Formerly, people lived along the seacoast at Net Cove. The Gales and Jennings were the first families to move inward and start the community of Millville. There was a Catholic school built in Millville about 70 years ago. Some early teachers were: Elizabeth O'Quinn, Angela Blanchard, and Hughie O'Quinn. Another school was later built to replace this one. Today, however, school has been centralized to Upper Ferry and students from all over the Valley are bussed there to attend classes.
The community was based around fishing, forestry, and the wool industry. By 1921, there were 259 sheep being kept in Millville.[1] By 1940, there were three sawmills in operation.[2] As of 2023, weaver Megan Samms had set up a new loom shed in the community.[3] Her goods are handmade on a variety of floor looms.[4]
Millville is also home to Chap's Garage, a local attraction with vintage cars, gas pumps, and 1950s era collectibles.[5]
Alexander Gale operated a small grocery store in the community, where goods were bought on a bartering system. The first post office was kept in the store for 50 years or more. It was then taken over by his son, Afra. Edwin "Hockey" Gale was the third-generation owner of the store.[6] In later years mailbox delivery was instituted. From circa 1980 to 2022 the Gale store hosted an annual Christmas Eve drop-in party for the community.[7]
Gale Carding Mill Registered Heritage Structure
Gale Carding Mill Registered Heritage Structure in 2023, owned by the Gale family.
The community of Millville the community was founded in 1893 when Alexander Gale, a descendant of an eariy settler, moved inland from Net Cove, eventually establishing a carding mill near Grand Daddys Brook.[8] In 1897, Gale purchased carding equipment in Canada, and brought it to Newfoundland, setting up what was said to be the first carding operation on the island.[9] That summer, the mill carded 1000 lbs of wool.[9] By 1911, the mill employed 3 people on salary, and it was reported there were five hand looms working in the community.[10] The original mill was nearly lost to a fire in 1938:
Agustine Gale proved to be the hero of a fire which for a while threatened to be the end of Gale's carding mill at Millville. Going to draw some gasoline the lighted lantern was placed some four feet from the drum: When the tap was turned on the gas leading to the drum ignited. According as the gas flowed it burnt and soon the building was in flames. George Gale was on the upper story in charge of the machinery and both he and John Hynes joined Agustine Gale in an unsuccessful attempt to put out the fire. The boys abandoned the burning room, but Agustine Gale rushed back and carried the flaming cask outside. This daring feat saved the building, and proclaimed Agustine the hero of the hour.[11]
For 50 years the mill was operated by water power, in later years the machinery was run by diesel. Circa 1940, the current mill was constructed further upstream along the road from the original site. By 1942, the mill was carding 30,000 lbs of wool a summer.[9] The mill would operate for part of the year, typically opening June 1st after the shearing season in the spring until fall when all the wool would be carded.[12]
The carding mill business was in operation from the 1890s to 1975.[8] Alex Gale left the mill to his sons Edward and George, who ran the mill as Gale Brothers.[12] The Gales also operated a mill in Stephenville before it was sold to a Mr. Gabriel; that mill was destroyed by fire circa 1941.[9] The same year, it was reported that George Gale of Millville was moving to Curling to start a carding mill in that location.[13]
At one point, there were as many as 16 carding machines in operation in the Codroy Valley region.
In 2023, the Gale Carding Mill was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by Heritage NL.[14][15]
References
^"Table IV". Census of Newfoundland and Labrador, 1921. St. John's: Newfoundland Colonial Secretary's Office. 1923. p. 178.
^Smallwood, Joseph Roberts (1940). Newfoundland 1940 : hand book, gazetteer and almanac, an annual reference book. Long Bros., Printers. p. 99.
^Bulman, Andie (7 May 2023). "Lessons from the loom". CBC News. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
millville, newfoundland, labrador, 85278, 34583, 85278, 34583millvilleclass, notpageimage, location, millville, newfoundland, labrador, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable. 47 51 10 N 59 20 45 W 47 85278 N 59 34583 W 47 85278 59 34583Millvilleclass notpageimage Location of Millville in Newfoundland and Labrador This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Millville Newfoundland and Labrador news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Millville is a settlement in Newfoundland and Labrador near the Codroy Valley Formerly people lived along the seacoast at Net Cove The Gales and Jennings were the first families to move inward and start the community of Millville There was a Catholic school built in Millville about 70 years ago Some early teachers were Elizabeth O Quinn Angela Blanchard and Hughie O Quinn Another school was later built to replace this one Today however school has been centralized to Upper Ferry and students from all over the Valley are bussed there to attend classes The community was based around fishing forestry and the wool industry By 1921 there were 259 sheep being kept in Millville 1 By 1940 there were three sawmills in operation 2 As of 2023 weaver Megan Samms had set up a new loom shed in the community 3 Her goods are handmade on a variety of floor looms 4 Millville is also home to Chap s Garage a local attraction with vintage cars gas pumps and 1950s era collectibles 5 Contents 1 Gale Store 2 Gale Carding Mill Registered Heritage Structure 3 References 4 LinksGale Store EditAlexander Gale operated a small grocery store in the community where goods were bought on a bartering system The first post office was kept in the store for 50 years or more It was then taken over by his son Afra Edwin Hockey Gale was the third generation owner of the store 6 In later years mailbox delivery was instituted From circa 1980 to 2022 the Gale store hosted an annual Christmas Eve drop in party for the community 7 Gale Carding Mill Registered Heritage Structure Edit Gale Carding Mill Registered Heritage Structure in 2023 owned by the Gale family The community of Millville the community was founded in 1893 when Alexander Gale a descendant of an eariy settler moved inland from Net Cove eventually establishing a carding mill near Grand Daddys Brook 8 In 1897 Gale purchased carding equipment in Canada and brought it to Newfoundland setting up what was said to be the first carding operation on the island 9 That summer the mill carded 1000 lbs of wool 9 By 1911 the mill employed 3 people on salary and it was reported there were five hand looms working in the community 10 The original mill was nearly lost to a fire in 1938 Agustine Gale proved to be the hero of a fire which for a while threatened to be the end of Gale s carding mill at Millville Going to draw some gasoline the lighted lantern was placed some four feet from the drum When the tap was turned on the gas leading to the drum ignited According as the gas flowed it burnt and soon the building was in flames George Gale was on the upper story in charge of the machinery and both he and John Hynes joined Agustine Gale in an unsuccessful attempt to put out the fire The boys abandoned the burning room but Agustine Gale rushed back and carried the flaming cask outside This daring feat saved the building and proclaimed Agustine the hero of the hour 11 For 50 years the mill was operated by water power in later years the machinery was run by diesel Circa 1940 the current mill was constructed further upstream along the road from the original site By 1942 the mill was carding 30 000 lbs of wool a summer 9 The mill would operate for part of the year typically opening June 1st after the shearing season in the spring until fall when all the wool would be carded 12 The carding mill business was in operation from the 1890s to 1975 8 Alex Gale left the mill to his sons Edward and George who ran the mill as Gale Brothers 12 The Gales also operated a mill in Stephenville before it was sold to a Mr Gabriel that mill was destroyed by fire circa 1941 9 The same year it was reported that George Gale of Millville was moving to Curling to start a carding mill in that location 13 At one point there were as many as 16 carding machines in operation in the Codroy Valley region In 2023 the Gale Carding Mill was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by Heritage NL 14 15 References Edit Table IV Census of Newfoundland and Labrador 1921 St John s Newfoundland Colonial Secretary s Office 1923 p 178 Smallwood Joseph Roberts 1940 Newfoundland 1940 hand book gazetteer and almanac an annual reference book Long Bros Printers p 99 Bulman Andie 7 May 2023 Lessons from the loom CBC News Retrieved 29 June 2023 Boland Connie February 2021 Life Mindfully Woven Downhome Downhome Publishing Inc 33 9 Codroy Valley collector takes visitors back in time CBC News 28 June 2015 Retrieved 29 June 2023 End of an era as E W Gale Ltd to shutter its doors Canada Convenience Store News 5 September 2022 Retrieved 30 June 2023 Hillier Bernice 24 December 2022 This beloved Christmas tradition in the Codroy Valley has come to an end CBC News Retrieved 29 June 2023 a b Millville Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador Vol 3 St John s Harry Cuff Publications Ltd 1991 pp 556 557 a b c d Pioneer The Western Star Vol 43 Corner Brook 1942 05 08 p 1 Retrieved 24 June 2023 Table V Census of Newfoundland and Labrador 1911 St John s Newfoundland Colonial Secretary s Office 1914 p 369 Codroy Valley News The Western Star Vol 39 no 21 1938 08 24 p 6 Retrieved 24 June 2023 a b Lanphear Juliet The Gale Carding Mill an interview with Terri nee Gale Dunphy and Don Gale Retrieved 2023 07 04 Our News Letter From West Coast Evening Telegram 1941 07 08 p 3 Retrieved 24 June 2023 Jarvis Dale Gale Carding Mill Codroy Valley designated as a Registered Heritage Structure Retrieved 2023 07 04 Strickland Sara Gale Carding Mill Named Designated Heritage Structure VOCM Retrieved 2023 07 07 Links EditGale Carding Mill Registered Heritage Structure Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Millville Newfoundland and Labrador amp oldid 1163978856, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
