HISTORY
BUSINESSES
BUSINESSES
TOWN SQUARE HISTORY
Created by Gail Hussey-Weir
June 14, 2017/Updated September 2023
Created by Gail Hussey-Weir
June 14, 2017/Updated September 2023
INTRODUCTION
In my research, I have not found any explanation of who gave the Main Street business district of Bell Island the name “Town Square,” or when it was first actually spoken of by that name. In the first two excerpts below from The Daily News of 1909 and 1911, we are told that the Burke brothers had a store on Main Street, and Addison Bown adds the comment “now known as Town Square.” Bown was speaking in 1957 when he began his series of articles in The Daily News entitled “Newspaper History of Bell Island,” which was a series that ran from 1957-1960. In that series, he compiled items of Bell Island news that had originally been published in The Daily News from its inception in 1894 through 1939. Most of Bown's "Newspaper History" consisted of direct quotes from the newspaper, but occasionally he added his own commentary. No further mention is made of the area in The Daily News until 1925 when it was reported that Charles Cohen had started business in premises on Town Square formerly occupied by William Cahill. Two years later, Abram Cohen opened a business on Town Square. When I interviewed Pat Mansfield in 1991, I asked when Town Square started to become the center of commerce as opposed to The Green. He believed that it was when “the Jews came in and they started to build up Town Square.” So his recollection aligns with the 1925 and 1927 mention of the Cohen businesses on Town Square. (See more recollections from Pat Mansfield at the end of this document.) From the Bown excerpts, it seems that by 1932, Town Square had replaced The Green as the main business district.
The following excerpts are taken chronologically from Addison Bown’s “Newspaper History of Bell Island.” In these excerpts, I have placed my own commentary in square brackets.
1909, p. 27: [In April] The Burke brothers were enlarging their store which was located on the Main Street, now known as Town Square. [This was the first mention I found of any business activity in the area we now know as Town Square. Bown added the comment “now known as Town Square.”]
1911, p. 37: The Papal Delegate visited Bell Island on July 27. After luncheon at St. Joseph’s Hall [at the Front next to St. Michael's Church], the party drove to the Mines* followed by a hundred carriages. An arch had been erected by the Dominion miners opposite Burke Brothers store on what is now known as Town Square and the street was lined with cheering miners. [*Before mining started in 1895, there was no one living on the north side of the Island where the iron ore beds were located. Native Bell Islanders were living at The Beach, along The Front, in Lance Cove and Freshwater (later called Parsonsville), with some farms in the Long Harry, East End area. When the area around the mines became the Island's business area, native Bell Islanders began referring to that area as "The Mines. Thus, when someone living at The Front said they were "going to the mines," they meant they were going to where the shops and businesses were. Hence, the “Mines Post Office” on Town Square (mention in 1930 excerpt below) as opposed to the Main Post Office which was still located at The Front in 1930.]
1925, p. 12, col. 3: Chas. Cohen opened business on Town Square in the premises previously occupied by Wm. Cahill. [So it seems that by 1925 at least, the business area of Main Street was being referred to in the press as "Town Square."]
Click the button below to read more about Charles Cohen and Son, Ltd.:
1909, p. 27: [In April] The Burke brothers were enlarging their store which was located on the Main Street, now known as Town Square. [This was the first mention I found of any business activity in the area we now know as Town Square. Bown added the comment “now known as Town Square.”]
1911, p. 37: The Papal Delegate visited Bell Island on July 27. After luncheon at St. Joseph’s Hall [at the Front next to St. Michael's Church], the party drove to the Mines* followed by a hundred carriages. An arch had been erected by the Dominion miners opposite Burke Brothers store on what is now known as Town Square and the street was lined with cheering miners. [*Before mining started in 1895, there was no one living on the north side of the Island where the iron ore beds were located. Native Bell Islanders were living at The Beach, along The Front, in Lance Cove and Freshwater (later called Parsonsville), with some farms in the Long Harry, East End area. When the area around the mines became the Island's business area, native Bell Islanders began referring to that area as "The Mines. Thus, when someone living at The Front said they were "going to the mines," they meant they were going to where the shops and businesses were. Hence, the “Mines Post Office” on Town Square (mention in 1930 excerpt below) as opposed to the Main Post Office which was still located at The Front in 1930.]
1925, p. 12, col. 3: Chas. Cohen opened business on Town Square in the premises previously occupied by Wm. Cahill. [So it seems that by 1925 at least, the business area of Main Street was being referred to in the press as "Town Square."]
Click the button below to read more about Charles Cohen and Son, Ltd.:
1927, p. 19, col. 1: Abram Cohen opened a branch of the Broadway House of Fashion on Town Square.
1927, p. 21, col. 1: The Sisters of Mercy moved into their new convent at the Mines [ie. Town Square]. Work began at the end of November on the widening of the road at Wabana extending from Kennedy’s Corner on Main Street to the East Track. [So, Town Square was also still being referred to as Main Street in 1927. The road that was being widened would become Bennett Street when it was completed.] The road at that time was a narrow winding path known as “Lovers’ Lane.” A bridge was to be built over the [ore car] track to connect it with the road by the Company’s office.
1928, p. 23, col. 2, top: The Wabana Light and Power Company was building their new gas station on land owned by J.H. Bennett on what was later called Bennett Street. Michael Carbage was building an addition to his fruit and confectionery store. Kennedy, Bennett and Moore were building on the new street [Bennett Street] between the [DOSCO Main Office] office bridge and Town Square. The new bridge was then nearing completion. A bridge was also being built over the roadway near the Avalon Central [telephone company] (then situated at Hughes’ Corner). [Hughes’ Corner was at the bottom of Town Square where it meets Gull Island Road.] The bridge was necessary in order to operate the ore tramway of 35 surface pit. [Note: See the Bown entry below for Jan. 1938 in which it is reported that this bridge had been torn down.]
1930, p. 31, col. 2: The Mines Post Office was then located on Town Square on the east side .
1932, p. 44, col. 2: Nathan Cohen’s lower store on Town Square and the dwelling of Elias Gosine and family were destroyed by fire on Apr. 10. The firemen saved the Mines’ Post Office and the home of W.F. Billingsley. [Billingsley’s was what became O’Neill’s Shoe Store, later Wabana Shoe Store, which was directly north of Nathan Cohen’s. It seems that the post office was directly north of Gosine’s.]
1932, p. 47, col. 1, August: A bull, while being led through Town Square, saw its reflection in the plate glass windows of Nathan Cohen’s store and, mistaking it for another bull, charged through the window, shattering the glass.
1932, p. 47, col. 1, September: Drastic reductions were made in local postal services due to economies in the public service. The West Mines branch was closed and the Front office was converted into a branch. D.J. Jackman took over the Mines Post Office [on Town Square]. The telegraph office was moved from the Front to the Mines Post Office. Local merchants tried to get together and reach agreement on closing their stores at 6 p.m. instead of 11:00, but failed to agree and the plan fell through until the Commission of Government brought in the Shop Closing Act in 1940.
1932, p. 48, col. 1: In December. H.W. Butler opened the Economy Store on Town Square.
1933, p. 51, col. 1: Early in May, 1933, [4 years into the Great Depression] the Government introduced a policy of making all recipients of public relief give work in return for dole [Welfare payments]. The local health officer, M.J. Hawco, was instructed to put the men to work “for the benefit of the community.” 85 families of 345 persons were receiving relief and the able-bodied men amongst them were put to work cleaning up the Green. A total of 475 man-days or 3680 man-hours was worked in return for past relief and for seed potatoes. Government paid for the labour, while the Company contributed horses for hauling away the rubbish, paint for the hydrants, lime for the fences, and implements such as shovels and rakes. It was the first thorough cleaning-up the section had received and an amazing transformation took place. Col. 2: Work for relief continued throughout the year, but on a diminishing scale month by month. More work was done on the Green in June, as well as Scotia Ridge. In July work centered on drains for the horse fountain on Town Square. In August cleanup work was done on Town Square. In September it was the erection of the fountain. [a drinking reservoir for horses and dogs.]
1933, p. 52, col. 2: The plans for the water fountain [on Town Square] were drawn by J.B. Gilliatt [Chief Engineer with DOSCO]. Monument built by Muir’s Marble Works. Dr. Giovannetti and family moved to Boston after selling drug store and residence on Town Square. [I believe this is what became Fleming’s Drug Store.]
1935, p. 58, col. 2, July: John Basha was erecting a building on Town Square close to the office of the Bell Island Miner [newspaper]. [I believe this was on the east side to the north of Elias Gosine, Billingsley and Nathan Cohen.] James Case was erecting a new building on Bennett Street next to the Post Office. It occupied the site where Bowring Brothers’ store was located in the early 1960s. [So, the Post Office had been relocated from Town Square to Bennett Street by 1935.]
1935, p. 59, col. 1, top: H.B. Young opened a tailor shop in John Basha’s new building on Town Square. Wm. Monkarsh took over store formerly occupied as meat store by Hiram Bennett on Bennett St.
1937, p. 62, col. 1: Town Square destroyed by fire Jan. 14-15, 1937. It was heart of shopping district with about 30 buildings. At least 20 stores and homes wiped out. Col. 2: lists names of homes and businesses destroyed on west side: Eugene Kennedy, Charles Cohen, Mendelsohn, Noah, J.J. Tucker, L.J. Lawton, Chas. Andrews barber; on east side: Dr. Templeman, Giovannetti, Carbage, Elias Basha, Nathan Cohen, W.F. Billingsley, Elias Gosine. Lists new buildings going up in August including Dr. Templeman’s house on Bennett Street.
The following piece concerning the 1937 Town Square fire is from Submarine Miner, Nov. 1954: One of the worst conflagrations in the history of Bell Island occurred on January 14th, 1937. In a high wind and freezing rain, the Brigade was called upon to perform an almost impossible task in combating a fire which broke out on Town Square, the main business section of the Island. For hours they battled the raging inferno which, before it could be brought under control, had destroyed seven dwellings and fourteen business premises. But for their Herculean efforts on that night, scores of other homes and business places in the district would have been razed.
1937, p. 65, col. 2, middle: work began on St. James Church Town Square that fall. Avalon Telephone erecting brick building near Orange Hall.
1938, p. 69, col 2: Old building at bottom of Town Square formerly Avalon Telephone, destroyed by fire Jan. 26. (col. 2 mid): the bridge spanning the main road at the lower end of Town Square and which carried the tracks from the east surface pits, was torn down in February. It had been built in 1898 when underground operations had not yet begun and all mining was being done in the open pits on the surface. [This seems to contradict what Bown said in the 1928 excerpt above, but 1928 may have been a rebuilding of the original 1898 bridge?] The first mass in the Church of St. James on Town Square was celebrated Feb. 13.
From The Daily News, Oct. 7, 1941: “The Town Square branch of James Baird Ltd. was removed this week to a new site across the street, and is now located in the store formerly occupied by Mr. D. Feder [on the west side of Town Square]. Their new stand is much larger than their former place of business. They opened up the new place on Thursday morning. The Bell Islander.”
1927, p. 21, col. 1: The Sisters of Mercy moved into their new convent at the Mines [ie. Town Square]. Work began at the end of November on the widening of the road at Wabana extending from Kennedy’s Corner on Main Street to the East Track. [So, Town Square was also still being referred to as Main Street in 1927. The road that was being widened would become Bennett Street when it was completed.] The road at that time was a narrow winding path known as “Lovers’ Lane.” A bridge was to be built over the [ore car] track to connect it with the road by the Company’s office.
1928, p. 23, col. 2, top: The Wabana Light and Power Company was building their new gas station on land owned by J.H. Bennett on what was later called Bennett Street. Michael Carbage was building an addition to his fruit and confectionery store. Kennedy, Bennett and Moore were building on the new street [Bennett Street] between the [DOSCO Main Office] office bridge and Town Square. The new bridge was then nearing completion. A bridge was also being built over the roadway near the Avalon Central [telephone company] (then situated at Hughes’ Corner). [Hughes’ Corner was at the bottom of Town Square where it meets Gull Island Road.] The bridge was necessary in order to operate the ore tramway of 35 surface pit. [Note: See the Bown entry below for Jan. 1938 in which it is reported that this bridge had been torn down.]
1930, p. 31, col. 2: The Mines Post Office was then located on Town Square on the east side .
1932, p. 44, col. 2: Nathan Cohen’s lower store on Town Square and the dwelling of Elias Gosine and family were destroyed by fire on Apr. 10. The firemen saved the Mines’ Post Office and the home of W.F. Billingsley. [Billingsley’s was what became O’Neill’s Shoe Store, later Wabana Shoe Store, which was directly north of Nathan Cohen’s. It seems that the post office was directly north of Gosine’s.]
1932, p. 47, col. 1, August: A bull, while being led through Town Square, saw its reflection in the plate glass windows of Nathan Cohen’s store and, mistaking it for another bull, charged through the window, shattering the glass.
1932, p. 47, col. 1, September: Drastic reductions were made in local postal services due to economies in the public service. The West Mines branch was closed and the Front office was converted into a branch. D.J. Jackman took over the Mines Post Office [on Town Square]. The telegraph office was moved from the Front to the Mines Post Office. Local merchants tried to get together and reach agreement on closing their stores at 6 p.m. instead of 11:00, but failed to agree and the plan fell through until the Commission of Government brought in the Shop Closing Act in 1940.
1932, p. 48, col. 1: In December. H.W. Butler opened the Economy Store on Town Square.
1933, p. 51, col. 1: Early in May, 1933, [4 years into the Great Depression] the Government introduced a policy of making all recipients of public relief give work in return for dole [Welfare payments]. The local health officer, M.J. Hawco, was instructed to put the men to work “for the benefit of the community.” 85 families of 345 persons were receiving relief and the able-bodied men amongst them were put to work cleaning up the Green. A total of 475 man-days or 3680 man-hours was worked in return for past relief and for seed potatoes. Government paid for the labour, while the Company contributed horses for hauling away the rubbish, paint for the hydrants, lime for the fences, and implements such as shovels and rakes. It was the first thorough cleaning-up the section had received and an amazing transformation took place. Col. 2: Work for relief continued throughout the year, but on a diminishing scale month by month. More work was done on the Green in June, as well as Scotia Ridge. In July work centered on drains for the horse fountain on Town Square. In August cleanup work was done on Town Square. In September it was the erection of the fountain. [a drinking reservoir for horses and dogs.]
1933, p. 52, col. 2: The plans for the water fountain [on Town Square] were drawn by J.B. Gilliatt [Chief Engineer with DOSCO]. Monument built by Muir’s Marble Works. Dr. Giovannetti and family moved to Boston after selling drug store and residence on Town Square. [I believe this is what became Fleming’s Drug Store.]
1935, p. 58, col. 2, July: John Basha was erecting a building on Town Square close to the office of the Bell Island Miner [newspaper]. [I believe this was on the east side to the north of Elias Gosine, Billingsley and Nathan Cohen.] James Case was erecting a new building on Bennett Street next to the Post Office. It occupied the site where Bowring Brothers’ store was located in the early 1960s. [So, the Post Office had been relocated from Town Square to Bennett Street by 1935.]
1935, p. 59, col. 1, top: H.B. Young opened a tailor shop in John Basha’s new building on Town Square. Wm. Monkarsh took over store formerly occupied as meat store by Hiram Bennett on Bennett St.
1937, p. 62, col. 1: Town Square destroyed by fire Jan. 14-15, 1937. It was heart of shopping district with about 30 buildings. At least 20 stores and homes wiped out. Col. 2: lists names of homes and businesses destroyed on west side: Eugene Kennedy, Charles Cohen, Mendelsohn, Noah, J.J. Tucker, L.J. Lawton, Chas. Andrews barber; on east side: Dr. Templeman, Giovannetti, Carbage, Elias Basha, Nathan Cohen, W.F. Billingsley, Elias Gosine. Lists new buildings going up in August including Dr. Templeman’s house on Bennett Street.
The following piece concerning the 1937 Town Square fire is from Submarine Miner, Nov. 1954: One of the worst conflagrations in the history of Bell Island occurred on January 14th, 1937. In a high wind and freezing rain, the Brigade was called upon to perform an almost impossible task in combating a fire which broke out on Town Square, the main business section of the Island. For hours they battled the raging inferno which, before it could be brought under control, had destroyed seven dwellings and fourteen business premises. But for their Herculean efforts on that night, scores of other homes and business places in the district would have been razed.
1937, p. 65, col. 2, middle: work began on St. James Church Town Square that fall. Avalon Telephone erecting brick building near Orange Hall.
1938, p. 69, col 2: Old building at bottom of Town Square formerly Avalon Telephone, destroyed by fire Jan. 26. (col. 2 mid): the bridge spanning the main road at the lower end of Town Square and which carried the tracks from the east surface pits, was torn down in February. It had been built in 1898 when underground operations had not yet begun and all mining was being done in the open pits on the surface. [This seems to contradict what Bown said in the 1928 excerpt above, but 1928 may have been a rebuilding of the original 1898 bridge?] The first mass in the Church of St. James on Town Square was celebrated Feb. 13.
From The Daily News, Oct. 7, 1941: “The Town Square branch of James Baird Ltd. was removed this week to a new site across the street, and is now located in the store formerly occupied by Mr. D. Feder [on the west side of Town Square]. Their new stand is much larger than their former place of business. They opened up the new place on Thursday morning. The Bell Islander.”