This article is taken from WHHS guest speaker Rev. David Curry, March 4 2010, and is based on addresses to the Clan Donald in September 2008. Flora MacDonald’s Winter in Windsor Sorrow and loss, pride and gain are part and parcel of the Scottish Legacy in the land which we call Nova Scotia, New Scotland. I have been told on good authority – it appears on bumper-stickers – that “God
News & Events
Halifax Explosion, December 6 1917
The Halifax Explosion From wikipedia: The Halifax Explosion was a maritime disaster in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, on the morning of 6 December 1917. SS Mont-Blanc, a French cargo ship laden with high explosives, collided with the Norwegian vessel SS Imo in the Narrows, a strait connecting the upper Halifax Harbour to Bedford Basin. A fire on board the French ship ignited her cargo, causing a large explosion that devastated the Richmond district of Halifax. Approximately 2,000 people were killed by the blast, debris, fires or collapsed
Some Literary Figures from Windsor’s Past
This article is taken from WHHS guest speaker Rev. David Curry, January 5 2006. Some Literary Figures from Windsor’s Past Deborah How Cottnam (“Portia”), Griselda Tonge & Sir Charles G.D. Roberts I want to thank the West Hants Historical Society for inviting me to speak about “Some Literary Figures from Windsor’s Past”. Your President has added the adjective “extraordinary” to my topic. I will leave that to your good judgment,
Thy Sweet Love Remember’d: A Poet & A Church
This address was given by Reverend David Curry on November 1st, 2007 to the West Hants Historical Society in Windsor, NS. ‘Thy Sweet Love Remember’d’: A Poet & A Church “When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,” Shakespeare’s Sonnet # 29 begins, entering into a meditative discourse on the vagaries of human ambition and the vanities of fame and renown, “troubling deaf heaven with my bootless cries,” and even
World War I Project – November 2017
The West Hants Historical Society salutes our local soldiers who died one hundred years ago in L917 during World War 1. We will always remember your sacrifice. Note: You can view their military records online by searching for the Regimental Number (Reg No) at the Library and Archives Canada web site as follows:
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/search.aspx
Alden Nowlan – The Forgotten Poet of Stanley, NS
The following article was a WHHS Heritage Banquet address by Rev. David Curry in 2003. It has been converted from a pdf file to be shared here. Alden Nowlan: The Forgotten Poet of Stanley I would like to thank the West Hants Historical Society for the privilege of speaking this evening and to commend the Society for recognising the very important part that literature plays in our heritage. I have been asked
A History of Hants
The county of Hants was established June 17, 1781, on territory taken from Kings County and consisted of the townships of Windsor, Falmouth and Newport. The name Hants is an old abbreviation for the English county of Hampshire, from the Old English name Hantescire. The Mi’kmaq were the first people of Hants County, having arrived several thousand years ago. They were semi-nomadic and hunted, fished and gathered to make their living. They made their encampments along the rivers at the “head of the tide” where the fishing was easy.
Summer Project: Short Documentary Film
Our summer student, Fadila Chater, has been tasked with a project that will creatively incorporate the diverse cultural history of Hants County. She is looking for people to interview in a short documentary film. She is looking for individuals from different cultural or ethnic backgrounds to share their personal stories or ancestral stories from either the Mi’kmaq, Acadian, African Nova Soctian, or new immigrant communities from the Hants County area.
Call for Stories of Women involved in Halifax Explosion relief efforts
Does your family have a story? A Nova Scotian performance ensemble is seeking out information about of local women who helped in the relief efforts of the Halifax Explosion. Xara Choral Theatre Ensemble will be touring a show called The Hours Turn to Nothing to Annapolis Royal at Kings Theatre on June 10, which tells the story of nurses and midwives who came to the aid of pregnant women and many others who were hurt in the 1917 disaster. Historical documentation has revealed that women were specifically requested to support the relief effort, in part because many pregnant women within range of the blast were jolted into labour.
World War I Project – April 2017
Vimy – April 9, 1917: What Every Canadian Should Know. We have all heard the name Vimy but most Canadians know very little about it. Here are the facts that every Canadian should know. The Location: Vimy is in northern France. It is about 270 Km north of Paris near the Belgian border. It is a land of rolling hills with the peak only 145 meters high.
World War I Project – January-March
The West Hants Historical Society is trying to compile a list of all the men and women from Hants County who served in World War 1 and 2. We plan to publish a book with all these names and we don’t want to leave anyone out; if your relatives or friends served in the military, please send us their details as described here.
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World War I Project – November
With Remembrance Day occurring this month, we have a special video from Tim Reed to honour the 112th Regiment who were based in Windsor and spent many months training at Fort Edward before going overseas. The Flags of the 112th still hang in Christ Church in Windsor. They were honored at a special service in June 2016. Please enjoy watching this video and remember the men of our 112th Regiment.
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World War I Project – October
One hundred years ago, on October 11, 1916, the Nova Scotia Highland Brigade left Camp Aldershot and boarded the troop ship “Olympic” in Halifax Harbour. They arrived in Liverpool, England on October 19, 1916 and continued their intensive training at Witley Camp in Surrey. There were 4 Battalions in the Nova Scotia Highland Brigade – the 85 th , the 185 th , the 193 rd , and the 219 th Battalions. That was over 4000 men, – all volunteers from Nova Scotia.
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World War I Project – September
Hants County Soldiers – Where Were They From?
The Soldiers were farmers, clerks, labourers, teachers, lumbermen, and ship builders. They came from many places in Hants County – from Hantsport to Shubenacadie and Vaughan to Noel – and every village and town in between. Many never returned.
One hundred years ago in September 1916, there were 15 soldiers from Hants County killed in action…
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World War I Project – August
Towards the end of July 1916, our 112th Battalion from Windsor set sail on the RMS Olympic from Halifax to Liverpool. It is interesting to learn that the Olympic was the first of 3 sister ships – the others were the more famous Titanic and the Britannic. All three ships were the same design, built in Belfast, and owned by the White Star Line. The Olympic started service in 1911, the Titanic in 1912, and the Britannic in 1914. We all know what happened to the Titanic on April 15, 1912. (The above photo was taken the month before in Belfast on March 6, 1912 – Olympic is on the left and Titanic on the right being outfitted for her maiden voyage). After the disaster, 24 lifeboats were added to the Olympic and the water tight bulkheads were improved.
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World War I Project – July
In Europe, the War continued with no victories after two years of heavy fighting. The Battle of the Somme was taking hundreds of thousands of casualties. In Windsor, our men in the 112 th Battalion were preparing to join the battle.
The 112 th Battalion was formed in November 1915 with headquarters in Windsor, Nova Scotia. Men were recruited from all over Hants County, from the Annapolis Valley, and from the South Shore. Over 1500 men volunteered for service but only 1200 were accepted. The commanding officer was Lt Col. Hedley Tremaine of Windsor.
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History of the Name of the Herbert River
Because the surname “Hebert” looks so much like “Herbert”, it is frequently misspelled, and when I first saw reference to the Herbert River in Hants County, Nova Scotia, what came to mind was the Bear River at Digby, Nova Scotia. It appears as “Hebert R” (probably for early explorer Louis Hebert) on Lescarbot’s 1609 map. By 1720, “Hebert R” had become “Beare R”.
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World War I Project – June
The West Hants Historical Society salutes our soldiers from Hants County that died in June 1916. June 1916 – Battle of Mount Sorrel : Canadian soldiers were defending Mount Sorrel, a 30-metre hill with a commanding position overlooking the city of Ypres in Belgium. On June 2 nd 1916, German troops attacked and overwhelmed the Canadians. They captured Mount Sorrel along with nearby peaks Hill 61 and Hill 62. The Canadians tried to retake the Hills on June 3 rd but the Germans repelled the attack.
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World War I Project – April
The West Hants Historical Society is saluting our local soldiers who died in World War 1. One hundred years ago this month, the following men were killed in action.
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Heritage Banquet: March 19, 2016
Unearthing our HISTORY – With Archaeologists Jonathan Fowler, Sara Beanlands and Rob Ferguson. The West Hants Historical Society is pleased to invite you to our annual Heritage Banquet. This year’s event will take place at the Windsor Legion on March 19 2016, beginning with a reception at 6pm. This year’s event includes a presentation on how much of our history, artifacts and other physical remains left behind by ancestral generations, lies underground and forgotten. Our presenters will describe how they uncover and interpret this history. They will discuss new technology used in their work, including ground penetrating radar and drone aircraft which were used at Fort Edward…
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