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Nova Scotia Tourism Region : Cape Breton Island
Description From Owner:
- A small seam of coal was found here in the early 1900s which led to what historian William B. Hamilton describes as 'one of the most spectacular fiascos in the history of Nova Scotia.'
- A 'SPECTACULAR (AND COSTLY) FIASCO'': In the early 1900s a small seam of coal was found near Broughton. Before adequate exploration had taken place and sufficient capital raised,
- officials of the Cape Breton Coal, Iron and Railway Co. laid out plans to build a town for 10-12,000 people. Noted PEI architect William Critchlow Harris (1854-1913) was hired to plan the model town.
- In 1904 a rail line was built to connect with the Sydney and Louisbourg Railway and by 1905, 200 men were building two hotels, offices, 43 houses and streets, altogether about 50 buildings.
- The place was named Broughton after Broughton Hall in Cheshire, England, country seat of Horace Mayhew, an English mining entrepreneur recruited to head the company.
- By 1907 the operation had collapsed. In 1916 the deserted town was taken over by the 185th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
- With permission from 'Nova Scotia Place Names' David E. Scott 2015
Address of this page: http://ns.ruralroutes.com/Broughton