Item

Wallace Broad, Editor and Publisher

Beacon
April 30/1896
Interview with Wallace Broad
The Rhodesia Weekly Review, which is a large and apparently prosperous periodical, is printed in town of Buluwayo, now beleaguered by he Metabele hordes. The issue of March 14th, which reached this office April 27th, contains no mention of the uprising, which seems to have developed suddenly. A column and a half is devoted to an interview with Wallace Broad, now a resident of Buluwayo who gave the reporter a good ideal of information about geological matters. The article then continues:
            These remarks on geology are the outcome of an interesting interview with Wallace Broad, B. A., who has been over five months in Buluwayo, and who has already come to be regarded as a valuable recruit-and something more than a “full private” to the little army that is now engaged in developing Rhodesia.
            Mr. Broad is native of Canada—that loyal sister colony of which we are all so proud—and distinguished himself in the department of science during his collegiate course at the University of New Brunswick. He was prizeman in his junior year, and Dufferin gold medalist in his senior year, and graduate with honors in chemistry, geology, and natural science. He subsequently took a postgraduate course at McGill college in assaying, blowpipe analysis, mining, and geology; the lat course under Sir William Dawson. After completing his collegiate studies, Mr. Broad joined the geological survey of Canada, which was first established under Sir William Logan and is today one of the largest and most efficient government geological surveys in the world. He remained six years on the field staff of that survey, but left to engage in the manufacture of mining implements. He did not, however, wholly forsake his “first love,” but has always continued to take a deep interest in geology, mineralogy, and mining. For domestic reasons, consideration of his own health, and that of some members of his family, he came out to Cape Colony in 1894. The attractions of Rhodesia proved irresistible to him, and last September he made his way to Buluwayo and as stated above, has taken up his permanent residence among us. He is charmed wit the country and has great faith in its mineral wealth, he brings with him the highest testimonials from his former scientific colleagues and from many distinguished Canadians, who all certify to his ability and integrity, and we think we do not overstate the fact when we say that neither he nor those who are developing Rhodesia will have any cause to regret that he has thrown in his lot with us.

Beacon
July 2/1914
New Editor Wallace Broad
Beacon suspended since April 9 because of technical problems, but nothing could be done in time, since the town no longer has a machine shop or foundry.

Beacon
July 5/1919
Dr. Wallace Broad, Chairman of School Board

St. Croix Courier
April 26/1934
Dr. Wallace Broad Passes in Boston after Brief Illness. Photo. April 22. Deaconess Hospital.
            Dr. Wallace Broad, geologist, journalist and one of the distinguished sons of NB, died in the Lahey Clinic of the Deaconess Hospital, Boston, early Sunday morning following a brief illness of pneumonia which set in after an operation. For the last 20 years Dr. Broad had made his home in St. Andrews and up until recent years had been a frequent visitor to SS, where he was on several occasions the principal speaker at the annual meetings of the now dissolved St. Andrews’ Society.
            A man of unusual culture and versatility, he went to St. Andrews when nearing his sixtieth birthday, having retired from an active career in geological work, and took up the art of printing, in which he became remarkably proficient, turning out work from his office in St. Andrews which would have done credit to a much larger and better equipped establishment.
            Dr. Broad was born in Saint John in 1856, a son of the late Elisha and Janet Rankine Broad. After attending the grammar school there he entered the University of NB, specialized in engineering and graduated as gold medalist in the class of 1877. He then took post-graduate work at McGill University, Montreal. Having completed his studies, he associated himself for a time with Dr. L. W. Bailey in geological work in NB, and then jointed the staff of the Dominion Geological Survey. This work was followed by several year of activity in the manufacture of edge tools at SS, the firm being known as the E. Broad and Sons Axe Factory.
            In 1894, Dr. Broad again resumed his geological work, this time in Rhodesia, South Africa, and in 1901 he went to East Africa. In 1902 he journey to China, and acted in the capacity of mining advisor for a period of three years to the Chinese Imperial Government. IN 1906, after spending a few years in Japan, examining mining properties there, and in London, England, for a rest, he again returned to China and was engaged in mining and metallurgy work until 1913, when he retired and returned to Canada.
            He edited and published The Beacon at St. Andrews from 1914 until 1919. Latterly he was proprietor of the Beacon Press at St. Andrews. He was awarded the honorary degree of doctor of science by the University of NB in 1916, and was one of the oldest living graduates.
            He took a keen interest in town affairs at St. Andrews and from 1917 until 1925 served as chairman of the School Board.
            Surviving are three daughters, Miss Katie Broad, of the news staff of The Telegraph Journal, and Miss Mabel Broad, both of Saint John and Miss Lucy Broad of England, one brother Harry Broad of St. Stephen and one sister, Mrs. Ella Thorning, Cochrane, ON.