The Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce has been the principle voice of the business community in this region for 130 years on matters of economic, political and social importance. While times have changed since we were founded in 1890, we continue to work on behalf of members to create a thriving, collaborative and connected business community.
A bit of history:
The Truro Board of Trade was incorporated on Sept. 11, 1890 with 37 chartered members listing occupations such as merchant, manufacturer, druggist, cutter, physician, insurance agent, hotelier, banker, jeweller and grocer.
Many of the family names are still active in the business community today or have left a legacy for future generations such as Hay, Walker, Clish, Craig, Murphy, Dalrymple, Bigelow, Tupper, Dimock, Campbell, Turner, Bentley, Cummings and MacKay.
These local business men created the organization to be the recognized “Voice of Business” for the region to advocate on economic, political and social issues in the best interest of its members.
The TBoT was organized by businessman George A Hall, of Crosoup & Co. Dry Goods, who was named the first Secretary of the Board. The certificate of incorporation was notarized by Alexander G. Patterson, Notary of the Public.
The first president elect was Gardiner Clish, of the Truro Foundry and Machine Company.
The organization has undergone three name changes in its 130-year history from its origin as the Truro Board of Trade, it changed to the Truro & District Chamber of Commerce in 1973, then the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce in 2013.
A resourceful community:
In 1890, the population of Truro was 5,102 and was described by The Truro Daily News, as “a town of enterprise that its citizens were of high calibre, and above all that character was being put into the structure called ‘Truro.’”
Among the many items being manufactured in Truro at the time were Stanfield’s “Unshrinkable” Long underwear, Lewis Peg and Lasts Factory, wooden shoe lasts and shanks, metal work from Truro Foundry and Machine Company, Truro Condensed Milk and Canning Ltd. Reindeer Brand condensed milk, sashes and doors, carriages, saddles and harnesses, wool felt hats, lumber, clothing and more.
The News Publishing Co. Ltd. printed the Truro Daily News (founded in 1891), calendars and stationery. It was the largest and most modern printing plant in the country east of Montreal of that time, shipping products across Canada, Newfoundland and to the West Indies.
Crystal Spring Ltd. Truro (1878) was the oldest soft drink plant in continuous operation producing quality tonics such as Ginger Ale (dry or golden), lime rickey, stone ginger beer, Pep-up, creamery nectar, Nox-E-Kola, orange, root beer and more.
Truro Marble and Granite Works, was established in 1857 by A.J. Walker, chartered Chamber member, and later became the site of the area’s largest hardware supply.
Community Facts in 1890s:
-There was a passenger rail station in Truro and the community was an important centre for the InterContinental Railway (opened 1858 between Truro & Halifax) where engines were changed and refilled with water. About that year, the Short line between Oxford Jct., and Pictou opened up, linking the various towns with the Eastern line which was extended to Cape Breton the same year. This contributed to Truro being dubbed “The Hub” creating great opportunity to grow commerce in this area.
-The first three businesses to install cash registers in the 1890s were grocers – McNutt’s Grocery, R. Craig & Son and Black & Co, which was also the first business in Truro to import tea from China.
-The first real sidewalk, an asphalt walk, was constructed on the north side of Prince Street in 1895.
-There were 1,068 students enrolled at the Centre, Alice and Willow Street schools.
-While a number of physicians provided care here in 1890, there was no hospital in Truro or Colchester County.
-There was a Truro Curling Club (1875), and the first club building was constructed in 1886 at a cost of $1,619.
-Truro Amateur Athletic Club (TAAC) was founded in 1899 and continues to be a gathering spot for sport enthusiasts
Popular products and services available at Truro businesses in 1890:
Carpentry
Blacksmith
Dry goods
Grocers
Hardware
Crockery
Feed
Flour
Florists
Plant nursery
Shoes
Fishing tackle
Tobacco
Furriers
Bakeries
Butchers
Billiard parlors
Men’s private clubs
Harness making
Ice cream parlour
Confectionary
Pharmacy
Plumber
Brick layers
Soft drink dispensary
Seeds
Farming implements
Bottling works
Canneries
Chemist and eye glass specialists
Photographers
Tailors
Milliners
Hotels
Coal
Fuel wood
Stoves
Tinwork
Furnaces
Water pumps
Windmills
Saddlery
Tannery
Stationary
Wallpaper
Books
Picture framing
Jewellery and watchmaking
Furniture
Insurance Agencies
Real Estate
Bus service (horse powered)
Banks
Barbers
Decorators and sign painters
Several churches
Stage Coach
InterContinental Railway
Undertakers
Theatre
Dentists
Physicians
Upholstery
Telegraph and Cable services
Paint
Past Presidents:
