Item

Standard
Sept 7, 1843
New Rope. We noticed in the Standard of the 24th that our enterprising townsman Mr. J. Jarvis had established a Rope Walk at Indian Point at the south western end of this Town; we have since seen some Cordage manufactured at this establishment which his pronounced by competent judges to be equal and in some cases superior to the rope imported, and we are informed, that hawsers, and rigging, etc., of the best description will be manufactured immediately and sold as low as can be purchased elsewhere We trust that the spirited proprietor may met with that encouragement, which is due to his enterprise.

Standard
Oct 19/1843
4 new manufactories: rope walk, Lucifer Match, Blacking (Sime), and cigar. 2 or 3 more in contemplation.

Standard
Oct 7/1846
Meetings here and in St. Stephen on proposed line to Grand Falls, Woodstock.
New steam engine at Ropery of J and R. Jarvis. C. A. Babcock has decided to set a steam Grist Mill in operation. Bldg. adjoins rope walk.

Standard
Nov 17/1847
SA Iron Foundry--The new Foundry, recently erected in this place, by our spirited townsman, Mr. John Aymar, is now in operation. Several beautiful castings of stoves, wheels, etc., have just been executed at this establishment, which would do credit to any foundry. Let us encourage our own manufactures. There was not one steam engine in operation in this place in June, 1844, there are not less than 5 at present, in daily use,--one in each of the under mentioned establishments, viz.--the Steam Mills and Manufacturing Co., Messrs. J. and R. Jarvis Rope Walk, R. Stevenson's Tannery, C. A. Babcock's Flour Mill, and J. Aymar's Foundry--all of which are in active operation.

Standard
Aug 2/1848
Huge fire destroys Ropewalk and other buildings. See photocopy. "the whole establishment, extending from Water Street to the shore near the Lighthouse, was immediately in a blaze."

Destructive fire--great loss of property.
We have the melancholy task this week of announcing an awful visitation to St. Andrews--the destruction by fire of one of our largest and most valuable properties, viz. the Rope Walk and building owned by Messrs. J. and R. Jarvis--with their new Ship, nearly ready for launching, and two Dwelling houses, with the furniture, etc., one owned by Captain Peter Smith, and occupied by . . ., the other owned and occupied by Mr. William Jarvis, who, we are sorry to say, has lost everything. The fire was discovered by one of Messrs. Jarvis' apprentices about half past 2 o'clock on Monday after noon last. It appears that some tar, which was boiling for the purpose of tarring rope, boiled over, and a lad attending it threw some water on the flames, which spread to the side of the building situated at the lower end of the Rope Walk, near the water's edge, and within a few yards of the new Ship. Several barrels of tar were in the building, which immediately ignited and the whole establishment, extending from Water Street to the shore of the harbour near the Light House, was immediately in a blaze. The alarm was given. Church bells rang, and the appalling cry of Fire resounded through our streets. The fire engines, and, we may add, the whole male population of the town, were early to the spot, but the flames had made such progress, that even the workmen employed in building the vessel had not time to save their working tools. Such was the rapidity with which the fire spread, that the boys employed in the "Walk" were obliged to save themselves by jumping out of the windows and doors.
            The heat was so intense that the houses on the western side of the Rope Walk were frequently on fire, large pieces of lighted shingles etc. were scattered over the town, and it was with difficulty that the fire was prevented from spreading.
            Much credit is due to the Fire companies, and the inhabitants generally for their exertions to save the property. The military under Lieut. Wells also did good service. Great praise is due also to our neighbours in Robbinston who came over in boats to the number of 50 persons and employed themselves usefully in assisting to removed furniture, carrying water, etc.
            We learn that Messrs. Jarvis loss including the Rope Walk, rope, several suits of new sails, new ship, etc., is estimated at 10,000 pounds no insurance on the Rope Walk, etc., and only 1,000 pounds on the vessel. We in common with the whole community deeply sympathize with these gentlemen whose labours for years have been destroyed--their hopes blasted--and their families ruined. Thus in a few hours, have these industrious, honourable, and enterprising gentlemen been deprived of everything--a large number of persons thrown out of employment, and the town suffered a loss which will not soon be made up.

St. Croix Courier
June 15/1939
King George and Queen Elizabeth in Fredericton. Photos.
Shiretown Items—Who Can Remember?
. . . How many readers can recall the “rope walk?” It was not a walk made of rope, but a walk along which ropes were made. The manufacture of rope from loose bundles of hemp, the process of braiding, weaving and rolling, being almost entirely done by hand, was carried on in connection with the ship building industry of those far off days. The rope walk, so called was located and extended for several hundred yards, along the bank to the eastward of the lighthouse at the head of what is now the CPR wharf. The last ship to be built at St. Andrews was launched from the shipyard there, about sixty years ago, and school was dismissed that the children might witness a scene, which, all unknown to them at the time, was to mark the closing of an era of romance and prosperity in the old town, and which now remains but as a dim picture in the memories of the oldest inhabitants.

St. Croix Courier
July 20/1944
Shiretown Items—Other Fires and Other Matters
. . . Ship building was booming here at the time and there was also a nice industry in making ropes. The “Rope-walk”,” as it was called, was a long low building extending from the head of what is now known as the DeWolfe wharf, diagonally across the lot where the present office of the Vaughn Co. is located up to Water street, where afterwards was erected the large building known as the “Gove” building, built at the time the railway was started here, in 1852. A ship was being built at about the same place from which the recent ones have been launched and caught fire from a ot of tar which boiled over near at hand. Very little fire fighting equipment was available in those days and the ship, almost ready for launching, was completely destroyed. The “Rope-Walk” also caught and was burned to the ground, and as the last burning embers were extinguished, so perished another thriving industry. It just seems that SA, though ideally located with he best of water and rail connections to all points, was not intended to be an industrial centre.