Dr. Bell was instrumental in assisting the work of his brother, Ralph, during the period of his life from 1920 up to the 1950s. Upon his return from Europe after World War I he was very much involved with Ralph Bell's work in the timber industry. In the latter half of 1920 and first half of 1921 he carried out numerous treks through the woods of southwestern Nova Scotia visiting camps and checking the stands of lumber to determine where and from whom his brother should purchase the timber.

The brothers retained an interest in a building at 131-133 Granville Street in Halifax and they conducted much of their business from that location. Even when Dr. Bell was teaching at Harvard he would on occasion be called on to meet with buyers or other representatives in Boston on his brother's behalf.

During the 1920s Ralph Bell's business interests continued to grow and he also became involved in the fishing industry and more specifically with the Lockeport Company. Winthrop and his wife, Hazel, moved to the community in 1927 and Dr. Bell actively aided his brother in the development of freezer technologies both at the processing plant and in railway cars that would transport the product to other parts of the continent. Winthrop Bell also became embroiled in the transition from fishing schooners to trawlers. He wrote an article entitled "Why Fuss About the Trawler?" which appeared in the April 15, 1930 edition of Maclean's Magazine. His involvement continued in that business until 1933 when he received a retiring allowance and moved to Chester Basin, Nova Scotia to make way for his niece's husband who moved into their former Lockeport house and continued to oversee the business there. His interest in the fishing industry continued and during a 1934 trip to Europe Dr. Bell spent a great deal of time gathering information about the fisheries in Britain and prepared a detailed report for the benefit of his brother. (Source: Mount Allison University Archives, Winthrop Pickard Bell fonds, Report on British Fisheries, 6501/3/4 - File No. 1 - Item No. 1).

Photograph taken by Winthrop Bell of herring boats from the top of the freezer at Lockeport, Nova Scotia, July 26, 1927 Mount Allison University Archives, Winthrop Pickard Bell fonds, 6501/17/8/3 - p. 25 May only be reproduced with the permission of the Mount Allison University Archives.

With the outbreak of World War II Winthrop Bell sought to again offer his services in the defence of Canada. He wrote to various ministers in Ottawa and ultimately became involved with the aircraft industry. In a letter to Francis Deak Dr. Bell indicates that he spent a year in Ottawa working on paper work and then returned to Nova Scotia and worked at a plant [the Clark Ruse facility] in Dartmouth. (Source: Mount Allison University Archives, Winthrop Pickard Bell fonds, Correspondence with Francis Deak, 8550/1/14).

After the war he was again more directly involved with his brother's activities in consolidating the fishing industry through the creation of National Sea Products Limited. Dr. Bell sat on the Board of Directors of the company for a number of years and again played the role of trusted confidante for his brother. As his health deteriorated and his heart condition worsened after 1951 he began to curtail most of his direct involvements but remained a keen observer of developments in the fields of economics and business.

Home - Biography - Bibliography - Links

Chronology - Credits - Technical information - Copyright - Contact Us