Caledonia, Nova Scotia

Last updated

View of Caledonia Caledonia - Queens County.jpg
View of Caledonia

Caledonia, Nova Scotia is a community located in northern Region of Queens Municipality, Nova Scotia, along Trunk 8 (Kejimkujik Scenic Drive). Caledonia is the major community in the area known as North Queens, which has a radius of approximately 30 kilometers (20 miles) and a population of approximately 1500.

Contents

Geography

Caledonia is 50 kilometres north of Liverpool along Highway 8. 17 kilometres further north of Caledonia, in Maitland Bridge, is the main entrance to Kejimkujik National Park.

History

The original inhabitants of the Caledonia area are the Mi'kmaq people. Before the arrival of European settlers, the Mi'kmaq who lived here used the area as hunting grounds due to its reported abundance of wildlife. The Mi'kmaq established favorable relationships with the settlers once they arrived. [1]

The original settlers of Caledonia were six Scots and an Irishman, who settled on the seven hills in greater Caledonia. Caledonia was the Latin name given by the Romans to the area of modern-day Scotland, and with Nova Scotia translating as 'New Scotland', also from Latin, the names in the area obviously reflect this heritage.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the Mi'kmaq often found employment serving as guides for visitors to the area who were seeking to go on wilderness expeditions. One notable Mi'kmaq guide in the area was Joseph Gloade, who guided some of the earliest Europeans in the area on hunting trips beginning in the late 18th century. [1]

Early settlers

Caledonia was established in 1820 by a group of eight settlers, composed of seven Scotsmen and one Irishman, who laid the foundation for this Nova Scotian community through their pioneering efforts in agriculture and forestry.

Alexander Spears
A native of Greenock, Scotland, Alexander Spears was pivotal in the agricultural development of Caledonia. He settled on land overlooking Lake Nancy and was instrumental in community building.
Andrew McLeod
Described as a "bare-kneed Highlander," McLeod was known for his contributions to clearing and farming the land. He married Sarah Lohnes from Lunenburg County and built a legacy of land stewardship.
Edward Hayes
The only Irishman among the original settlers, Edward Hayes owned land strategically positioned on both sides of the road to Caledonia. His descendants played significant roles in the local community.
Allan MacLean
Like his fellow Scots, Allan MacLean contributed to the initial clearing and settlement of the area, with his land spanning crucial parts of what would become Caledonia.
Richard Telfer
Known for his significant contribution to community infrastructure, Telfer’s wife, Mary, was honored in the naming of Lake Mary, a local landmark.
John Douglas
As one of the key figures in early Caledonia, Douglas's extensive landholdings and his descendants significantly shaped the community's development over generations.
George Middlemas
Along with his brother David, George Middlemas was central to the early community structure, contributing to both the social and economic fabric of Caledonia.
David Middlemas
David, together with George, worked on establishing the settlement’s early infrastructure, which played a crucial role in the community’s development.

These settlers forged a community in a landscape of virgin forests, establishing large farms and a closely-knit community that has maintained its rural charm and heritage to this day. [2]

In 1884, Caledonia served as the hub for the gold rush in the nearby communities of Whiteburne and North Brookfield.

The N.F. Douglas lumber mill in Caledonia was one of the area's main employers until its closure in 2014. Other industries include forestry, farming, a blueberry processing operation, and Kejimkujik National Park. Caledonia has a range of shops and services including; grocery, pharmacy, hardware store, post office, cafe/restaurants, medical centre, outdoor swimming pool and a Nova Scotia Liquor Commission outlet.

North Queens Community School, operated by South Shore Regional School Board, provides education from grades primary to twelve. [3]

Each September, Caledonia plays host to the Queens County Fair, which includes a parade and one of the oldest agricultural exhibitions in Nova Scotia.

Caledonia was formerly the end of a Canadian National Railway branch line. The line was long ago abandoned but has recently been refurbished as part of a rails-to-trails program by the Brookfield Mines Trails Association, creating a multi-use path from Caledonia to Colpton. The 18 km stretch of trail has signage, gates, and benches.

Prominent figures

Caledonia has been shaped by numerous influential individuals known for their significant contributions to the community's development and cultural heritage. Below are ten prominent figures who have left a lasting impact on Caledonia, Nova Scotia, along with the approximate eras during which they were most active.

John Douglas (circa 1820s)
One of the original settlers of Caledonia, John Douglas played a pivotal role in the early development of the community. His family continued to influence the area for generations, engaging in various businesses and community services.
Arnold Patterson (circa early 20th century)
A World War I veteran, Arnold Patterson was known for his contribution to building homes in Caledonia and his active involvement in community affairs.
Milton Douglas (circa late 19th century)
A descendant of John Douglas, Milton Douglas maintained the family's legacy through continued community involvement and maintaining the original Douglas homestead.
George Wile (circa early 20th century)
Acquired significant land originally cleared by early settlers, contributing to both community development and the local economy through his farming activities.
Basil Huskins (circa mid-20th century)
Moved to Caledonia in 1960, Huskins became well known for his involvement in local agriculture and his community-oriented initiatives, enhancing the social fabric of Caledonia.
Oran Veinot (circa late 20th century)
Noted for his agricultural contributions, Oran Veinot was also an enthusiastic participant in local ox pulling contests, bringing recognition to Caledonian agricultural practices.
Jonathan Kempton (circa mid-20th century)
Raised a family on a farm in Caledonia and contributed to the community through various civic engagements.
George Rafuse (circa mid-20th century)
Owned a farm in Caledonia and was active in community development. His family's movements and land transactions further shaped the local landscape.
Edward Hayes (circa 1820s)
One of the eight original settlers, Edward Hayes's family was integral to the early settler community, and their interactions with other families helped shape the social structure of Caledonia.
Alexander Spears (circa 1820s)
Another original settler, Alexander Spears was influential in early agricultural development and community building efforts in Caledonia.

These individuals represent a fraction of those who have contributed to making Caledonia a vibrant and enduring community in Nova Scotia. Their stories are preserved in the local historical records and continue to inspire current and future generations. [2]

Communications

Demographics

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolfville</span> Town in Nova Scotia, Canada

Wolfville is a Canadian town in the Annapolis Valley, Kings County, Nova Scotia, located about 100 kilometres (62 mi) northwest of the provincial capital, Halifax. The town is home to Acadia University and Landmark East School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kings County, Nova Scotia</span> County in Nova Scotia, Canada

Kings County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. With a population of 62,914 in the 2021 Census, Kings County is the third most populous county in the province. It is located in central Nova Scotia on the shore of the Bay of Fundy, with its northeastern part forming the western shore of the Minas Basin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queens County, Nova Scotia</span> County in Nova Scotia, Canada

Queens County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Truro, Nova Scotia</span> Town in Nova Scotia, Canada

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia</span> Town in Nova Scotia, Canada

Mahone Bay is a town on the northwest shore of Mahone Bay along the South Shore of Nova Scotia in Lunenburg County. A long-standing picturesque tourism destination, the town has recently enjoyed a growing reputation as a haven for entrepreneurs and business startups. The town has the fastest growing population of any municipality in Nova Scotia according to the 2016 census, experiencing 9.9% population growth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kejimkujik National Park</span> National park in Nova Scotia, Canada

Kejimkujik National Park is a national park of Canada, covering 404 km2 (156 sq mi) in the southwest of Nova Scotia peninsula. Located within three municipalities, Annapolis, Queens, Digby, it consists of two separate land areas: an inland part, which is coincident with the Kejimkujik National Historic Site of Canada, and the Kejimkujik National Park Seaside on the Atlantic coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mi'kmaq</span> Indigenous ethnic group of eastern North America

The Mi'kmaq are a First Nations people of the Northeastern Woodlands, indigenous to the areas of Canada's Atlantic Provinces, primarily Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec as well as Native Americans in the northeastern region of Maine. The traditional national territory of the Mi'kmaq is named Miꞌkmaꞌki.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miꞌkmaw hieroglyphs</span> Defunct writing system of Canadas Mikmaq First Nation

Miꞌkmaw hieroglyphic writing or Suckerfish script was a writing system for the Miꞌkmaw language, later superseded by various Latin scripts which are currently in use. Mi'kmaw are a Canadian First Nation whose homeland, called Mi'kma'ki, overlaps much of the Maritime provinces, specifically all of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and parts of New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shelburne, Nova Scotia</span> Town in Nova Scotia, Canada

Shelburne is a town located in southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada.

<i>The Tent Dwellers</i>

The Tent Dwellers is a book by Albert Bigelow Paine, chronicling his travels through inland Nova Scotia on a trout fishing trip with Dr. Edward "Eddie" Breck, and with guides Charles "the Strong" and Del "the Stout", one June in the early 1900s. Originally published in 1908, The story starts at what is now known as the Legendary Milford House; Renowned author Albert Bigelow Paine,, chronicled his first impression of the Milford House Lodge in his famous book, in the following way … "Then at last came a church, a scattering string of houses, a neat white hotel and the edge of the wilderness had been reached." Those travelling today from Annapolis Royal will witness little change in the scenery or the impact from this turn of the century description. The book takes place in what is now Kejimkujik National Park and the adjacent Tobeatic Game Reserve. The Reserve later became the Tobeatic Wildlife Management Area, and in 1998 was included within the newly created Tobeatic Wilderness Area.

The Tobeatic Wilderness Area is the largest protected area in the Canadian Maritimes, located in southwestern Nova Scotia. It contains nearly 120,000 hectares of land and spans parts of five counties, Annapolis, Digby, Queens, Shelburne and Yarmouth. Located adjacent to Kejimkujik National Park, it was formerly known as the Tobeatic Wildlife Management Area, and the Tobeatic Game Reserve.

Dartmouth founded in 1750, is a Metropolitan Area and former city in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.

New Germany is a village in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Located along the LaHave River and New Germany Lake it is a main service centre connecting Bridgewater and Middleton via highway Trunk 10. New Germany is situated 25 kilometres north of Bridgewater and 64 kilometres south of Middleton Annapolis Valley. It has a population of 447 as of the 2021 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterloo, Nova Scotia</span> Community in Nova Scotia, Canada

Waterloo, Nova Scotia, Canada is a small rural community in western Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. The community extends approximately 10 kilometers from Route 210 to the Queens County line and is 20 kilometers from the commercial hub of Bridgewater. The Waterloo Road runs through the community providing a picturesque alternative to Route 210 when travelling between Newcombville and Greenfield.

Kennetcook is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Municipal District of East Hants. Also see adjacent community of Upper Kennetcook.

Greenfield is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Region of Queens Municipality. The sawmill in Greenfield, founded in 1832, is one of the oldest family-run sawmill businesses in North America. Until 1850 the region was occupied mostly by the Mi'kmaq of the Algonquin tribe, who seasonally settled the area below the lakes on either side of what is now called the Medway River and was known by the Mi'kmaq as Wigadoon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Father Le Loutre's War</span> Colonial war between Britain and France

Father Le Loutre's War (1749–1755), also known as the Indian War, the Mi'kmaq War and the Anglo-Mi'kmaq War, took place between King George's War and the French and Indian War in Acadia and Nova Scotia.c On one side of the conflict, the British and New England colonists were led by British officer Charles Lawrence and New England Ranger John Gorham. On the other side, Father Jean-Louis Le Loutre led the Mi'kmaq and the Acadia militia in guerrilla warfare against settlers and British forces. At the outbreak of the war there were an estimated 2500 Mi'kmaq and 12,000 Acadians in the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tufts Cove, Nova Scotia</span> Neighbourhood in Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada

Tufts Cove is an urban neighbourhood in the community of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is situated on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour in the North End of Dartmouth. The neighbourhood boundaries of Tufts Cove are approximately from Albro Lake Road in the south to Highway 111 in the north, and from Victoria Road in the east with the harbour to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Nova Scotia</span> Economic Region in Nova Scotia, Canada

Southern Nova Scotia or the South Shore is a region of Nova Scotia, Canada. The area has no formal identity and is variously defined by geographic, county and other political boundaries. Statistics Canada, defines Southern Nova Scotia as an economic region, composed of Lunenburg County, Queens County, Shelburne County, Yarmouth County, and Digby County. According to Statistics Canada, the region had the highest decrease of population in Canada from 2009 to 2010, with a population decrease of 10.2 residents per thousand. The region also has the second-highest median age in Canada at 47.1 years old.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peace and Friendship Treaties</span> Peace treaties between various bands of the Miꞌkmaq and the British in Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Peace and Friendship Treaties were a series of written documents that Britain signed bearing the Authority of Great Britain between 1725 and 1779 with various Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet), Abenaki, Penobscot, and Passamaquoddy peoples living in parts of what are now the Maritimes and Gaspé region in Canada and the northeastern United States. Primarily negotiated to reaffirm the peace after periods of war and to facilitate trade, these treaties remain in effect to this day.

References

  1. 1 2 Dawson, Joan (2022). Nova Scotia's Historic Inland Communities. Halifax, NS: Nimbus Publishing. pp. 87–88. ISBN   978-1-77471-062-3.
  2. 1 2 Smith, Clara Leone (1997). History of Caledonia Queens County, Nova Scotia 1820 - 1973. Queens County Historical Society. ISBN   1-896972-03-9.
  3. "North Queens Community School" . Retrieved December 12, 2016.

44°22′44″N65°1′56″W / 44.37889°N 65.03222°W / 44.37889; -65.03222