Londonderry, Nova Scotia
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Londonderry is an unincorporated community located in Colchester County, Nova Scotia, Canada, formerly called Acadia Mines.
A bustling iron ore mining and steel making town of some 5,000 in the late 19th century, the present population stands at around 200.
Londonderry saw the pouring of the some of the first steel made in Canada, and the first Canadian installation of the Bessemer process for making steel. Mining began in 1849 and eventually three mines - East Mines, Old Mountain Mine, and West Mines - were operated. The iron ore seams that encouraged this development, originally thought to be enormous, proved to be small, shallow, and very expensive to mine. That, coupled with poor management decisions and failed experiments with rotary type ovens as well as low world steel prices, spelled the demise of the iron and steel industry in Londonderry. In total over 2 million tons of ore were mined. The once vast ruins of the former steel mill were torn down and sold as scrap during the scrap metal drives of World War II.
The Township of Londonderry, including the Port of Londonderry (now present day Great Village), was first settled by two groups of Ulster emigrants. The first group came from Londonderry, New Hampshire in 1761 and the later larger contingent, having arrived in Halifax in October 1761 on the ship Hopewell out of County Londonderry, settled a few years later once land grants were secured. Both arrangements made by former British army Captain Alexander McNutt, who was formerly stationed at nearby Fort Cumberland and was originally from the original Londonderry, Ireland.
The CN main line runs through Londonderry Station, a couple of kilometres east of the village of Londonderry.
Londonderry residents have taken pride in their historic school, and have worked hard to ensure its lasting use as a community centre.
Lakes such as Sutherland's Lake and Folly Lake, only a 10 to 15 minute drive away, are sought-after cottage destinations for residents of nearby Truro, Amherst, Moncton, and Halifax.
Many residents of Londonderry are employed in the nearby Debert Industrial Park and at the Ski Wentworth ski resort, nestled in the Cobequid Mountains, about 20 minutes north of Londonderry along Trunk 4. Londonderry has 2 Churches: The United Church, which is almost closed due to the lack of attendance and the bussling St. Ambrose Catholic Church with over 100 in attendance each week.
