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Date Uploaded: Feb 4, 2007
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The village of Chester was first settled by English and German immigrants. In 1759, a wave of settlers arrived from New England, mainly Massachusetts, and a grant was given to Timothy Houghton for "Shoreham", the original name for the village.
The Blockhouse was built shortly after 1759 and was at one point the residence of Dr. Prescott. He was responsible for the militia and the defense of the town. With the help of the women, children and old men he organized a plot that foiled an attack on the town in 1782 by American Privateers. Three ships sailed into the harbor and opened fire on the Blockhouse. Capt. Prescott returned fire and managed to hit one of the ships. They retreated behind Nauss' Point and moved over land to the edge of the Front Harbor. There they hailed the Blockhouse and requested permission to bury their dead. Capt. Prescott, fearing a land attack, and without the support of the militia who were away in Lunenburg, stalled for time.
He invited the American Captains for a meal and during the meal let it be known that the milita had arrived from Lunenburg and were now billeted in Houghton's Barn. This of course was not true, but a ruse. The Americans fearing trouble returned to their ships.
In the morning the women, with gray capes turned to show the red lining, and carrying brooms and muskets reported to the Blockhouse. They marched around the perimeter of the Blockhouse, much as English soldiers would do on guard. From a distance the red capes and brooms appeared to the Privateers to be English militia. The Privateers thinking the town well defended sailed away. The village had been saved. Unfortunately for Lunenburg, the same three ships attacked and sacked the town the next day.
Two of the canons, part of the battery set up to defend the village, are now mounted outside the Legion Hall. They were cast during the reign of George II and they each weigh 3800 lbs.
During the War of 1812, privateers once again threatened the area. The Young Teazer was one such ship. She was chased into the bay by a British ship and was trapped. Rather than be captured one of the crew threw a brand from the galley in through the magazine hatch. The resulting explosion was felt and seen by hundreds of people around the bay. Only eight men survived. The next day the figurehead and the foreward part of the ship were towed into Chester Bay and beached on Nauss' Island, now known as Meisner's Island. The hull was sold to George Mitchell who used it in the foundation of his store which is now the Rope Loft Restaurant. A wooden cross was made from part of the keelson and is kept in St. Stephen's Church. Two of the seamen are buried in St. Stephen's Cemetery. It is said that even today the ghost of the Young Teazer can still be seen haunting the coast and exploding into a ball of fire.
The village became the center of the Township and by the end of the eighteenth century was supplying Halifax with lumber and farm produce. By 1850 tourism had become an important factor in the life of the village. Hotels were built to accommodate the visitors and many arrived by train from Halifax. Many American tourists built summer residences here and returned year after year. Their generosity, over the years, has enhanced the village.
Chester was the site of many large hotels which catered to the travelers passing through and to tourists. The village was the site of the only road connection between Halifax and the Annapolis Valley and travelers would sail by boat to Chester, put up at a hotel and catch the stage to the valley. With the opening of a road between Halifax and Chester the traffic increased and the village grew. The Halifax and South West Railway linked Chester with Halifax by 1903. Pictures show the tracks laid right up to the doorstep of the Cullen Smith homestead. The house was eventually torn down to make way for the railroad. The Canadian National Railway used the line until rail service was discontinued and the tracks dismantled in 1993. The station was closed in 1980 and is now the home of the Chester Municipal Heritage Society.
During the World War II the Hackmatack Inn was turned into a convalescent home for Norwegian sailors. A number of those men stayed in the area at the end of the war. The Hackmatack is now demolished but the smaller houses that made up part of the complex are still in use today. In 1994 the Norwegian government placed a memorial in the Parade Square to mark the gratitude of the Norwegian people to the village of Chester for their assistance during this period. With development of roads from Halifax connecting to the Annapolis Valley, travelers no longer used the Chester route. Tourist traffic declined and the large hotels ceased to be profitable. The Lovett House, was torn down as was the Mulgrave House directly across the street. The Legion Hall now sits on the site of the original Lovett House.
The Parade Square is home to the War Memorial designed by Scottish sculptor, J. Massey Rhind, and donated to the village in 1922. Close by is the band stand and the Chester Yacht Club. The band stand is a favorite spot to watch the yacht races held throughout the summer months in the Front Harbor. Many land- locked older sailors offer colorful comments and criticisms on the race in progress.
Chester Golf Club, originally leased to the village by Joseph N. Pew Jr., in 1953, was originally started by Jack Miller and his brother Alexander who wanted a place to play golf. They rented the land, Prescott's Point, from from Winton Smith and began to convert the land into a golf course. Over the years more land was purchased and finally the Smith farm itself. The farmer still lived on his farm and became the greens keeper. During World War I, when the owners were off to war, sheep kept the grass short on the fairways and caddies helped to keep the grass on the greens cut. Wild blueberries grew along the fairways and in the rough.
The course was active until 1952. In 1954 Mr. Pew purchased the land and and leased it, under the control of a Board of Trustees, to the village of Chester. The board was to administer the lease to be granted to the Club. This opened the way for an independent incorporated club which today has been expanded to eighteen holes, one of the most beautiful in the province.
The Church Memorial Park, donated to the village by Senator Charles E. Church, is the site of the Chester Brass Bank Practice Hall, The Eleanor Pew-Morris Memorial Rink and Chester Curling Club Complex and the Chester Tennis Club. It is used by municipal groups and citizens for events such as garden parties, displays and ball games.
Today Chester is a village of approximately 1250 people. It is still a tourist destination with many large summer homes. The population almost doubles during the summer months. The town is a mecca for yachting enthusiasts during the summer months. Of keen interest are the older wooden boats, know as the "C-Class" boats, constructed locally. Unfortunately they are a dying breed. The village is a connecting link to Big and Little Tancook Islands, located five miles off shore. The ferry, William G. Ernst, makes trips daily between Chester and the Tancooks. A ferry schedule is included on the main page. Students travel to school by ferry daily from the islands. The older homes and buildings in the village reflect the heritage and life of the inhabitants. |
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02/14/2007 07:34:22 PM |
| an amazing shot. I love everything about it. |
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02/10/2007 02:49:38 AM |
| Nice rich blues, and thanks for the history - that's what makes this 30 day thing a lot of fun to peruse. |
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02/07/2007 08:27:45 AM |
Wow. Did you actually type that whole thing?????
Image is wonderful. I might dodge a bit on the opposite shore, but this is fine just the way it is. Great job! |
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02/05/2007 10:11:43 AM |
OMG!!! .. in the b&w version of this photograph i said i couldnt find any comments .... well let me get a cup of coffee and a four course meal and i'll sit and read the comments you've put in here!!! lol
but before i do i'll just say that i loved the b&w and i love this different treatment as well ... this is so sharp and crisp .... did you stretch the b&w, and is that wots known as the holga action treatment??
love this colour shot .. love the moon .. just beautiful ..
now i'm goin to the kitchen ...!! :) |
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02/05/2007 08:16:33 AM |
| great picture love the sky and the dock. the moon is a nice element in this picture as well. |
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02/04/2007 05:09:37 PM |
| Wow what a great shot! Love the bridge as a leading line towards the background. |
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02/04/2007 11:37:08 AM |
| Great history lesson to accompany a gorgeous view. I especially like the fading moon in the shot. |
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02/04/2007 10:37:36 AM |
| I love how the dock leads to the houses and then straight to the moon! |
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02/04/2007 09:55:52 AM |
| Very scenic and peaceful. The dock leads me straight through the photo to the hint of moon in the sky. |
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02/04/2007 09:43:00 AM |
| Absolutely beautiful perspective, I'd LOVE to see it in less sunshine, perhaps at the beginning or close of the day. I love a good jetty! |
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02/04/2007 08:38:32 AM |
At first glance I thought that this may be New England, and the first line of your comment explains why. This place has quite a colorful history! Thanks for sharing. I haven't read all of it yet as I don't have time right now, but will be back for the rest soon.
It looks like one of the ghosts just vanished in a puff of smoke in the sky above the village. : ) |
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02/04/2007 07:06:49 AM |
| When I saw the title I thought aha I know Chester very well, then I saw the photo and thought hmmmmmmmm.......not the same Chester at all!!! I don't think this Chester has a Roman wall surrounding it does it?? However, I think I know which one I would rather live near to, lol. Beautiful. Love it's history. |
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02/04/2007 05:55:02 AM |
| Very nice, looks like you don't have a lot of snow. |
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02/04/2007 05:48:15 AM |
| I love the story of the women tricking the Americans. Thanks for the info. Sounds like a great place to visit. Great picture too. |
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02/04/2007 05:41:44 AM |
| This image has so many good parts to it; I love that you haven't centered the dock horizontally, but that it stops at the lower third vertically - such pleasant composition. One thing (just my opinion) that I do wish is that one garage door was not so bright, but the moon and the color of the sky is wonderful, and the border is a great touch. |
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02/04/2007 05:39:15 AM |
What an awesome photo. It looks so quaint, and the moon: perfect touch! Looks like somewhere I sure would love to hang out in the summer!
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02/04/2007 05:21:47 AM |
| Wow, love your right up thanks for taking the time to Post all that information really great stuff and as for the picture, its amazing love the blues and the contrast of colours the dock looks like you could touch it! The little sliver of the moon is a great detail all round beautifull image! |
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02/04/2007 04:31:16 AM |
| That's a beautiful shot. I love the colors. |
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