grounds, attracted fishermen
and trappers in the early
1800s, some settling
permanently in the area by
the mid 1860s.
   The river also made way
for growth in the mid 1870s
when a water turbine sawmill
was erected at the river's
mouth by Joseph William

Phillips. Because the demand
for white pine was high, jobs
at the mill were plentiful
and South West Arm of New Bay
(now Point Leamington) grew
rapidly.
   With growth came change;
with change came problems. In
1935, a local logger, J.J.
Thompson formed a loggers

union to fight the logging
industry's poor working
conditions, poor living
conditions and inadequate
wages. By 1950 the
Newfoundland Lumbermen's
Association (NLA) was the
largest single labour union
in Newfoundland.
   After Newfoundland joined

confederation in 1949, J.J.
Thompson sought international
affilliation for the
Newfoundland Lumbermen's
Association. In 1956, an
attempt was made to deliver
the membership to the United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners. Unfortunately, the
members voted instead to