East River Sheet Harbour facts for kids
Quick facts for kids East River Sheet Harbour |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Nova Scotia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Marshall Flowage |
| River mouth | Northeast Arm of Sheet Harbour sea level 44°33′10″N 62°18′12″W / 44.5529°N 62.3032°W |
The East River Sheet Harbour, often called just East River, is a cool river in Nova Scotia, Canada. It flows through the Halifax Regional Municipality on the beautiful Eastern Shore. This river starts at a place called Marshall Flowage and ends in the Northeast Arm of Sheet Harbour.
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Journey of the East River
The East River starts its journey at a spot called Marshall Flowage, which is close to Malay Falls. From there, it flows towards the southwest, passing through other flowages like Malay Falls and Ruth Falls.
Water from Other Places
The East River gets water from a few other places too. A big lake called Lake Mulgrave, located west of Marshall Flowage, sends its water into the flowage through the Mulgrave River. Also, a stream named Fifteen Mile Stream flows into the Marshall Flowage from the north. The river system, along with the nearby West River, covers a huge area of about 988 square kilometers.
History of the River
The East River has an interesting history, especially with early industries.
Early Sawmill
Around 1863, a company named Demming & McFarlane built a sawmill at the head of the river. They wanted to cut lumber there. However, the company didn't make enough money and closed down just a few years later.
Canada's First Sulphide Pulp Mill
A very important event happened in October 1885. The Halifax Wood Fibre Company built the first ever sulphide pulp mill in Canada right here at East River, Sheet Harbour. A pulp mill turns wood into pulp, which is then used to make paper.
This idea came from William Chisholm, a lumber maker in Halifax. He owned a lot of forest land, about 242 square kilometers, along the Sheet Harbour rivers. He heard about a new way to make pulp using a "sulphite process" and decided to try it out at the East River.
Why the Mill Closed
Sadly, the mill closed in January 1891. It cost too much money to bring in the sulphide needed for the process from the United States. After the mill closed, the building where the workers ate, called the cookhouse, was bought by people from a nearby community called Watt Section. They floated it down the harbor to their community.
East River Campground
Today, you can find the East River Campground right at the mouth of the East River. It's a great spot for people to visit and enjoy the area.
