One of two Maitlands in Nova Scotia, Maitland, Hants County (the other is located in Lunenburg County), is located on the Cobequid Bay, on the west side of the mouth of the Shubenacadie River. Maitland is Nova Scotia's first designated Heritage Conservation district. A heritage conservation district is an area of collective urban or rural properties deemed to have local or community heritage values. Read more about Maitland's designation here.
The Mi'kmaq referred to Maitland as T'witnook, which means "the place where the river runs fast" and Menesatung, which means "healing waters". Early English names for Maitland were Beaver River Settlement, Mouth of the River and Port Shubenacadie. The name Maitland was suggested by Judge Fairbanks in honour of Sir Peregrine Maitland, who was the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia from 1828-1834. See Nova Scotia Archives - Place names.
When in Maitland, the Lawrence House Museum invites visitors to explore shipbuilder, William D. Lawrence's 23 room Victorian home, which features photos, exhibits and Lawrence family heirlooms. In 1874 Lawrence constructed the largest wooden-hulled, fully-rigged ship ever built in Canada. The ship, the William D. Lawrence, was sold to Norwegian owners in 1883 and renamed Kommander Svend Foyn.
Dawson Dowell Park, located in Maitland, is a great place to watch the Tidal Bore. A tidal bore is when outflowing rivers flow back upstream as the tide comes in.
This video is from the YouTube account called Roaming Around the World:
Maitland is home to Canada's oldest general store, Freize and Roy, which has been serving the community since 1839 - 28 years before Canada became a country! There is an array of artifacts in display in the store and quite possibly some ghosts! Read more about Catholic contraceptives from 1901 and ghostly encounters in this store in this article from CTV news.
Have you ever wanted to go Skydiving? You are in luck! Maitland is the home of Atlantic School of Skydiving!
If you have any more information or pictures of Maitland/South Maitland, Hants County, please email me or message me through Bluenoser on Facebook.
Nearby Tourist Attractions:
Gallery 215 in Selma - located in a heritage site that dates back to 1865, they exhibit and sell the art of more than 35 Nova Scotian artists. They have a Facebook page.
Burntcoat Head Park in Noel, Nova Scotia
Fundy Tidal Interpretive Centre in South Maitland
Anthony Provincial Park in Lower Selma
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