Waverley, Nova Scotia

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Waverley is a community of the Halifax Regional Municipality , Nova Scotia, Canada. It is located about 20 minutes from Downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. It has a rich history in gold mining.

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[edit] History

Waverley was first settled by Charles Pillsbury Allen who established a chair factory in the area. Waverley was named after the Waverley novels by Sir Walter Scott. Allen's original land purchase included about 700 acres of land in 1847 for the price of 50 pounds. Although there have been extensive renovations since it was first built, his original house still stands today at 1380 Rocky Lake Drive as a "An Olde Manor House Bed and Breakfast" near the junction of Lakes Thomas and William. A nearby high school, Charles P. Allen High School in the neighbouring town of Bedford carries his name.

Allen's son-in-law, Cornelius Blois, is often credited with discovering gold in Waverley. Two major gold mining periods ensued between 1866 through the early 20th century. A third attempt to restart the industry occurred in the 1930s, but it proved unprofitable and lasted only a few years. Other industries in Waverley have included millwork and forestry. It is also worthy of note that the Shubenacadie Canal system runs through Waverley, between Lake William and Lake Thomas.

Many street names in Waverley reflect families that have been long established in the area.


[edit] Modern Day and Landmarks

Modern-day Waverley is mostly a bedroom community. Major landmarks include two elementary schools, a post office, the Waverley Manor retirement home, the Waverley Heritage Museum; which is housed in the former St. John's Anglican church, Charles P. Allen House, and the Waverley Gold Mining Manager's House, which now operates as "The Rosehip Bed and Breakfast". There is a gravel quarry in the area, as well as the Nova Scotia Firefighters School. There is also the Cheema Aquatic Club; a canoe and kayak club which has produced high caliber National and Olympic Team athletes.


[edit] Gold Rush Days

Each Labour Day weekend, Waverley holds a celebration at a park known as "The Village Green" called 'Gold Rush Days', to commemorate its gold-mining history. Highlights include the Gold Rush Days Parade, karaoke, an arts and crafts show, fireworks, and the Miss Waverley Gold Rush contest.

[edit] Gold Rush Gus

The mascot of Gold Rush Days is a cartoon character resembling Yosemite Sam called Gold Rush Gus. Until the amalgamation of Waverley into the HRM in 1996, all fire appararatus of the Waverley Fire Department had a picture of him painted on the side. WFD vehiles also had the distinction of being the only ones in the local fire district at the time of being painted yellow; an homage to the village's gold mining history. Presently only those vehicles remaining in service from pre-amalgamation with their original yellow paint still carry Gus' image.

[edit] Halifax Regional Search and Rescue

Originally founded in 1972 as Waverley Ground Search and Rescue, Waverley is original home to one of Canada's best search and rescue organisations. On September 3,1998, the organisation undertook the largest Mutual Aid Search operation in Nova Scotia's history. With the crash of Swissair Flight 111 off of the coast of Nova Scotia, Halifax Regional Search and Rescue was charged with primary responsibility for all ground operations including military operations and other ground SAR teams. On November 5, 1998, 64 days later, volunteers had contributed 48,780 hours with 3,141 person days. The current headquarters of HRSR is located at 116 Lakeview Rd in the nearby community of Lakeview just over 4 kilomertes from their original location.


[edit] Communications


[edit] Statistics

  • Population (2001) - 1342
  • Number of Dewellings - 509
  • Total Land Area - 17.77 Km²


[edit] External links

[edit] Further reading

  • Nancy Redmayne Ross, ed,. Diary of a Maritimer 1816-1901: The Life and times of Joseph Salter, St. John's: International Maritime Economic History Association, 1996.
This work includes a description of the diarist's affiliation with the Rockland Gold Mining Company (1863-1870).
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