Company.
In 1907, Dr. W.L. Carnochan was the Scotia Company physician. In the 1907 Year Book and Almanac of Newfoundland, in the list of "Medical Practitioners in Newfoundland," the names listed for Belle Isle are W.L. Carnochan and H.P. Gouthro.
Also in 1907, Dr. William Edward Jones of Avondale was erecting an up-to-date drug store on the Green on property he had purchased from W.K. Murphy. [The name of this drug store was Wabana Drug Store and would be managed by Louis Lawton, who later purchased it from Dr. Jones. It is not clear if Dr. Jones ever actually practiced medicine on Bell Island.]
In the 1910 Year Book and Almanac of Newfoundland, in the list of "Medical Practitioners in Newfoundland," the names listed for Belle Isle are W.L. Carnochan and H.P. Gouthro. When Dr. Gouthro was on vacation in the Fall of 1910, he was relieved by Dr. Lynch of Sydney.
In the 1913 Directory, Dr. William L. Carnochan was listed as the Scotia Company physician, Dr. Henry P. Gouthro was the Dominion Company physician, and Priscilla Rees was "caretaker of surgery."
In 1913, Bell Island had two drug stores: The Bell Island Drug Store and Wabana Drug Store. The Bell Island Drug Store was owned by Dr. H.A. Giovannetti, who took up private? medical practice on Town Square at the corner of St. Pat's Lane in about 1913. [He left in 1934.]
In August 1913, Dr. J.B. Lynch had newly taken up residence on Bell Island in the employ of the Dominion Company.
In February 1914, a man who had been struck by an ore car in No. 2 Slope was attended by Dr. Cron and Nurse Shepherd. Dr. Cron was then replacing Dr. Carnochan, the Scotia Company physician, who was on a visit to Canada.
In 1915, Drs. Carnochan, Giovannetti and Lynch were practicing on Bell Island.
In 1918, the three doctors on Bell Island, Drs. Carnochan, Giovannetti and Lynch, were battling the outbreak of the Spanish Flu.
In 1919, the same three doctors were on Bell Island.
In 1922, Dr. Carnochan moved to the United States, following the merger of the two mining companies.
From 1926-1934, Dr. H.A. Giovannetti was the District Surgeon and Port Doctor for Bell Island.
In April 1931, Dr. J. Land began practicing on the Island. [He was not listed in the 1936 Directory for Bell Island, and does not appear in the 1935 Census, so must have left sometime before that.]
In 1932, Dr. J.B. Lynch was appointed Port Doctor and District Surgeon.
In 1934, Dr. H.A. Giovannetti, who had begun practice on Bell Island around 1913, left for the United States.
In 1934, Dr. Walter Templeman set up in private practice on Bell Island.
In 1935, Dr. Hy Drover was practising on Bell Island. [He was not listed in the 1935 Census or in the 1936 Directory for Bell Island, so he may have been there as a locum.]
In the Fall of 1937. Drs. Lynch and Templeman were kept busy giving inoculations.
In February 1939, "Dr. James McGrath (later Minister of Health) and Dr. J. Peters set up a clinic in the Masonic Hall to inoculate residents against Diphtheria and Typhoid, and were conducting X-rays for Tuberculosis."
Dr. J.B. Lynch died in January 1942 at age 65.
Dr. Templeman served in the Royal Canadian Medical Corps during World War II, following which, he returned to Bell Island to take up the position of Chief Medical Officer for the DOSCO Wabana Mines.
In 1957, Dr. Templeman took over the Company Surgery for private practice.
In 1965, Dr. Templeman was named Chief of Medicine for the newly built Bell Island Hospital that was later named in his honour. Due to ill health, he retired later that year and died September 3, 1966.