Florence is a community in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia

Cape Breton Regional Municipality often shortened to simply CBRM, is a regional municipality in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton County.According to the 2006 Census of Canada, the population within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality is 102,250...

, Nova Scotia, Canada. The community is located north of Highway 105

Nova Scotia Highway 105

Highway 105 in Nova Scotia represents the Cape Breton Island leg of the Trans-Canada Highway. It runs from the junction just east of the Canso Causeway in Port Hastings to the Marine Atlantic ferry terminal in North Sydney, representing a distance of ....

 and west of Sydney Mines

Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia

Sydney Mines is a former town in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality.Founded in 1784 and incorporated as a town in 1889, Sydney Mines has a rich history in coal production, although mining activity has now ceased.Prior to a permanent settlement being established, there was significant...

.

History

The community of Florence was named after Florence M. McDonald, wife of D. D. McKenzie, Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-North Victoria. He became interim Liberal leader upon the death of Sir Wilfrid Laurier

Wilfrid Laurier

Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....

 in 1919, "ascending higher on the political pyramid than any other Cape Bretoner before or since." Subsequently he was Attorney-General in McKenzie King's first cabinet and in 1923 was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. In 1910 it was home to a large co-operative store located on Florence Corner. In 1950 Florence had its first little league

Little League

Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...

team and was home to the Florence Coal Dusters in the 1970s. On June 11, 1951, a credit union opened on Pitt Street pioneered by George Walker, Jerry Rendell, and William O'Toole.

Mining

Florence Colliery was operated by the Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Company from 1902-1961. The Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Company opened No 4 Colliery in 1907 8000 feet west of Florence Colliery and operated it until 1921. The Franklin Mine was opened in 1946 where there was a coal washing plant. In 1911, Florence was home to a boarding house called Acadia House for local coal miners working at the colliery.