Maitland Village, Nova Scotia
This settlement is located on the west side of the mouth of the Shubenacadie river in the north central section of Nova Scotia.
Two names were used by the Indians in reference to this place: Tivetnook, 'where the tide runs out,' and Menesatung, 'healing waters'. Early English names were: Beaver River Settlement, Mouth of the River, and Port Shubenacadie. The name Maitland was suggested by Judge Fairbanks in honour of Sir Peregrine Maitland, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, 1828-34. South Maitland was called Rockville in the late 19th century, probably because of the gympsum quarries there.
John Ruggles was the schoolmaster at 'Mouth of the River' beginning April 9, 1815. William Putnam constructed a hall during his lifetime which was used for schol purposes. By 1817 a school-house had been 'provided for'. A new school was constructed in 1867 to replace a building which had burned down in 1865. A new school-house was opened November 11, 1878. A new eight-room Maitland district school was built in 1962.
The W. D. Lawrence, the largest square-rigger ever built in Nova Scotia was constructed here by W. D. Lawrence in 1872-1874. Besides the shipbuilding industry which was much more important in the 19th century than in the 20th, considerable fishing, farming, and shipping is carried on.
Population in 1956 was: Maitland 264, South Maitland 244.
Adapted from:
Public Archives of Nova Scotia. ([1967] 1982). Place-Names and Places of Nova Scotia. Belleville: Mika Publishing Company.
A. F. Church Map of Hants County
Maitland Village
Published in 1871 as a Lithograph
Conserved and Repaired in 2020
Digitized as a tif image
Mounted Plaque with black edges
Material is Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF)
Printed @ 150 dpi
Plaque Size - 16 inches x 20 inches
Framed Print
Printed @ 150 dpi
Print Size - 16 inches x 20 inches
KITH is working with heritage groups in Antigonish, Hants and Halifax counties to preserve and digitize the A. F. Church maps and match the map information with existing genealogical records. The goal is to improve our understanding of the history and social relations in nineteenth century Nova Scotia, and make this data publicly accessible.
