Aspotogan Peninsula
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The Aspotogan Peninsula is a peninsula in the eastern part of Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.
It protrudes from the South Shore into the Atlantic Ocean and separates St. Margarets Bay in the east from Mahone Bay in the west; the Aspotogan Peninsula is connected to the much larger Nova Scotia peninsula to the north.
[edit] Communities
The coast of the Aspotogan Peninsula is dotted with a number of small fishing and tourist-related communities; Hubbards in the northeast being the largest. Other communities on the peninsula are Fox Point, Mill Cove, The Lodge, Northwest Cove, Southwest Cove, Aspotogan, Bayswater, New Harbour, Blandford, Upper Blandford, Deep Cove, and East River.
Route 329 circles the peninsula along the coast while Trunk 3 and Highway 103 pass to the north.
[edit] Economy
Traditionally fishing was a major industry around the bay, but farming, shipping, and lumbering were also important. During the 1800s tourism increased and Hubbards became a regular stopping place for the stagecoach.
The railway between Halifax and Yarmouth, completed in 1905, carried both passengers and freight. Easy rail access plus the scenic splendor and beaches made the area a popular tourist destination.
Many hotels and and cottages were established during this period, including The Gainsborough. Sold to the government in 1944, it was used as part of the St. Margaret’s Bay Training School for the Merchant Marines. In 1969, the J.D. Shatford Library was built on the site.
In 1967, Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Mill Cove was opened. A naval communications station on the Atlantic coast, the site consisted of 4000+ acres of land, private married quarters, and Administration buildings. The complex was a major employer and contributor to the local economy until it was decommissioned in the late 1990s.
In 1969, Highway 103 was completed linking Hubbards to Halifax. With a driving time of only 45 minutes, more residents began to go into Halifax for work. Reasonable land prices and the opportunity to live in a rural setting also encouraged many city dwellers to move to the area.
In 1994, the Aspotogan Heritage Trust was created to oversee the renovation and re-population of the land/housing units at CFS Mill Cove. The name was changed to Mill Cove Park.
In addition, Nova Scotia’s first dedicated sound stage was established in 1996 at Mill Cove Park, in the former Base’s Administration and Gymnasium buildings. More than $40 million of film and TV production occurred here over a 5-year period. It was the primary filming site for the CBC series Black Harbour; other Nova Scotian productions such as Made in Canada have been filmed there.
Tourism continues to be an important contributor to the local economy, drawing people from all over the world. B&Bs and inns, restaurants, and campgrounds are busy during the summer months. The Shore Club, which recently celebrated it's 50th Anniversary, remains one of the last great dance halls and is well-known for its Saturday night dances and Lobster Suppers.
There has also been a good deal of growth in year-round residences because of the proximity to Halifax, coupled with the natural beauty of the area.
