Centre Acadien, Université Sainte-Anne

The Manufacture of Butter (Two Creameries in Clare) – In the early 1900s, Parishioners in Saulnierville and Meteghan were encouraged by their respective parish priests to start creameries. One was established in 1912 in Meteghan (Société d’Industrie Laitière Limitée) by Father Côté and a second one was established in 1913 in Meteghan River (The Clare Creamery Co., Limited) by Father Cantin, parish priest of Saulnierville. Stories abound of the rivalry between the two.

The Société d’Industrie Laitière Limitée (Meteghan) operated as a co-operative under the direction of Monsignor Côté’s nephew, Narcisse Roberge; there were approximately one hundred members. After the co-operative experienced a series of problems, management was taken over by André Robichaud, of Meteghan, who had apprenticed on-site with the original founders. Mr. Robichaud became the sole proprietor. The Meteghan creamery operated until 1936, when it was forced to close because of a lack of raw materials.

The Clare Creamery Co., Limited (Meteghan River) started operations in 1913 as a limited company under the management of Louis (à Charles) LeBlanc. It was incorporated under the laws of the province of Nova Scotia and shares were sold to interested parties at $1.00 per share. This creamery produced butter until 1924, when Louis LeBlanc sold the business to Nil (à Frankie) Deveau. The creamery then also started to produce ice cream under the ‘Évangéline’ brand name. The business was sold in 1950 to Yarmouth Ice Cream, who closed it shortly thereafter.

The photo features the building of the Société d’Industrie Laitière Limitée of Meteghan.

Topic: Commercial Enterprises and other livelihoods

Date: [ca. 1915]

Reference: Harold Robichaud Collection Centre Acadien Series B, photo 16

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