Londonderry, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
Londonderry is an unincorporated
community located in Colchester County
, Nova Scotia
, Canada
, formerly called Acadia Mines. A bustling iron ore mining
and steel
making town of some 5,000 in the late 19th century, the present population stands at around 200.
for making steel. Mining began in 1849 and eventually three mines - East Mines, Old Mountain Mine, and West Mines - were operated. Over 2 million tons of ore were mined. The iron ore seams that encouraged this development, originally thought to be enormous, proved to be small, shallow, and very expensive to mine. That, coupled with poor management decisions and failed experiments with rotary type ovens as well as low world steel prices, spelled the demise of the iron and steel industry in Londonderry.
The fatal blow to the community came with a destructive fire in 1920 which destroyed a large portion of the town. The mine operations were foreclosed in 1924 and the town never recovered thereafter. The once vast ruins of the former steel mill were torn down and sold as scrap during the scrap metal drives of World War II
.
main line runs through Londonderry Station, about two kilometers east of the village of Londonderry.
Lakes such as Sutherland's Lake and Folly Lake, only a 10 to 15 minute drive away, are sought-after cottage destinations for residents of nearby Truro
, Amherst
, Moncton, and Halifax.
Many residents of Londonderry are employed in the nearby Debert
Industrial Park and at the Ski Wentworth
ski resort, nestled in the Cobequid Mountains
, about 20 minutes north of Londonderry along Trunk 4. Londonderry currently has two churches: the Londonderry Station Community Church (also known as the Thirsty Church Project), and St. Ambrose Catholic Church. The Acadia Mines United Church was closed in 2010.
), was first settled by two groups of Scots Irish emigrants. The first group came from the town of Londonderry, New Hampshire
in 1761 whilst a larger contingent who had arrived in Halifax in October 1761 on the ship Hopewell out of Londonderry
in Ireland
, settled a few years later once land grants were secured. Both arrangements made by former British army Captain Alexander McNutt, who was formerly stationed at nearby Fort Cumberland and was originally from Ireland.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
community located in Colchester County
Colchester County, Nova Scotia
Colchester County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:The appellation Colchester was applied in 1780 to the district previously called "Cobequid," and was derived from the town of Colchester in Essex...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, formerly called Acadia Mines. A bustling iron ore mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
and steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
making town of some 5,000 in the late 19th century, the present population stands at around 200.
History
Londonderry saw the pouring of the some of the first steel made in Canada, and the first Canadian installation of the Bessemer processBessemer process
The Bessemer process was the first inexpensive industrial process for the mass-production of steel from molten pig iron. The process is named after its inventor, Henry Bessemer, who took out a patent on the process in 1855. The process was independently discovered in 1851 by William Kelly...
for making steel. Mining began in 1849 and eventually three mines - East Mines, Old Mountain Mine, and West Mines - were operated. Over 2 million tons of ore were mined. The iron ore seams that encouraged this development, originally thought to be enormous, proved to be small, shallow, and very expensive to mine. That, coupled with poor management decisions and failed experiments with rotary type ovens as well as low world steel prices, spelled the demise of the iron and steel industry in Londonderry.
The fatal blow to the community came with a destructive fire in 1920 which destroyed a large portion of the town. The mine operations were foreclosed in 1924 and the town never recovered thereafter. The once vast ruins of the former steel mill were torn down and sold as scrap during the scrap metal drives of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
General information
The CNCanadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
main line runs through Londonderry Station, about two kilometers east of the village of Londonderry.
Lakes such as Sutherland's Lake and Folly Lake, only a 10 to 15 minute drive away, are sought-after cottage destinations for residents of nearby Truro
Truro, Nova Scotia
-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :...
, Amherst
Amherst, Nova Scotia
Amherst is a Canadian town in northwestern Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.Located at the northeast end of the Cumberland Basin, an arm of the Bay of Fundy, Amherst is strategically situated on the eastern boundary of the Tantramar Marshes 3 kilometres east of the interprovincial border with New...
, Moncton, and Halifax.
Many residents of Londonderry are employed in the nearby Debert
Debert, Nova Scotia
Debert is an unincorporated farming community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is located approximately 20 km west of the town of Truro. The Village of Debert is home to two churches, Baptist and United, plus a Fellowship Center, as well as a gas station and two garages. There are...
Industrial Park and at the Ski Wentworth
Ski Wentworth
Ski Wentworth is a Canadian alpine ski hill in Nova Scotia's Cobequid Hills.Ski Wentworth is located in the hamlet of Wentworth in the Wentworth Valley, 48 km northwest of Truro and 67 km east of Amherst on Trunk 4....
ski resort, nestled in the Cobequid Mountains
Cobequid Mountains
The Cobequid Mountains, also sometimes referred to as the Cobequid Hills, is a Canadian mountain range located in Nova Scotia in the mainland portion of the province.-Geologic history:...
, about 20 minutes north of Londonderry along Trunk 4. Londonderry currently has two churches: the Londonderry Station Community Church (also known as the Thirsty Church Project), and St. Ambrose Catholic Church. The Acadia Mines United Church was closed in 2010.
Settlement
The Township of Londonderry, including the Port of Londonderry (now present day Great VillageGreat Village, Nova Scotia
Great Village is a community of approximately 500 people located along Trunk 2 and the north shore of Cobequid Bay in Colchester County Nova Scotia...
), was first settled by two groups of Scots Irish emigrants. The first group came from the town of Londonderry, New Hampshire
Londonderry, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,236 people, 7,623 households, and 6,319 families residing in the town. The population density was 555.8 people per square mile . There were 7,718 housing units at an average density of 184.6 per square mile...
in 1761 whilst a larger contingent who had arrived in Halifax in October 1761 on the ship Hopewell out of Londonderry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, settled a few years later once land grants were secured. Both arrangements made by former British army Captain Alexander McNutt, who was formerly stationed at nearby Fort Cumberland and was originally from Ireland.
Early settlers
Those who settled Londonderry Township included the following individuals:- Barnhill, John; of Lake, DonegalDonegalDonegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
; resident of Londonderry/OnslowOnslowOnslow can represent:People*Denzil Onslow , British politician, Member of Parliament for several constituencies*Denzil Onslow , general in the British Army and amateur cricketer... - Clark, John; of Tamlaught Finleggan, DerryDerryDerry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
- Cochran, Daniel; of ?Derrykeychen, AntrimCounty AntrimCounty Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
- Crawford, Joseph; of Rathmelton, Donegal
- Henderson, William; of RathmullanRathmullanRathmullan is a small seaside village on the Fanad Peninsula in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. It is situated on the western shore of Lough Swilly, 11 km north-east of Ramelton and 12 km east of Milford...
, Donegal - Mahon, John; of Rosses, Donegal; resident of Londonderry
- McClean, Anthony; of near Letter Kenny, Donegal; resident of Londonderry
- McNutt, Benjamin Bar; of Killmacrene, Mauagh, Donegal
- McNutt, John; of Tullyachnish, Derry
- McNutt, William; of Mavagh, Donegal; resident of Onslow
- Moore, William; of FahanFahanFahan is a district of Inishowen, in County Donegal, located five kilometres south of Buncrana. In Irish, Fahan is named after its patron saint, St...
, Donegal - Morrison, John;of Ry Tollaghebegly Donegal; resident of Londonderry
- Patton, Mark; of Fosghan Vael, Derry; resident of CumberlandCumberland County, Nova ScotiaCumberland County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:The name Cumberland was applied by Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Monckton to the captured Fort Beauséjour on June 18, 1755 in honour of the third son of King George II, William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, victor at...
- Ross, Andrew; of Belreshain, Antrim
- Smith, Robert; of Cahery, Drummacose, Derry
- Spencer, Robert; of Clanda Horky, Donegal; resident of Londonderry
Notable residents
- Laurie Davidson Cox (1883 – 1968), leading American landscape architect.
- Frank Parker DayFrank Parker DayFrank Parker Day was a Canadian athlete, academic and author....
, writer, taught school there - Archibald McLelanArchibald McLelanArchibald Woodbury McLelan, PC was a Canadian shipbuilder and politician, the fifth Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia....
(1824 – 1890), Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia - Robert McElhinneyRobert McElhinneyRobert McElhinney was an Irish-born political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Londonderry township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1790 to 1799....
(ca 1747 – 1831), Irish-born political who represented Londonderry Township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly - Thomas Fletcher MorrisonThomas Fletcher MorrisonThomas Fletcher Morrison was a sailor, farmer and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Londonderry Township from 1851 to 1859 and Colchester County from 1859 to 1863 and from 1867 to 1874 as a Liberal in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.He was born in Londonderry, Nova Scotia,...
(1808 – 1886), sailor, farmer and political figure in Nova Scotia - James MeissnerJames MeissnerMajor James Armand Meissner was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories and awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses.-Early life and service:...
(1896–1936), World War I flying, recipient of two Distinguished Service Crosses. - Doris PetrieDoris PetrieDoris Petrie was a Canadian film and television actress, best known for her roles in the films Wedding in White and Ticket to Heaven and the television series High Hopes, in which she played Meg Chapman, the mother of the main character, Dr...
, Canadian film and television actress