STELLARTON

town, Pictou county, northern Nova Scotia, Canada. It lies just south of New Glasgow, along the East River. Coal, discovered there in 1798, was mined continuously until the last mine closed in 1957. One of the world's thickest coal veinsthe Foord seam (48 feet ) in partwas uncovered there. In 1839 Samson, the first steam locomotive to operate on steel rails in Canada, began hauling coal between the mines and the river. Another locomotive, Albion, put into service in 1854, may still be seen at the Miners' Museum. The town was named for its so-called stellar coal, which emits starlike sparks as it burns. The community was founded as Albion Mines and was incorporated as a town under its present name in 1889. Pop. (1991) 5,237.