Port Royal Habitation

The Habitation at Port Royal, Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia

What was life like at the Port Royal Habitation back in 1605? What were the hardships of this early French Settlement? How did they survive the cruel Nova Scotia winters? What impact did this French Settlement have on the formation of Canada?


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For many years the large, slow moving rodent, porcupines were a protected species in Nova Scotia.

Abundant in Nova Scotian coastal waters, Pollock is commonly retailed as Boston Bluefish.

The first regular ferry crossing between the important seaport of Saint John and Nova Scotia's fertile Annapolis Valley was by the "Sally" in 1784.

In 1838 an ice bridge formed across the Annapolis River enabling people to cross to and from Granville and Annapolis Royal, but it broke up on the returning tide leaving most people stranded on the wrong side.

A native of Welsford in the Annapolis Valley, Alfred C. Fuller established a door-to-door sales empire which gained international success and still bears his name.

In 1956 a bag of Roasted Peanuts would cost you .35 cents a pound; Mixed Nuts - .49 cents a pound; and Moirs' Fresh made Chocolates - .89 cents a box.

Until 1803 the Annapolis Valley community of Lawrencetown was known as Dunn’s Mills.

The very first Queen Annapolisa, Queen of the Apple Blossom Festival in 1933, was Mary Armour representing Middleton.

Over 100 guides would pitch tents on Battery Point in Digby to take part in the Nova Scotia Guides Association competitions.

1922, August 31 the Berwick Register reports a three pound "Rome Beauty" apple, the largest apple ever grown on record.

People of legal drinking age had to obtain a "script" from the Doctor and get it filled at a local vendor to purchase their booze during the 1920's and 30's.

The Nova Scotia Hurricane of 1873 drifted south of Nova Scotia on August 26. It was a devastating hurricane that killed over 600. It destroyed over 1,200 boats and over 900 homes and businesses.

A popular Maritime saying is "Red sky at night - sailors delight; but red sky in morning - sailors take warning."

If someone is "flying off the handle" it means they are loosing their temper.

For many years the large, slow moving rodent, porcupines were a protected species in Nova Scotia.

Boot Island is the name of the small island located near the mouth of the Gaspereau River.

In 1969 the CFB Cornwallis Fire Department won the Grand Award for Fire Prevention in the Canadian Military Division over 80 other departments from Canada and the United States.

The original name of the Dominion Atlantic Railway was the Windsor to Annapolis Railway.

Buck McNair, a World War II fighter ace was born in Springfield, Annapolis County.

In 1780 an ice bridge across the river resisted the action of the tide, so that persons could cross and re-cross the river to and from Granville to Annapolis Royal for three days.

The first regular ferry crossing between the important seaport of Saint John and Nova Scotia's fertile Annapolis Valley was by the "Sally" in 1784.

Petroglyphs are simple drawings on stone left by early Mi’Kmaq

Not native to Nova Scotia, pheasants were introduced into the province from England.

According to Nova Scotian folk medicine, you should place salt fish on the patient’s feet to combat a fever.

Taking its name from the mill built on its banks by loyalist Henry Magee, the Mill Brook dissects the Main Street in Kentville.

You could buy boneless cod for .20 cents a pound or squirrel peanut butter at .35 cents a pound at the North End Grocery, Annapolis Royal in 1921.

Tom Forestall, a native of Middleton is one of Canada’s best-known artists. In 1960 he received his first major commission – a painting to be presented to Princess Margaret as a wedding gift from the Province of New Brunswick.

In June of 1797 many buildings in Bridgetown and Granville Ferry were destroyed by a severe thunder storm.

In a three-masted vessel, the mizzen mast is the mast closest to the stern.

A late snow in the spring is said to be "poor man's fertilizer".

The last convicted criminal that was hanged in Nova Scotia happened in 1933.

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Information You Need at Your Finger Tips

Click on the lighthouse to check out what type of weather to expect while here.

Click on the Ferry to find out how to get here.

Click on the King George Inn to find places to stay in the Annapolis Valley

Click on the lobster to find places to eat in the valley.

Click on us if you have stories about the Annapolis Valley to share.

 

Your Stories

We would love to read them!

Have your own page on my website!

Here are some ideas:

 
What did you see here that was different from other places? Share with us how it was different! Better yet show us with pictures along with telling us.
What new thing did you try on your vacation? What was it and how did you like it? Should we try it? We'd love to see some pictures of you doing it!
Just move here? Tell us how you like it and how it is different from where you came from! Got any pictures to compare?
How many whales did you see on your Whale Watching adventure? Was there any other marine life around that day? Did you get any great shots of the whales?
What is your favourite festival in the Annapolis Valley? What are your favourite events held during that festival. Got any pictures of you taking part in the festival?
Have you lived here all your life and just can't bring yourself to leave, not even for work? Share with us why you find this area so great, what do you love about it!
You have read about my experiences here, I would like to read about yours! Please send them in. I only ask that you make the story long enough to make it interesting for everyone to read. Fill a page! Include pictures!

One of the most famous ghost stories in the area is the story of the Grey Lady of Stoney Beach. She was so named because of the drab grey cloak she wears.

The Banks House, or deGannes-Cosby House as we call it now is the oldest documented wooden structure in Nova Scotia built in 1708. It is only natural there would be a couple of ghost living there with the human occupants.

The Auburn Haunted House sat back off the road a bit, at the end of a winding driveway surrounded by trees. Do the new owners not see and hear the ghost that had taken over the place years before?”

The Royal Bank Ghost in Annapolis Royal is one of the most well known ghosts of our area. It is mentioned in several books of this area.

Skeletons at the Flat is a ghost story from the Bear River area. It happened many, many years ago.

The ghost story about the Granville Ferry Horses takes place across the river from Annapolis Royal. It was back in the time of the tall ships when the story about the Granville Ferry Horses began.

The story about the Prophets Room takes place in one of the oldest and finest universities in Nova Scotia. Acadia University is located in Wolfville and was built in 1838.

The Battle of Bloody Creek is written up in several history books from the Annapolis Valley. However not all of them tell about the ghostly screams that were heard for years later at this spot.

There was a house in Thornes Cove that was said to be haunted. The doors in the house were said to rattle for no apparent reason and the latches would lift by themselves. At times the doors would open and close all by themselves.

The Vesta Pearl was said to be haunted and it was very hard to keep a crew. The vessel was sold to a Capt. Johnson from Port Wade, NS.

No one has ever been able to explain the story about "The Thing" from Thorne's Cove. What was it that night? Some believe it was a forerunner.

Don't you just love dolls? Maybe you should read the story about the Annapolis Royal Doll House, you may change your mind!

There have been several stories told about a Ghost Fisherman. This one is supposed to have happened in Victoria Beach, Nova Scotia.

Feet Sticking Up is an amusing little ghost story that happened somewhere between Bear River and Weymouth, Nova Scotia.

The story “The Ghost in the Attic” is about a couple of Maritimers who, like so many had moved away to find work. As retirement approached they wanted to move back closer to their childhood homes.

The Charles Haskell which was a schooner bought by Capt. David Hayden of Port Wade and sailed out of Digby had a unique past. This was a schooner plagued by misfortune even before she set sail.