Weymouth, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
History
The area was settled in the 1760s by New England PlantersNew England Planters
The New England Planters were settlers from the New England colonies who responded to invitations by the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia, Charles Lawrence, to settle lands left vacant by the Bay of Fundy Campaign of the Acadian Expulsion...
after the Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
Expulsion. The town was formally founded by Loyalists
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
in 1783 (the year that the Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain on the one hand and the United States of America and its allies on the other. The other combatant nations, France, Spain and the Dutch Republic had separate agreements; for details of...
was signed ending the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
). Current day Weymouth was once called Weymouth Bridge, and Weymouth North was called Weymouth. Weymouth is supposed to have been named in honour of the previous settlement of the Strickland family from Weymouth
Weymouth, Massachusetts
The Town of Weymouth is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, Weymouth had a total population of 53,743. Despite its city status, it is formally known as the Town of Weymouth...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Shipping and shipbuilding were the main industry in the mid-19th century. Remnants of docks can be seen on the Northeast side of the Sissiboo today. Goods such as lumber were loaded on ships at these docks and shipped all over the world. Weymouth houses the oldest general store in Eastern Canada. Opened in 1837, the store is now called The Trading Post, but closed in 2009. The village also houses one of the original Merchants Bank of Halifax (later renamed Royal Bank of Canada
Royal Bank of Canada
The Royal Bank of Canada or RBC Financial Group is the largest financial institution in Canada, as measured by deposits, revenues, and market capitalization. The bank serves seventeen million clients and has 80,100 employees worldwide. The company corporate headquarters are located in Toronto,...
) in Canada. This building is now part of the aforementioned Weymouth Trading Post.
Nearby Weymouth Falls
Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia
Weymouth Falls is a rural community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the District of Clare in Digby County. The community is almost entirely African-Canadian. Weymouth Falls was settled in mid-19th century as was the nearby village of Weymouth...
was home to one of the world's greatest boxers, Sam Langford
Sam Langford
Sam Langford was a Black Canadian boxing standout of the early part of the 20th century. Called the "Greatest Fighter Nobody Knows," by ESPN. He was rated #2 by The Ring on their list of "100 greatest punchers of all time". Langford was originally from Weymouth Falls, a small community in Nova...
(1886–1956). Although he was never officially crowned World Champion, he held titles from England, Spain and Mexico.
The Dominion Atlantic Railway
Dominion Atlantic Railway
The Dominion Atlantic Railway was a historic Canadian railway which operated in the western part of Nova Scotia, primarily through an agricultural district known as the Annapolis Valley....
stopped running through Weymouth in March 1990.
Disasters
On 4 August 1909, 2 churches, a hotel, and several other buildings were destroyed due to a fire. On 2 October 1929 a fire started in the general store of Captain R.D. Barkhouse and swept through the downtown area destroying 25 buildings including retail shops, factories and private homes. It was estimated that the fire caused approximately $250,000 in structural damage. No serious injuries or deaths occurred because of the fire. On 6 February 1958, a fire destroyed the boat and furniture plants of Weymouth Industries Ltd. In June 1959 six businesses were wiped out due to fire. The Sissiboo river overflowed in March 2003, flooding the town by almost two feet.New France
The community of New France, approximately 10 to 15 miles inland from Weymouth, was founded by the Stehelin family who came from France in 1892. This community was notable for its early use of hydroelectric power generation, earning it the nickname "The Electric City". Also notable was the Stehelin family's railroad, constructed using logs as tracks, which they used to bring lumber from inland to the port at Weymouth. There is nothing left today except for the foundations of the city buildings. J.D. Irving, the current owners of the land, has established walking trails and interpretive signs at the New France site, and fixing the foundations so they are safe for visitors to explore.Geography
Modern day Weymouth straddles the Sissiboo RiverSissiboo River
The Sissiboo River is a river located in Digby County, Nova Scotia, Canada. The origins of the name "Sissiboo" are not known. The most credible is a derivation from the Mi'kmaq word for river, "Seboo."...
. This river swells approximately every six hours as salt water backs up from the high tides of the Bay of Fundy
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
into St. Mary's Bay.
Weymouth is situated on the border between the provincial electoral districts of Clare
Clare (electoral district)
Clare is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.The Member of the Legislative Assembly since 1993 has been Wayne Gaudet of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party....
and Digby-Annapolis
Digby-Annapolis
Digby—Annapolis is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.The Member of the Legislative Assembly since 2003 has been Harold "Junior" Theriault of the Liberal Party of Nova Scotia....
.
Weymouth is located 33 kilometres from Digby
Digby, Nova Scotia
Digby is a Canadian town in western Nova Scotia. It is the shiretown and largest population centre in Digby County.The town is situated on the western shore of the Annapolis Basin near the entrance to the Digby Gut which connects the basin to the Bay of Fundy.Named after Admiral Robert Digby, RN,...
, 72 kilometres from Yarmouth
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Yarmouth is a town and fishing port located on the Gulf of Maine in rural southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Yarmouth County. The town is located in the heart of the world's largest lobster fishing grounds and has Canada's highest lobster catch.- History :The townsite may...
and 250 kilometres from the capital of Nova Scotia, Halifax.
Smaller villages surrounding Weymouth proper are Weymouth Falls
Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia
Weymouth Falls is a rural community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the District of Clare in Digby County. The community is almost entirely African-Canadian. Weymouth Falls was settled in mid-19th century as was the nearby village of Weymouth...
, Weaver Settlement
Weaver Settlement, Nova Scotia
Weaver Settlement is a small community in Digby County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Prior to 1934 it was known as "Harlem". It is located on Highway 340, just outside of Weymouth. Municipal jurisdiction is split between the District of Clare and the Municipality of the District of Digby....
, Ohio
Ohio, Digby, Nova Scotia
Ohio is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the District of Clare in Digby County.-See also:*Ohio, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, in Antigonish County*Ohio, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, in Yarmouth County-References:*...
, Southville
Southville, Nova Scotia
Southville is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in The Municipality of the District of Digby in Digby County .-References:*...
, Riverdale
Riverdale, Nova Scotia
Riverdale is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the District of Clare in Digby County .-References:*...
, Danvers
Danvers, Nova Scotia
Danvers is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the District of Clare in Digby County .-References:*...
, Hassett
Hassett, Nova Scotia
Hassett is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the District of Clare in Digby County .-References:*...
, Saint Bernard
St. Bernard, Nova Scotia
St. Bernard is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the District of Clare in Digby County .-References:**...
and New Edinburgh
New Edinburgh, Nova Scotia
New Edinburgh is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the District of Clare in Digby County. The community was founded by British Loyalists Samuel Gouldsbury and Anthony Stewart in 1783 following the American Revolutionary War....
.
Two exits (27 and 28) on Highway 101
Nova Scotia Highway 101
Highway 101 is an east-west highway in Nova Scotia that runs from Bedford to Yarmouth.The highway follows a route along the southern coast of the Bay of Fundy through the Annapolis Valley. Between its western terminus at Yarmouth to Weymouth, the highway is 2-lane controlled access. Between...
are the primary access to the town. Trunk 1 runs through the village and was the main thoroughfare from the Annapolis Valley
Annapolis Valley
The Annapolis Valley is a valley and region in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is located in the western part of the Nova Scotia peninsula, formed by a trough between two parallel mountain ranges along the shore of the Bay of Fundy.-Geography:...
to Yarmouth
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Yarmouth is a town and fishing port located on the Gulf of Maine in rural southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Yarmouth County. The town is located in the heart of the world's largest lobster fishing grounds and has Canada's highest lobster catch.- History :The townsite may...
prior to the construction of Highway 101.
Climate
Economy
Fur farmingFur farming
Fur farming is the practice of breeding or raising certain types of animals for their fur.Fur used from wild caught animals is not farmed, and is instead known as 'free range fur' because the animals have lived their lives free and natural in the wild....
, especially mink
Mink
There are two living species referred to as "mink": the European Mink and the American Mink. The extinct Sea Mink is related to the American Mink, but was much larger. All three species are dark-colored, semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, which also includes the weasels and...
, fishing, and logging are the principle industries in the area.
Demographics
The Village of Weymouth comprises many different ethnic backgrounds. Primarily populated by descendants of the loyalists, African-Canadian and White, it also is home to a few Acadians, Mi'kmaq and people of German ancestry.Weymouth in fiction
Weymouth and Weymouth Falls appear mythologized in George Elliott ClarkeGeorge Elliott Clarke
George Elliott Clarke, OC is a Canadian poet and playwright. His work largely explores and chronicles the experience and history of the Black Canadian community of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, creating a cultural geography that Clarke refers to as "Africadia".-Life:Born to William and Geraldine...
's poetical work Whylah Falls
Whylah Falls
Whylah Falls is a long narrative poem by George Elliott Clarke, published in book form in 1990.As with much of Clarke's work, the poem is inspired by the history and culture of the Black Canadian community in Nova Scotia, which he refers to as the "Africadian" community...
(1990).