Kings Wharf
On the site where the Avon River Heritage Centre now sits a gypsum concern was once operated by Jerome Berre King, a New Yorker originally from Philadelphia.
In 1907 J.B. King acquired the shipyard in Newport Landing with the intention of exporting gypsum to his wallboard factory in New York’s Staten Island, a business he had been growing since 1876.
As the principal owner of the Newport Plaster Mining and Manufacturing Company, J.B. King operated several gypsum quarries on the Avon Peninsula, employing 125 men year-round until work transferred to a facility in Wentworth, following a general strike in 1920.
In 1907 J.B. King acquired the shipyard in Newport Landing with the intention of exporting gypsum to his wallboard factory in New York’s Staten Island, a business he had been growing since 1876.
As the principal owner of the Newport Plaster Mining and Manufacturing Company, J.B. King operated several gypsum quarries on the Avon Peninsula, employing 125 men year-round until work transferred to a facility in Wentworth, following a general strike in 1920.
One of the gypsum quarries on the Avon Peninsula, around the turn of the 20th century. Artifact #D995-01-02AA
The quarries were connected by railway, which stretched over 5 and a half kilometres weaving back and forth across the uneven Karst terrain of the Avon Peninsula. Several horse drawn carts, seventy five 5-ton side dump cars and three locomotives transported gypsum to Kings Wharf, where it was loaded by elevator during high tide, to be shipped to the J.B. King Co. in New York City for processing. These steam engines were repaired in a little machine shop, which was located near the site of the heritage centre. Water from Curry’s pond, located behind the Avondale United Church, was used to supply water for the engines.
Locomotive to haul gypsum, around the turn of the 20th century. Artifact #D995-01-01C
The J.B. King Company became the Canadian Gypsum Company in 1924 and more recently the Fundy Gypsum Company, which operated near the heritage centre and in Wentworth, near Windsor, until 2011. It was the last company to send large ships into the Minas Basin.
The still impressive remains of Kings Wharf can be seen by walking out on the Avon River at low tide.
The still impressive remains of Kings Wharf can be seen by walking out on the Avon River at low tide.
Kings Wharf at low tide, around the turn of the 20th century. Artifact #D995-01-01D
Nova Scotia has one of the largest workable gypsum deposits in Canada and was the most productive gypsum mining region in the world, making up approximately 80% of Canada’s gypsum production and 6% of the world’s gypsum production, with 90% of Nova Scotia’s gypsum exported from Hants County.
Around 75% of gypsum in North America is calcined, meaning that the gypsum was heated to remove three quarters of its water, creating what is called Plaster of Paris. Calcined gypsum is one of the most commonly used building materials, used for walls and ceilings as well as dental plaster, casts and moulds. Non calcined gypsum can be used as a set retarder in cement, fertilizer for plants and in paints.
The first gypsum mining in North America began in Nova Scotia in 1770. Gypsum mining started with farmers, who had set up their farms where gypsum was found. Most mined the gypsum as a part time operation and sold to traders, who then shipped the gypsum to the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. After realizing the potential to earn revenue in the gypsum business, farmers began to mine more seriously.
Around 75% of gypsum in North America is calcined, meaning that the gypsum was heated to remove three quarters of its water, creating what is called Plaster of Paris. Calcined gypsum is one of the most commonly used building materials, used for walls and ceilings as well as dental plaster, casts and moulds. Non calcined gypsum can be used as a set retarder in cement, fertilizer for plants and in paints.
The first gypsum mining in North America began in Nova Scotia in 1770. Gypsum mining started with farmers, who had set up their farms where gypsum was found. Most mined the gypsum as a part time operation and sold to traders, who then shipped the gypsum to the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. After realizing the potential to earn revenue in the gypsum business, farmers began to mine more seriously.
Gypsum Mining Along the Avon River, 1909
Faribault-Fletcher Map
Gypsum Mining Along the Avon River, 2024
Gypsum Mining Along the Avon River, 1909 & 2024
References:
Admin. (2015, May 29). GeoData | GeoNOVA. Novascotia.ca. https://geonova.novascotia.ca/geodata
Canada, N. R. (n.d.). National Railway Network - NRWN - GeoBase Series - Open Government Portal. Open.canada.ca. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/ac26807e-a1e8-49fa-87bf-451175a859b8
Esri. (2025). ArcGIS Pro (Version 3.4.3) [Computer software]. Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. https://www.esri.com/
Fletcher, H. & Faribault, E. R. (1909). Province of Nova Scotia, Hants County, Windsor Sheet No 73. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Geological Map, 1037. https://doi.org/10.4095/107895
Admin. (2015, May 29). GeoData | GeoNOVA. Novascotia.ca. https://geonova.novascotia.ca/geodata
Canada, N. R. (n.d.). National Railway Network - NRWN - GeoBase Series - Open Government Portal. Open.canada.ca. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/ac26807e-a1e8-49fa-87bf-451175a859b8
Esri. (2025). ArcGIS Pro (Version 3.4.3) [Computer software]. Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. https://www.esri.com/
Fletcher, H. & Faribault, E. R. (1909). Province of Nova Scotia, Hants County, Windsor Sheet No 73. Geological Survey of Canada, Multicoloured Geological Map, 1037. https://doi.org/10.4095/107895
These maps have been produced as a portion of the requirements of the GIS: Cartography and Geovisualization program of the Centre of Geographic Sciences, NSCC, Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia. The product is unedited, unverified and intended for educational purposes only. Copyright © NSCC COGS. Cartography by Kevin Philipow, 2025.
Google Earth 2016 image of Newport Landing/Avondale, with the remains of Kings Wharf to the the left and the rebuilt Avondale Wharf to the right.
