Accommodations Nova Scotia
Your Guide To Accommodations In Nova Scotia
Mulgrave, Nova Scotia
The Town of Mulgrave was first settled in 1800 by European
Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution. Mulgrave was at that time
known as McNair’s Cove and became a part of the lumber trade with
the English government.
When the lumber trade ended in 1818, the fishing industry began to
take hold, and by 1830 it was the major source of employment for the
residents of Mulgrave. Ferry services were also established in
Mulgrave in 1833, carrying passengers from Mulgrave to Port Hawkesbury.
This service provided rail and road gateways for traffic from
mainland Nova Scotia and the rest of Canada to Cape Breton and
Newfoundland. Steam ferries were introduced to the area in 1863,
boosting the amount of traffic ferried in a day. However, in 1870,
all trade agreements in the fishing industry were cancelled to
protect the American fish market, and the industry collapsed.
Depression set in the area, and by 1880 over 1/3 of the population
had migrated to the New England area in search of employment.
By the 1900’s the economy was in a state of improvement as the
government railway was hiring local people, a new lobster factory
was built, and a new rail ferry had arrived in the area. The
railroad industry was now the industry of the times, and Mulgrave
was quickly becoming a bustling terminal, equipped with freight
sheds, marshalling yards, and all the necessary auxiliary services
of an efficient railway centre. By 1915, Mulgrave was considered a
prosperous town and in 1923, the town became incorporated.
Mulgrave’s prosperity grew from the late 1920’s until the early
1950’s. During this time, the town saw the formation of a branch of
the Canadian Legion of British Empire Services (later known as
Branch 37 of the Royal Canadian Legion) and the fire brigade (now
the volunteer fire department), employment of over 400 people at the
Acadia Fisheries plant and the opening of the Mulgrave Memorial
school. However, with the opening of the Canso
Causeway in 1955, the ferry services between Mulgrave and Port
Hawkesbury were no longer needed. This loss in traffic through
Mulgrave resulted in another economic depression for the town, but
the residents remained optimistic about their future. This optimism
continues to grow today
