Little Bass River, Nova Scotia
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Little Bass River is the western portion the rural unincorporated community of Bass River, Colchester County, Nova Scotia, Canada. "Little Bass" as it is locally known stretches along the Nova Scotia Highway 2 from "Chipman's Hollow" in Bass River west to the Frieda/Kelly Starratt residence and the neighbouring jurisdiction of Upper Economy. Historically however it was considered to stretch a shorter distance, from the present-day residences of Harold Welch west to that of Hazel Johnston.
[edit] Little Bass today
The population stands at about 60 and doubles in size in the summer when people from away stay at their cottages located in the area. Residents include farmers, landscapers, store clerks, car mechanics, foresters, blueberry producers, and a number of retirees. As is the way with most rural communities away from a city however, there is little local employment. Many who grow up here leave and most of those who stay work in neighbouring communities, drive 45 minutes to work in the Truro area, or stay the week in Halifax, an hour and forty minute drive away, and return home on weekends.
[edit] Little Bass historically
Traditional industry in the area was centred around its expansive mixed woods of coniferous (mainly black spruce red spruce, white spruce, balsam fir, and juniper) and hardwood (mainly poplar, silver maple (known locally as 'white maple'), paper birch, and speckled alder) trees.
At its industrial heyday at the turn of the 19th century, Little Bass experienced more active timber harvesting, a busy saw mill, and a wharf active in exporting timber and the building of eight 100 to 300 foot long wooden sailing ships. They were the schooner Goldstream in 1874, the half brig Compier in 1874, the double decker Cashier in 1876, the double decker Depositor in 1884, the Florence L., the M.J. Kenny, the Modoc, and the schooner Minas King in 1918.
Little Bass also had a saw mill and a general store. The first inhabitants were nearly entirely of Ulster Scottish origins - common surnames historically found in Little Bass included Creelman, Lewis, O'Brien, Starratt or Starrit, and Wilson.
