Front: Dozens of people scatter amongst the remains of an explosion at a mine adjacent to a rail yard. "The company had a large number of miner's houses rented at a low rental. They were laid out in the form of a square with four rows near the mine, furnishing homes for seventy-five or eighty families. I think the rent was $2.50 a month. They were all torn down a number of years ago. In April 1914 a boiler exploded at the main boiler shed killing five or six men and about the same time an explosion occurred at night in the main seam, causing all the lower workings to be flooded. About this time William Maxwell became manager and during his time made many improvements. He built a new airshaft to No. 2 mine in 1920 and a new slope into No. 2 in 1921. The Drummond continued to be the mainstay of the town until about two years ago when the Company decided to close the mine or sell out." Source: http://sites.rootsweb.com/~nspictou/elect_text/hist_westville.htm See the following for a series of postcards dedicated to this explosion: https://novascotia.ca/archives/meninmines/archives.asp?ID=705&Language= Back: Mrs. J.C. McKean Dear Mamma - Greta and I rode […] here today. Just got here. We drove over to Saltsprings yesterday to a picnic Irene McLeod fell off her brother's wheel the day after she got home and broke her right arm so could not write to say she got the hat. Got the wheel all right we were at the station to meet it Will not likely be home till next week. How are you getting on? Write & let me know. Love to all, Emily.