There are two excellent resources available to the amateur historian for information on Oxford. From 1898–2015, we have The Oxford Journal, though accessing the files is a challenge, with only microfilm available for the public to view via the Cumberland County Museum and Archives in Amherst, or the Nova Scotia Archives in Halifax (the Oxford Historical Society has a physical copy courtesy of the estate of Murray Keating, which begins in 1931 but is not publicly accessible).
The other source is The Chignecto Post and Borderer, published out of Sackville, N.B., and which included a nearly-weekly section on Oxford (as well as other communities). That paper is available via the Canadiana.ca online database. The article below is taken from the April 26, 1877 edition of the Chignecto Post (all spellings and typos from the original text):
Oxford, N.S.
There is a story in the “Golden Butterfly” of a city built up in a day by speculators, and in a day abandoned, its streets deserted, its palace doors hingeless and owls through its open windows completing the picture of desolation. There are places created by exceptional and temporary causes or by government works and subsidies, that come to fade like a mushroom in a summer’s sun.
One of those little towns, thrifty and of rapid growth, so rarely met with in Canada and owing its existence to the energy of one or two men is Oxford, N.S. Twelve years ago, the whole place was not worth $10,000; to-day perhaps a quarter of a million could not purchase it. Built up by private enterprise, created by public necessity, its growth promises to be permanent and sure. The leading industry of its pace, and the primary source of its prosperity is
THE WOOLLEN MILLS,
started nine years ago; a dam across River Philip at this place furnishing the water power. Since then water power has been abandoned and steam substituted in the first mill built, and another mill also driven by steam power erected. The latter mill is a building 80×30 and three storeys. It is driven by a 30-horse power engine. This building contains 12 looms, 2 setts of carding machines, and 3 spinning machines, one of them the latest style of self-acting spinning jack. In the old mill has recently been placed a 15-horse steam power.
Besides these buildings, the Company has erected a warehouse, 50×25, for the storage of wool, of unfinished and finished cloths. The hands employed number about 30. The number of pounds of wool used last year was 100,000; the value of cloth made about $60,000. The kind of cloth manufactured is homespun, fulled cloth and tweed. The popularity of these goods seems to be well sustained from the fact that there is a ready market for a they make. They are to be found on the counters of every Poole from London to San Francisco. Clothed in Oxford grey, Sir Garnet Wolseley’s men polished off the Ashantee *******. English swells delight to give it a morning airing on Piccadilly. A medal and diploma were awarded to Oxford cloths at the Centennial, and a consignment has arrived at Australia, bound to conquer new fields even if they have to be sought at the antipodes.
Messrs. T. Thompson, Thompson Smith, Oxley and Graham, who were we believe the primary owners in these mills, did not place them in their present position without a severe struggle. There were all kinds of disheartening difficulties to be overcome, but they persevered, and the result is a splendid success. Messrs. J.J. Robb and G.J. Hewson having bought interests are now partners, in pace of some of the above. The manager is Mr. John J. Robb. The influence of manufacturing industries in keeping money at home that would otherwise go abroad, in furnishing employment to home labor, in giving a home market for farmers’ produce and in building up the capital of our country is generally recognized, and those men of brains and enterprise who give the initial movement to these industries cannot be too highly prized in a community. Another establishment that deserves honorable notice is the
WOODEN FACTORY,
started some five years ago and owned by a joint stock company. The nominal capital is $12,000; the real capital being larger. The factory itself is 80×30, and is fitted up with all kinds of machinery for making furniture, house mouldings and other wood goods. It has moulders, saws, planes, etc., driven by a 15-horse power engine. A water saw mill owned by the company cuts up their logs. In addition to the factory, the company has a large dry-house, where the lumber is thoroughly seasoned before being used, a warehouse for finished work, lumber shed, etc. The company employs 20 hands. Their work has greatly improved in quality since the first year, and it compares very favorably both in price and quality with the same styles of imported goods. They now make some very fine work in walnut and ash. The manager of the company is Mr. J. H. Harvey. Another factory of Oxford, at present closed, affording
A FINE CHANCE
for a good mechanic with means, is the Edge Tool Factory, started two years ago. The building with the machinery cost some $8,000, and is complete and ready for work. It was in operation for a few months but the work turned out was not up to the standard in quality, and its proprietors shut down. It is now standing idle, only waiting for a man skilled in the business to take hold of it and create another source of wealth to Oxford.
Amongst the other industries of the place may be mentioned the carriage factory of Messrs. Smith, Morrell, Ogden & Morrell, and those of Messrs. Lyons and Horton, the former being the largest in Cumberland. Drs. Howard and Carter look after the physical well-being of the people, and Rev. Messrs. Alcorn and Bird (Methodist), Thompson (Baptist) and Sutherland (Presbyterian), after the spiritual health. The Methodists and Baptists have very neat places of worship.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Oxford Woollen Mills, the Oxford Historical Society is holding an exposition of its products on Saturday, November 16th, at All Souls’ Anglican Church on James St., Oxford, 1:00pm–3:00pm.

Enjoyed the articles , very informative.
Thank you!!
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