McAlpine's 1884 Directory listed Michael Abbott as a merchant at The Gravels. Henry Haliburton was Baird's agent. In 1904, both were general dealers at The Gravels.
Joy and Sons, Haliburton and Baird, George MacDonald and M.F. Abbott were still merchants at Port au Port. Haliburton, Joy, Abbott and Baird all had business premises on The Isthmus, and Abbott and Haliburton combined their businesses later. Both M.F. Abbott and J. Baird established lobster factories on Fox Island in Port au Port Bay to the north. The Abbott business was started by Michael Abbott and grew on the strength of the lobster cannery. Born in 1866 to a family from the West Country of England, he lived at Marche's Point after arriving at The Gravels in 1886, having worked as a linesman with Reid Railway Company at Stephenville Crossing and then as a tinsmith for Baird and Gordon at The Gravels. In 1890, he received a block of land at The Gravels and extended his business there.
By 1905, Joy and Sons and Baird's had closed and Abbott had combined with Haliburton and built new premises in 1908. As well as lobsters, they processed salmon, halibut, herring and scallops. While scallops were important, this aspect was short-lived. The large Abbott & Haliburton general store at The Gravels dealt in foodstuffs, hardware and building supplies, while that at Piccadilly took over the fisheries supplies. The company also bought cattle which they sent by rail to St. John's for butchering. Involved, too, in the timber industry, the firm cut pulpwood at Camp 23 between Stephenville Crossing and Corner Brook.
William Abbott was connected with the family business for six decades. The company's first lobster factory was at School Point, while Baird's built one at The Gravels. Most lobster was sold to the U.S.
An earthquake destroyed much of the old settlement in 1927. Abbott's founder continued to work as a tinsmith, making his own tins until 1925. He died in 1939, and his two sons took over the company. His grandson took over in 1974, with a sister and cousin providing help.
He then started a lobster factory at Boswarlos, having the lobster fishing rights from Shoal Point to Jack of Clubs Cove. A second lobster factory followed in 1901. Bill Compagnon worked for him, and Michael Abbott was his tinsmith who founded the Abbott part of Abbott & Haliburton. Dried salt cod, pickled herring and cod oil were also produced.
The Abbott and Haliburton company, which was based in Port au Port, opened branch factories at De Grau (on the beach at Benoits Road and then later at the top of the road), West Bay, Three Rock Cove and Black Duck Brook. In 1935, Abbott and Haliburton purchased the wharf and cold storage facility at Piccadilly. A new cold storage plant was completed in 1951 and became the fisheries store. The Three Rock Cove store survived the longest, but the smaller stores closed when a road was completed in the late 1930s.
In 2017 a massive fire distroyed the newly renovated Abbott and Haliburton a now Home Hardware agent. A new store is being built from its ashes.
References:
Decks Awash
Jasen Benwah
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