Wedgeport
Encyclopedia
Wedgeport is a rural
French Acadian
fishing community located in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia
, Canada
.
to the Boston
area. The village of Wedgeport was formally called Tusket Wedge, it was also at one time called "Chebec". In 1909 by an Act of Parliament
, it was changed to Wedgeport.
On May 16, 1910, the community of Wedgeport was incorporated with Upper Wedgeport and Lower Wedgeport and became a town separate from the Municipality of Argyle. On December 22, 1948, the town of Wedgeport was disincorporated and rejoined the Municipality of Argyle because the town's tax base became too small to support its obligations.
In the 20th century, many famous Americans traveled here due to large amounts of tuna in the area, including Babe Ruth
, former President Franklin Roosevelt, Kate Smith
, Gene Tunney
, Amelia Earhart
, Ernest Hemingway
, Jean Béliveau
, Ethel du Pont
, Thomas Gifford
, Zane Gray and Tony Hulman
. It is known as the Historic Sport Tuna Fishing Capital of the World.
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
French Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
fishing community located in Yarmouth County, 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...
.
History
Wedgeport was settled in 1767 by returning Acadians that were deported from Nova ScotiaNova 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...
to the Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
area. The village of Wedgeport was formally called Tusket Wedge, it was also at one time called "Chebec". In 1909 by an Act of Parliament
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
, it was changed to Wedgeport.
On May 16, 1910, the community of Wedgeport was incorporated with Upper Wedgeport and Lower Wedgeport and became a town separate from the Municipality of Argyle. On December 22, 1948, the town of Wedgeport was disincorporated and rejoined the Municipality of Argyle because the town's tax base became too small to support its obligations.
In the 20th century, many famous Americans traveled here due to large amounts of tuna in the area, including Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
, former President Franklin Roosevelt, Kate Smith
Kate Smith
Kathryn Elizabeth "Kate" Smith was an American Popular singer, best known for her rendition of Irving Berlin's "God Bless America". Smith had a radio, television, and recording career spanning five decades, which reached its pinnacle in the 1940s.Smith was born in Greenville, Virginia...
, Gene Tunney
Gene Tunney
James Joseph "Gene" Tunney was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1926-1928 who defeated Jack Dempsey twice, first in 1926 and then in 1927. Tunney's successful title defense against Dempsey is one of the most famous bouts in boxing history and is known as The Long Count Fight...
, Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
, Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
, Jean Béliveau
Jean Béliveau
Jean Arthur "Le Gros Bill" Béliveau, is a former professional ice hockey player who played parts of 20 seasons with the National Hockey League's Montreal Canadiens. As a player, he won the Stanley Cup 10 times, and as an executive he was part of another seven championship teams, the most Stanley...
, Ethel du Pont
Ethel du Pont
Ethel du Pont Roosevelt Warren was an American heiress and socialite and a member of the prominent du Pont family.Born in Wilmington, Delaware, she was the daughter of Eugene du Pont, Jr...
, Thomas Gifford
Thomas Gifford
Thomas Eugene Gifford was a best-selling American author of thriller novels. He was a graduate of Harvard University....
, Zane Gray and Tony Hulman
Tony Hulman
Anton "Tony" Hulman, Jr. was a businessman from Terre Haute, Indiana who rescued the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1945 and made the Indianapolis 500 popular....
. It is known as the Historic Sport Tuna Fishing Capital of the World.