Lunenburg County is a County located on the South Shore of the Canadian Province of Nova Scotia. It ranges from Hubbards in the East to Voglers Cove in the West. Lunenburg County consists of 5 municipalities, namely, the Towns of Bridgewater, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg, and the municipal districts of Lunenburg and Chester. There also also two incorporated villages, The Village of Chester, which is in the Municipality of the District of Chester and the Village of Hebbville, which is in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg.
Trunk Highways in Lunenburg County:
Trunk/Highway 3, Halifax to Yarmouth Via South Shore Trunk/Highway 10, Bridgewater to Middleton, 89 km long Trunk/Highway 12, Chester Basin to Kentville, 67 km long Trunk/Highway 14, Chester to Milford, through Windsor, 118 km long
100-Series Highways in Lunenburg County:
Highway 103, Halifax to Yarmouth Via South Shore, 300 km long.
Highway Exits in Lunenburg County:
Exit 6-Hubbards, Takes you to Trunk 3. Exit 7-East Chester/East River, Takes you to Trunk 3. Easiest Exit for Blandford. Exit 8-Chester, Takes you to Trunk 14. Only direct Exit to Windsor. Exit 9-Chester Basin, Takes you to Highway 12. Only direct Exit to New Ross. Exit 10-Mahone Bay, Takes you to Highway 3. Only direct Exit to Martins River/Oak Island. Exit 11-Blockhouse, Takes you to Cornwall Road. Only direct Exit to Blockhouse/Middle New Cornwall/Lunenburg/Mahone Bay/Riverport Exit 12-Bridgewater, Takes you to Highway 10/North Street, Only direct Exit to Middleton and New Germany. Exit 13-Wileville, Takes you to Highway 325/Victoria Road. Exit 14-Hebbs Cross, Takes you to Trunk 3. Exit 15-Italy Cross, Takes you down Italy Cross Road towards Rissers Beach. Exit 16-Middlewood, Takes you down Hirtle Road towards Cherry Hill.
Collector Highways in Lunenburg County:
Route/Highway 208, New Germany to South Brookfield, 38 km long Route/Highway 210, Newcombville to Middlefield, 32 km long Route/Highway 324(Northwest Road) Blockhouse to Lunenburg, 11 km long Route/Highway 325, Mahone Bay to Colpton, 46 km long Route/Highway 329, East River to Hubbards, along Aspotogan Peninsula, 42 km long Route/Highway 331, Bridgewater to East Port Medway, 57 km long. Route/Highway 332, Garden Lots to Upper LaHave, 37 km long. Lighthouse Route, Scenic Roadway following the South Shore from Halifax to Yarmouth for 339 km.
MAJOR HISTORIC EVENTS IN LUNENBURG COUNTY:
1921: The Original Bluenose is launched from a wharf in Lunenburg. The ship eventually sinks off of Haiti in 1946.
1998: En route from New York City to Geneva, Switzerland, Swiss Air Flight 111 plunges into the Atlantic Ocean off Nova Scotia, killing all 215 passengers and 14 crew members. Emergency Responders and Fire Departments from all along the South Shore and Halifax Regional Municipality responded to this tragic disaster.
2006: The Supreme Court of Nova Scotia strikes down a law preventing stores from selling goods on Sundays after Sobeys and Atlantic Superstore grocery chains challenged the provincial government. This opened the doors for "Sunday shopping" in all retail locations.
TIME ZONE: ATLANTIC
AREA CODE: 902
SYSTEM OF MEASUREMENT: METRIC
VOTING AGE: 18
STATUTORY HOLIDAYS: NEW YEAR'S DAY, GOOD FRIDAY, CANADA DAY, LABOUR DAY AND CHRISTMAS DAY. MOST EMPLOYERS ALSO RECGONIZE VICTORIA DAY, THANKSGIVING, REMEMBRANCE DAY, BOXING DAY, EASTER MONDAY AND THE FIRST MONDAY IN AUGUST(CIVIC HOLIDAY)
YOU KNOW YOUR FROM LUNENBURG COUNTY WHEN:
The statement "Can I have a poutine with my donair?" doesn't confuse you.
You automatically assume someone who's rude must be from Toronto or the United States.
Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are covered with snow.
You've worn shorts and a parka at the same time.
If asked, you give directions in time rather than distance.
You say hello to someone and they say hello back to you.
You go for a 2-hour hike in November and hit rain, sleet, snow and sunshine before you get back.
You've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number.
You know several people who have hit a deer more than once.
You have switched from "heat" to 'A/C" in the same day and back again.
You install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked.
You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.
You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction.
You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.
You find 0 degrees celsius "a little chilly"
You can wear jeans to any restaurant and not look out of place
You don't go for coffee, you go for a Timmie's.
You understand what "sunny breaks" means.
You know more people who heat with wood than with oil.
You know more people who own boats than who have air conditioners.
In winter, you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark while only working eight-hour days.
You never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho.
You are not fazed by "Today's forecast: showers followed by rain, " and "Tomorrow's forecast: rain followed by showers."
You have no concept of humidity without precipitation.
You put on your shorts when the temperature gets above 10 degrees celsius but still wear your sweater and boots.
15 degrees celsius is sandal weather.
You know people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists.
You buy new sunglasses every year, because you cannot find the old ones after such a long time.
You close each sentence with"eh"
WHERE NAMES OF PLACES CAME FROM:
Aldersville- Located just past New Ross, Originally spelled Aaldersville, after Peter Aalders(1785-1834) he was a native of Holland who served in the 7th Battalion, 60th Regiment who was sent to Nova Scotia during the War of 1812.
Aspotogan- Located on the Aspotogan Peninsula, just past Blandford, the name comes from the Mi'kmaq meaning "where they block the passageway," in this case for the purpose of trapping and killing seals.
Baker Settlement- Located just outside Bridgewater on Highway 325, the Becker family moved there in 1835, with the community being named after them, however over the years the name was changed to Baker.
Barss Corner- Located just outside New Germany, the name came from the second generation of Foreign settlers from Lunenburg area, and was named for the first landholder.
Bayswater- Located just past Blandford, this community name came from an Act of the Legislature from 1865 which combined several local communities, forming the name Bayswater.
Beech Hill- Located past Western Shore, heading inland, towards Chester Basin, this community was named for a grove of beech trees.
Blandford- This place was named after Blandford, England by Irish immigrants prior to 1767 as they had settled in this community.
Blockhouse- Located near Mahone Bay, in 1754 a Captain built a blockhouse there when the place was known as Windmill Hill for a corn mill that operated there. Natives called the place Tenapsketegenoogwomk, meaning a house built out of rocks and another early name for the place was Mush-a-Mush.
Blue Rocks- Located just outside Lunenburg, this place was settled in 1760, and it's name comes from what it says, although the colour of the rocks vary with the light, it is not always clear.
Bridgewater- The town is named for the bridge that crosses the LaHave river there.
Broad Cove- Located outside Petite Riviere, the community was settled in 1791 and is named after the cove which is broad, or triangular there.
Camperdown- Located near Hebbs Cross, this place was named after Lord Viscount Duncan of Camperdown or after a village in Holland where he was in the naval battle that resulted in his title being given.
Canaan- Located outside Chester, the name is of biblical origin referring to the promised land of the Israelites.
Cape LaHave- The cape was the first section of Mainland North America sighted by Samuel de Champlain and Pierre Du Gua de Monts on their 1604 voyage. de Months named the cape Cap de la Have because it had reminded him of Cap de la Heve near the entrance to Le Havre in France from where they had sailed.
Chelsea- Located outside of Bridgewater, this community was settled in the 1830s and named for Chelsea in London, England.
Cherryfield- Located just past New Germany, this community was settled in the mid 1830's and was named after a large amount of cherry trees in the area.
Cherry Hill- Named after a grove of Cherry Trees.
Chester/Chester Basin- Named after Chester, England.
Chester Grant- Name comes from a land grant to Chester Yeomen for rendered services.
Colpton- Located near Hemford, this place was Originally named Pleasant River Settlement, the name was changed when the Colp family received land there in 1902.
Conquerall Bank/Conquerall Mills-Located just outside Bridgewater, Conquerall was a trade name used by George Fancy, who owned land in the area, to promote quality of the lumber produced in his mill.
Crescent Beach- A popular beach, the name comes from the crescent-shaped beach first known as Romkeys Beach.
Crousetown- Located near Petite Riviere, this place was named after John and Phillip Crouse, originally from Germany.
Dayspring- Located between Bridgewater and Lunenburg, this place was settled in 1757 by a captain, the place was first called Summerside, but by 1902 it was also called Dayspring, a common poetic word meaning the early dawn.
Deep Cove- Located near Blandford, the community get's it's name from the adjacent cove whose waters are sufficiently deep to allow passage of the largest ships.
Dublin Shore- Located near LaHave, This place was created in 1760, and got it's name from the city of Dublin in Ireland.
East Clifford- Located near Baker Settlement, this place was named after a captain Herbert Clifford, who founded a mission off the coast of China.
East Ironbound Island- Located close to Big Tancook Island, this place is named after the iron grey coloured stone.
East LaHave- Located near Riverport, this place was settled in the late 1700's by William Park and John Crooks, originally the place was called Parks Creek but in 1916 the name changed to it's current form.
East River- Located near Chester, this place get's it's name from the river running through the community and where it is on the east side of Mahone Bay, they called it East River.
Farmington- Located near New Germany, it was settled in the mid-1800's and was named for its major industry.
Feltzen South- Located near Riverport, the community was settled before 1760 and is believed to have been named for Feltzen, a village in Southern Germany.
First Peninsula- Located near Lunenburg, in 1753 a plan showing a number of lots near Lunenburg, was given to the Executive Council in Halifax, today remnants of some of those subdivisions are found in some place names near Lunenburg, due to the plan. The plan named communities according to their direction with reference to the town of the range system, First Peninsula was the First, Peninsula, north of the town of Lunenburg, First South is the first lot in the south subdivision and Centre and Back Centre were named after the centre range of lots.
Five Houses- Located near Riverport, This community only had five houses when it was named in 1755, so it was named just that, but by 1954 there was eight houses.
Forties- Located near New Ross, Named after "forty lots" that were reserved for veterans of the Napoleonic Wars.
Fox Point- Located just outside Hubbards, it was first settled in 1812, the place was likely named for either an early settler or an incident with a fox.
Fraxville- Located near New Ross, this community was settled in the mid-1800s and is believed to have been named for an early settler.
Gold River- Located between Western Shore and Chester Basin, natives called the place Amagapskegek for "rocky river", it was settled in 1765 and was called Gould River and Goold River for an early settler, however just before gold was discovered in 1861, the name was changed to Gold River.
Hebbs Cross- Named after Adam Hebb, the first settler in the area and because the place was a crossroads, settlement started in the early 1800s.
Heckmans Island- near the Town of Lunenburg, this Island was named after the Heckman family which settled here in 1830.
Hubbards- Settled around 1800, this community was named after an Early Settler and was called Hubbards Cove until cove was dropped out of the name in 1905.
Indian Point- land here was reserved for the Mi'kmaq and the name comes from this. The first land grant was in 1773 to German families, named Wentzell, Ernst, Lohnes, Hyson, Eisenhower and Zwicker.
Italy Cross- the name of this community comes from the old settlement between Crousetown and New Italy and from the crossroads on which it is located. It was settled around 1821.
Kingsburg- Located near Riverport, this name means "Kings Town" and was likely given as a demonstration of loyalty to the Crown, land grants were first established here by 1787.
Laconia- Located outside of Bridgewater, this community was settled after 1811 and was first named Lakeville, later Laconia for the old greek city which was in a valley bordered by the mountains of Arcadia.
LaHave- the first section of Mainland North America sighted by Samuel de Champlain and Pierre Du Gua de Monts on their 1604 voyage. de Months named the cape Cap de la Have because it had reminded him of Cap de la Heve near the entrance to Le Havre in France from where they had sailed.
Lake Ramsay- Located near New Ross, this community was believed to be named by George Ramsay, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia from 1816 to 1819.
Lake William- Located near New Germany, this lake was named after two first nations people who were given land grants here before 1836.
Lapland- Located near Bridgewater, this community was settled in the early 1800s and was likely named after Lapland in Northern Europe.
Lunenburg-The current town was established in 1753 and named in honour of the Duke of Braunschweig-Luneburg who was crowned King of England in 1727.
Mahone Bay- Name comes from the french word mahonne which desribes a low-slung craft preferred by pirates, many used this bay as a safe haven. It was founded in 1754 when Captain Ephraim Cook built a mill here. In 1813 a British warship chased the notorious pirate ship Young Teazer into Mahone Bay where it was scuttled. It is believed that a phantom ship returns every year on June 27th, the anniversary of this event.
Maitland- Located between Mahone Bay and Bridgewater, this community was settled in the early 1800s. The name was suggested by a Judge Fairbanks in honour of Sir Peregrine Maitland, who was governor of the province from 1823 to 1831.
Maplewood- Located near New Germany, Settlement began here in 1840 with the Foster family from Aylesford. Earlier names were Falkland and Lower Foster Settlement.
Marriotts Cove- Located just outside of Chester, Benjamin Bridge settled here in 1767, the community is named after another early settler.
Martins Point/Martins River- Named after Settler Martin Westhaver, these communities were established in 1771.
Meisners Section- Located just outside New Germany, this community was named after Jacob Meisner, who had settled here prior to 1863.
Middlewood- Located between Bridgewater and Liverpool, Land grants were first given here in 1830, in about 1890 it was named Middleton, due to the fact that it is half way between Bridgewater and Liverpool but it was changed shortly after to avoid confusion with Middleton in Annapolis County.
Mill Cove- Located just outside Hubbards, land grants were given in 1832 to James Jollymore and John Troop. The community was named after a mill built there.
Mill Road- Located outside of New Ross, land grants were first given in 1865, the name comes from the community's location on the road from New Ross to one of the principal area mills.
Moshers Island- Located at the entrance of the harbour to LaHave, it was initially called "Raspberry Island" due to the fact that there were several raspberry bushes on the island, however in the 1770s the Island was conveyed to the Mosher family and therefore named for them.
Newburne- Located near New Germany, the first land grant was received in 1846 by Charles Jodrey. The place was named "Newburne" because it was burnt by a Forest Fire.
New Canada- Located near New Germany, the first land grant was received in 1845. The place is named after the Dominion of Canada.
Newcombville- Located just outside of Bridgewater, this place was named after the Newcomb family which settled here in 1806.
New Elm- Located outside of Bridgewater, the first settler came in 1875. German settlers named the community after a place in Germany.
New Germany- In 1805 a number of German settlers settled here and named this place after their homeland, Germany.
New Ross- Captain William Ross originally named this community Sherbrooke after Sir John Coape Sherbrooke who was the Lieutenant Governor from 1811 to 1816 in Nova Scotia, in 1816 after receiving a land grant. However in 1859 the name was confusing as there was a Sherbrooke in Guysborough County, so it was renamed to New Ross, however this change still honoured the Lieutenant Governor has his second title came from New Ross, Wexford, in Ireland. It also honoured the career of Capt. William Ross.
New Russell- Located just outside New Ross, this community is named after Henry Russell who settled there in 1893.
Ninevah- Located just outside New Germany, this community was settled in the 1840s and received it's name from the ancient capital of the Assyrian Empire.
North River- Located between New Germany and Springfield, this community was named after the fact that it is near the north branch of the LaHave River.
Northfield- Located just outside of Bridgewater, this community was first settled and named by a British soldier named MacKay who was paid off in Halifax and came there to reside.
Northwest- Located outside of Lunenburg, this community was settled in 1761 and is a shortened form of their previous name, North West Range, which was given from the location north west of Lunenburg and the range of hills in the area.
Northwest Cove- Located near Blandford, the name comes from the fact that it is located North west of the mouth of St. Margarets Bay.
Oakhill- Located outside of Bridgewater, the name comes from the hills and the oak trees in the area.
Oak Island- Located near Western Shore, this island was eventually named Oak Island for the indigenous trees on the Island. It was initially named Smiths Island after an early settler and then renamed to Gloucester in 1778 but Gloucester wasn't accepted locally. It is a famous island for the so called "Money Pit" of which people believe there is pirate treasure on the island, however several attempts to dig in the hole have claimed lives over time.
Oakland- Located just outside Mahone Bay, it was first settled in 1780. The name came from groves of Oak trees in the area.
The Ovens- Located near Riverport, the name comes from a series of caves worn into the seaside cliffs which resemble old style brick ovens standing in a row.
Parkdale- Located outside of New Germany, this community was first settled in 1848 and was called Upper Foster, Foster Settlement and Falkland over time. In 1902 it was changed to a descriptive name of Parkdale by Act of Parliament.
Pentz- Located near LaHave, this community was settled in the mid 1700s, early settlers included the Pentz family from Germany.
Petite Riviere- Samuel De Champlain named the place Petite Riviere in 1604, meaning "small river"
Pinehurst- Located outside of New Germany, this community was settled in the late 1700s and was named after the many pine trees in the area.
Rhodes Corner- Located between Bridgewater and Lunenburg, this place was settled in 1760.
Riverport- Founded in 1754, this place was named Riverport in 1904 when the name was changed by provincial statue to describe the community.
Rose Bay- Located just outside of Riverport, this place was settled in 1794 and is believed to be named after it's wild roses in the area
Second Peninsula- Located outside of Lunenburg, this is the second peninsula north of Lunenburg, and was named after that, it was settled in 1753 by people from Bridgewater.
Seffernsville- Located near New Ross, first settled in 1816 this community was named after William Sefferns, a native of Hungary and a veteran of both the Napoleonic War and the American War in 1812.
Sherwood- Located between Chester and Windsor, settled in 1816 by Captain John Evans who built a place called Sherwood Lodge after Sherwood in his native England, over time the name of this community changed but this place was renamed Sherwood once again after a school opened here in 1932.
Simpsons Corner- Located between New Germany and Hemford, this community was named after a settler who's last name was Simpson in 1846. It was originally named Ohio but this was changed to avoid confusion with Ohios in Shelburne and Yarmouth Counties.
Stanburne- Located outside of New Germany, the first land grant was issued here in 1857 and the name likely comes from a place in England.
Stonehurst East- Located outside of Lunenburg, this place was settled in 1816 and is named after the rugged, rocky topography of the coast there.
Sweetland- Located near Blockhouse, this place was settled by Conrad Knechel in 1767, the name comes from it's sweet or fertile soil in the community.
Tancook Island- Located in Mahone Bay, off the shore from Chester/Blandford, this community was settled in 1792, The Mi'kmaq called the island Utankook which means facing the open sea; the current name has evolved from that.
Voglers Cove- Located near Chery Hill, this community was settled in 1770 and was named after an early settler, Frederick Vogler.
Walden- Located inland from Mahone Bay, George Ernst received a land grant in 1839, the name of the community is believed to have come from the famous retreat by Henry David Thoreau.
Waterloo- Located outside of Bridgewater and settled in the 1830s and 1840s, this place was named after the site of Napoleon's famous defeat in 1815.
Western Shore- This place was first settled in 1784.
Whynotts Settlement- Located outside of Bridgewater, this place was settled in 1761 and was named after first settlers from Germany, giving the name Weihnachts Settlement, which eventually changed over time to Whynacht then to Whynott.
Wileville- Located outside of Bridgewater, was named after early settlers.
Windsor Road- Located near Chester, settlement began in 1864.
Zwicker Island- Located near Indian Point, the island was named after Peter Zwicker from Germany who settled there from 1751-1753.