Centre Acadien, Université Sainte-Anne

Manufacturing in Clare – Clare has an interesting history of manufacturing. Key factors included self-sufficiency (goods were manufactured for mostly local use) and near-exclusive use of locally available raw materials. These are a few of the varied, smaller manufacturing initiatives.

A tanning business existed in Salmon River as early as 1790. By the 1840s, Gervais Comeau established a new tannery in Saulnierville that made moccasins, using hemlock bark in the tanning process. The tannery was locally known as “le p’tit moulin d’écorce”. Gervais’ sons Johnnie and François later joined the business. By 1904, Comeau’s Welts Limited, managed by François, was making shoes at the rate of 300 pairs a day. This factory stopped the tanning component in 1913 but continued to manufacture shoes, under various owners, until the 1950s.

Léon Boudreau opened a bicycle-building shop in Meteghan River in the early 1900s. Léon had learned to build bicycles in the United States and brought the skill to Clare. The “Léon Boudreau bicycle” had one large wheel in front and one very small wheel in back. Léon’s son Jos opened a large garage, the Riverport Motor Works, in a building on posts on the shore of the Meteghan River. Riverport Motor Works was an agent for the Chevrolet cars and sold engines, bicycles, auto and bicycle tires, gasoline and auto supplies. They repaired talking machines, worn or broken Toban Bronze Shaft, motor boats, automobiles and general machinery, doctor’s instruments, guns, locks and keys, did nickel plating and enameling as well as iron brazing (source: Digby and Digby County, 1918, p. 45). The Riverport Motorworks building can be seen in the featured photo.

A carbonated beverage company was established by Edouard Belliveau under the name Clare Beverage Ltd. The company continued under the management of Edouard’s son Philias, who later sold it to Louis (à Frankie) Deveau. Carbonated beverages were also produced by George Boudreau and his sons in Meteghan Station.

Other short-lived but fascinating companies included Melanson’s Spruce Gum (Church Point), the Havana Cigar Company (Church Point), Acadian Textiles (Belliveau Cove), which produced women’s undergarments, and Acadian Overalls Ltd (Meteghan River).

Topic: Commercial Enterprises and other livelihoods

Date: [ca. 1918]

Reference: Harold Robichaud Collection Centre Acadien Series A, photo 37

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