Acadian Recorder, Nova Scotia, 1813

A reform-minded newspaperman who helped shape Nova Scotia’s press and built the region’s first paper mill

Anthony Henry Holland (1785–1830) started a newspaper in 1813 that would become one of Nova Scotia’s longest running papers. He was born in Halifax into a German family and was the godson of Anthony Henry (read his story here), who was the first King’s Printer and the second printer in Nova Scotia, following John Bushell. In all likelyhood, Holland probably served his apprenticeship in Anthony Henry’s office.

When Holland was in his early twenties, he spent time in the United States and went to work for William W. Clapp, publisher of the Gazette of Maine, Hancock and Washington Advertiser in Bucksport, Maine. In 1811, Clapp sold the paper to Anthony Holland. A year later, Holland announced he was suspending the paper while he was ‘out of town’. That absence was permanent – likely prompted by the tensions leading to the War of 1812 – and by 1813, he was back in Halifax.

At that time all the other newspapers in Halifax were very conservative and avoided any discussion of politics. Holland, who was more inclined to reform, said, in the prospectus for the Acadian Recorder; “Rational and fair discussion of political principles, and candid investigation of the conduct and characters of public men and public measures will never be rejected.”

Right from the start, Holland, young and aided by wartime prosperity, made the Recorder one of the most significant journals in the province. Holland believed strongly in moderation and rational discussion as a solution to most problems but there were a couple of times when he managed to antagonize authorities. He was a proud Nova Scotian but did not like Britain’s leadership in London, nor did he like the American ideas about freedom. He also must have been in great shape; to ensure his newspaper was first with the highly desired foreign news, he would row out to intercept a news packet while his competitors waited on the dockside the next morning.

In 1821, Holland added his brother Philip John as his partner and two years later, left the newspaper business to him. Philip John continued until 1836, when he sold the paper to Hugh William Blackadar and John English. The Acadian Recorder is one of the oldest running papers in Canada and kept on until 1930 when it ceased publication.

While still operating the Recorder, Holland established a paper mill, c1819, in the Bedford Basin and continued to run the mill after he left the newspaper business. The Acadian Paper mill was the second in Canada and the first in Atlantic Canada and produced both newsprint and brown wrapping-paper. On August 20, 1875, the mill was destroyed by fire and was never rebuilt. From 1839 to 1841, Charles Fenerty (read his story here), experimented with wood fibres at this mill. He produced the first sheet of paper made from wood pulp in North America.

Anthony Henry died in 1830 at the young age of 45 in a ‘driving accident’ most likely of the horse-and-buggy variety. He is buried in the graveyard of the Little Dutch Church in Halifax (read its story here).

Gravestone of both Anthony Henry Holland and his father, Johann Matthias Holland. Located in the graveyard of the Little Dutch Church in Halifax.

References:

Gertrude Tratt, (2003). “HOLLAND, ANTHONY HENRY,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 6, University of Toronto/Université Laval, https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/holland_anthony_henry_6E.html.

Acadian Paper Mill: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acadia_Paper_Mill

Charles Fenerty: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Fenerty

Images:

Portrait: Image courtesy of the Nova Scotia Archives