Hantsport Stories

Hello — my name is Hana, member of the community of Hantsport, I was selected as one of 20 students from across Canada to be a recipient of the 2024 Vimy Pilgrimage Award, where I had the once in a lifetime opportunity to learn about First World War history in Belgium and France.  When I heard that I had been selected as a recipient of the Vimy Pilgrimage Award, I knew it was going to be one of the best and most impactful experiences of my life, and it was. The Vimy Pilgrimage Award program has given me the rare opportunity to learn about history at the location it took place over 100 years ago. This is a personal and powerful experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life and the program was transformative to my understanding of Canada’s history.  Through learning about the past, we shape the future. In my opinion, this is absolutely essential to creating...

Oscar Chipman Dorman was born on the 2nd of May, 1872 at Lockhartville, son of Charles Dorman and Harriet Smith. According to a 1904 clipping1 from the Amherst "Daily Press" he was proprietor and editor of the "Hantsport Advance" newspaper before taking up his medical studies and residency at the Victoria General Hospital in Halifax. Dr Oscar C Dorman of Hantsport, NS, formerly an employee of the Daily Press, published here, and later on proprieter and editor of the Hantsport Advance, passed through Amherst today on his way to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he will engage in practice. Since leaving the printer's desk some eleven years ago, Dr Dorman has been pretty thoroughly over the world, having been engaged as surgeon on board the Anglo American Cable Co's ship "Minia" during four years of this time, Resigning this position in 1901 he has pursued past-graduate studies in London during the past two years, where early last year he received diplomas as member of...

The Chesley Artificial Limb Company of Hantsport did more than just manufacture prostheses. According to a 1917 advertisement1, "Deformity appliances and splints [are] a speciality." Charles Samuel Chesley and his wife Nancy also offered accommodation at his "Home Comfort Hotel" for customers while they were fitted and regained mobility. The Hantsport & Area Historical Society's website includes an article under Business and Industry where more information can be found about the enterprise. The 1921 Census of Canada shows four "lodgers" residing with Chesley, his wife and their daughter. Two are employees; Robert Paoli Veino age 28, and Bernice Grace Bennett age 26. The 11 year old boy, Henry Murphy, is the subject this monograph. Henry Murphy was introduced to readers of The Evening Mail in 1919. Along with The Halifax Herald, the newspapers were published in Halifax, N.S. by President and Editor-in Chief, Senator William Dennis. Henry became something of a "poster boy" for the Christmas Goodfellows and Rainbow charities sponsored by Mr. Dennis. Photos: The...

Nicholas Beckwith was a grandson of Andrew Beckwith born in Lyme, Connecticut and the ancestor of the Beckwith families in Lockhartville and Hantsport. Andrew settled on the Bluff Road in what was then Horton Township, Kings County. His eldest son Samuel Beckwith appears in the 1838 census as a farmer with a family totaling five persons along with two of his sons; John Beckwith a seaman with a family of three persons, and Nicholas Beckwith a seaman with a family of three persons.1 Captain Nicholas Beckwith married Samantha Phelps of Lubec, Maine in 1832. They had a son, Nicholas Warren, who also became a Master Mariner. They are all buried in Riverbank Cemetery, Hantsport. Capt. Nicholas Beckwith 1807-1881 Samantha (Phelps) Beckwith 1808-1888 Capt. Nicholas Warren Beckwith ...

Donald Smith Beckwith together with his wife Dorothy "Josephine" (Schofield) owned and operated Don's Motel and Restaurant on Main Street in Hantsport for 25 years. The restaurant property on the west side of Main Street, now civic number 37, was purchased in 19461. Don's Restaurant was a popular hangout for high school students in the 1950s and 60s. The counter and ice cream floats gave Hantsport its own version of an "American Graffiti" ethos. The motel property on the east side of Main Street, civic number 38, was purchased in 19582. The restaurant dining room could accommodate a fairly large gathering. Here are two photos3 of Steadmans Variety Store employees and guests enjoying a festive dinner. The gentleman seated at the head of the table is Lawrence C. Giffin, manager of Steadmans. His wife Dorothy and son Olliver are seated to his left. A jukebox can be seen in the corner behind them. This view from the opposite end of the table shows a spacious...

Note: This article has been adapted from "History of Sports in Hantsport 1900-1950", a supplement to the 1969/70 High School Yearbook1, by Cameron Porter and Richard Rogers, with additions from "Summary of the Minute Book. Tri-Mu Club 1913-1916", transcribed and indexed by Bob Langdon2. The main driving force behind sport in Hantsport in the period before World War I was the Tri-Mu, a boys’ and young men’s club organized by Rev. F. E. Barrett, Methodist minister, before 1910. When he moved on to another charge, the club was led by Rev. Waldo C. Machum3, the Baptist minister. We have not found a satisfactory explanation of the name Tri-Mu, though the constitution does state the object of the club to be threefold: “To promote the moral, mental and muscular well-being of the boys and young men of the town.” This was open to boys and young men between the age of twelve and twenty-five who were elected by a two-third majority of the...

Nellie Althea Greene, age 32, school teacher and resident of Summerville, Hants County married1 Charles Ernest Fox on the 1st of September, 1948 at the Falmouth Baptist Church parsonage. A short biography accompanies an article that she wrote; "Loyalist Brothers: John and James Mann" in the Nova Scotia Historical Review Vol. 4, No. 2 (1984)2 "Nellie A. Fox was born in Brickton, Annapolis County, but was educated in Hants County, where she is now a retired teacher in Hantsport. Mrs. Fox has been writing since 1931, and her many articles on history, genealogy, nature study, cooking and other household matters have been carried in such publications as the 'Maritime Farmer', 'The Family Herald and Weekly Star', 'The Chronicle-Herald', 'The Teacher's Bulletin' and 'The Hants Journal'. She is a member of the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society and its Genealogical Association, and is actively involved in research and heritage preservation." The Hantsport & Area Historical Society reproduced an article, "Early History of Education in...

Kenneth Tingley Oct 12, 1932 – Jan 28, 2017 Kenneth Elliot Tigney was born and raised in the Annapolis Valley, the eldest of four children of Elliott and Greta Tingley. He attended Acadia University (Class of 1955) and Nova Scotia Technical College where he graduated with his degree in Electrical Engineering. He later attended Harvard Business School, graduating with an MBA in 1962. Photo and Bio from 1949 Yearbook1 Ken was also a graduate of Hantsport School and Editor of the 1949 Class Yearbook. Kenneth Tingley was a grandson of Rev. Llewellyn J. Tingley, Baptist minister, who served in various locations but was largely based in Windsor, Hants County. Rev. Tingley held education in high regard as evidenced by the direction in his will3 that Ken's father, his young son L. Elliott Tingley, be supported "until he shall have completed the ordinary high school course, together with a course at some Business College (or) .. desire to take a University Course". Rev. L. J. Tingley...

Arthur Edward Cornwell (spelling later changed to Cornwall) was born 11 February 1868 at Griffin Brook near Sandy Cove, Digby County, Nova Scotia to Edmund Cornwell and Matilda Burns.1 The Cornwell family were Loyalists from Connecticut who came to New Edinburgh, Digby County in 1783.2 Arthur, age 3, is recorded with his parents and sister Elizabeth (Libby) age 7 in the 1871 Census for the Sandy Cove sub-district of Digby County.3 Another sister, Sarah age 6, appears in the Mortality Schedule having died in March of that year. In the 1881 census4 the family is found in the Clementsport, Annapolis County district where they had established a farm near Deep Brook. After the death of his father Edmund on 21 July 1890, Arthur, with some assistance from his mother Matilda and sister Libby, maintained the farm. However, it appears that Arthur had interests other than farming. Legal documents dated 1901 and 1902 regarding the estate of his father refer to Arthur's photography dark room. "15....