Graham Fraser

Graham Fraser, industrialist, community leader (b at New Glasgow, NS 12 Aug 1846; d there 25 Dec 1915). Following training in the US, Fraser returned to New Glasgow in 1867 to work in J.W. Carmichael's shipyards. In 1872 he and George Forrest Mackay formed the Hope Iron Works, which became the Nova Scotia Forge Co in 1874. In 1882 Fraser organized the Nova Scotia Steel Co at Trenton. At nearby Ferrona, Fraser built North America's first coal-washing and retort ovens for making coke. Fraser led Scotia's development of iron-ore deposits at Bell Island, Newfoundland, and coal at Sydney Mines, Cape Breton. He resigned in 1903, however, over questions of financial management, and for a short time was director of works for Dominion Iron and Steel. Fraser served New Glasgow variously as town councillor, water commissioner, mayor and director of the Aberdeen Hospital.