Billtown | |
|---|---|
 Corner of 221 and Rockwell Mountain | |
  Billtown Location of Billtown, Nova Scotia | |
| Coordinates: 45°7′20.48″N64°34′26.51″W / 45.1223556°N 64.5740306°W | |
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Nova Scotia |
| County | Kings County |
| Electoral Districts Federal | Kings-Hants |
| Provincial | Kings North |
| Elevation | 20 m (70 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (AST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (ADT) |
| Postal code(s) | B0P 1J0 |
| Area code | 902 |
Billtown is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Kings County.
Ebenezer Bill, a New England Planter, was granted 1000 acres of land on July 21, 1761. According to the grant, a 78-acre plot in the centre of the property was intended to include a commercial area, a town hall, a school, and a church property. [1] From 1829 to 1961 there were schools in Billtown. [2] A community of properties which extended along the road that serviced the area developed. By the early 1900s this included a temperance hall, multiple general stores, a blacksmith, and two schools. [3] On December 1, 1914, the 14.8 mile North Mountain Branch railroad was completed and the Billtown Train Station was opened. This station would continue to be used until 1961. Apple warehouses were built near the station. [4] In the early 1920s telephone was introduced. In 1934 Electricity was brought to the community. [5] As was typical of planter communities in the area, residences and homesteads to farms were built along the roads servicing the area and this type of community remains to today. [6]
The Cornwallis Church of Billtown's edifice was erected in 1822, was dedicated on August 10, 1823, and held its last service on April 6, 1872. A larger building had been erected for increasing membership and hosted its first service on April 14, 1872. In 1903 this church was torn down and construction began on a third building. On October 25, 1903, the Billtown Baptist Church was dedicated and is still used today.
Agriculture, especially fruit crops such as strawberries and dairy farming are a prominent industry in Billtown.
The Billtown Baptist Church hosts an annual Strawberry Supper. [8]
Education in the area is serviced by Aldershot Elementary in Kentville, serving grades primary through five, then high school at Northeast Kings Education Centre in Canning.
Hants County is a historical county and census division of Nova Scotia, Canada. Local government is provided by the West Hants Regional Municipality, and the Municipality of the District of East Hants.
Truro is a town in central Nova Scotia, Canada. Truro is the shire town of Colchester County and is located on the south side of the Salmon River floodplain, close to the river's mouth at the eastern end of Cobequid Bay.
Kentville is an incorporated town in Nova Scotia. It is the most populous town in the Annapolis Valley. As of 2021, the town's population was 6,630. Its census agglomeration is 26,929.
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Caleb Rand Bill was a member of the Canadian Senate.
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Fort Hughes was a fortification that was built at present-day Starr's Point, Nova Scotia during the American Revolution to protect against raids by American privateers. The fortification was named after the Governor of Nova Scotia Sir Richard Hughes, 2nd Baronet who had the fortification built on a piece of land belonging to Samuel Starr, a Planter from Norwich, Connecticut and militia officer. Three months after a privateer raid on the Cornwallis river, the Barracks was built in 1778 beside the militia parade ground at Starr's Point. 56 troops were stationed there. The King's Orange Rangers were stationed at the fortification during the Revolution. The Rangers were sent to the area, in part, to ensure that the Planters remained loyal to the King.
Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Vetch Bayard was a Loyalist military officer in the American Revolution who served in the King's Orange Rangers (KOR). He is the son of William Bayard who founded the KOR. He was the great-grandson of Governor Samuel Vetch and was the father of Robert Bayard.