By:
B.R. Hurlbert
Contents
Preface
Perhaps the most interesting history to teach a child is that of our own home. The story of his
forefathers may createan interest which is often lacking in the hisory of his country.
In this little book, the writer has endeavored to give the hostory of Kemptville.
The Indians
Before our forefathers came to Nova Scotia, it was inhabited by Indians. Unlike the Indians
first found in North America, they were a quiet, peaceful tribe. Both the Mic-Macs and the
Miliceties were living in N.S, and probablyboth tribes were found in the Western counties.
In 1863, Dr. Joseph B. Bond found relics of their handwork in Kemptville, Yarmouth County.
These were buried in a mound about ten feet long and ten feet across, raised about four feet
above the surrounding surface. They showed skill and neatness in the making. Later on, other
relics were found in Milton, Yarmouth County. Some of these can now be found in the Yarmouth
County Museum, founded by L.E. Baker, Esq, in 1872 at Yarmouth.
Many of our lakes and rivers bear names given to them by the gentle race who first depended
partly on them for food and no doubt enjoyed their beauty as we do now.
Poem
The memory of the Red Man,
How can it pass away,
While their names of music linger.
On each mount, and stream, and bay?
While Musquodobit waters
Roll sparkling, to the main;
While falls the laughing sunbeam
And Chegoggin's fields of grain.
It dwells around Catalone's blue lake,
Mid leafy forests hid
Round fair Discouse, and the rushing tides
Of the turbid Pisiquid.
And it lends Chebogue, a touching grace
To the soft flowing river,
As we sadly think of the gentle race
That has passed away for ever.
Sir. Richard Huntingdon.
-History-
After the Indians, the next settlers were the French who were expelled from Nova Scotia. The
pleasant homes they had made were destroyed, and hundreds of acres of land were
uninhabited.
Governer Lawrence, therefore, sent out invitations to new settlers to come and make homes for
themselves in Nova Scotia. Among the new settlements was Yarmouth, founded in the year.
For a number of years, colonists came and built up the place until it became a little town; then
people began to go to other parts of the county.
At this time there were no roads outside of Yarmouth, only paths through the woods so most
of the travelling was done by means of small boats and canoes, over the rivers and lakes.
In eighteen hundred and twenty, a few settlers went up the Tusket river, in Yarmouth County,
about twenty-five miles from its mouth and began to make homes.
Mr. Abner Andrews and Mr. John Van Emburg were the first to go. They made a clearing in
the dense woods and built log cabins. Their supplies were taken from Yarmouth by boats and
as they could only take a small amount at once, they were obliged to make frequent trips, which
meant several days of hard labor.
Soon other settlers came. cleared land, and built more log cabins. Now they began to think
about a name for their new home. They agreed to call it Kemptville in honor of Sir James
Kempt, who was then governor of Nova Scotia.
We who enjoy all the priviliges of today can hardly imagine the hardships these people
endured so bravely. They worked hard cleaning up the land and as new settlers came, building
up the place. Alll the houses were built near the shore, as ours are now built near the street,
and even now we see in some places the remains of old farm houses near the river. These
people settled near where the Kemptville bridge now stands.
About this time Mr. Herman Gardner made his home across Pearl Lake, from the bridge, on
the point near what is called the Eelware. But his career was short, he was drowned trying to
cross the lake on his way home. His wife witnessed the scene without being able to render him
any assistance. She afterward moved to Yarmouth. His was the first funeral to take place in the
settlement; he was buried near his home. This point of land has since been called
"Gardner's Point."
The second funeral was that of Mr. Mood. He was buried near by what is known as "School-
house Cove", where the first little school house was built in eighteen hundred and thirty-three.
The first school was taught by Mr. James P. Pennington.
In eighteen hundred and twenty-eight, Mr. Nathaniel Churchill moved from Yarmouth and
settled near where the Gang Mill now stands on the Little River branch of the Tusket. Here the
first saw mill was built. In the same year, Mr. Jerry Healey built it for Messrs. N. Churchill and
John Roberts, who paid him 106 pounds (not dollars).
You will bear in mind that at this time there was neither roads or bridges. In winter they
passed on ice, and in summer boats were used to get from place to place. From the time that
the first mill was erected, the men made steady progress in the lumbering industry, until at one
time there was eleven mills in the place.
The first religious meeting was held in the old house of John Roberts, conducted by James
Lent, son-in-law of the late Mr. Harding. Mr Harding was a pioneer of the Baptist denominations
in Nova Scotia. The early part of the following winter the meetings were conducted by David
Flint at Mr. Handley Roberts' home. After this they were held from place to place until the school
house which I have spoken of was built; here they were conducted until 1842, when the first
meeting house was built on the site which the present one now occupies. The first church was
organized by the late Rev. Charles Knowles in eighteen hundred and thirty-one. Messrs. Josiah
Harding and Nathaniel Churchill were chosen deacons. Rev. Knowles was pastor of this little
church for twenty-five or thirty years.
The first Sunday School was started in eighteen hundred and thirty-three. The meetings were
held at the school house. For the first lesson the eighteenth chapter of Luke was committed to
memory, as was the custom then.
On the cleared lands, grain was raised; this had to be taken to what was then called
Chebogue, now Arcadia, to a mill owned by Gabriel Van Norden, to be ground for use. Later Mr.
John Roberts built a grist mill, on a back brook, and did all the grinding for everyone here.
The second mill built was owned by Mr. James Hurlburt. The men rafted the lumber down
the river to Tusket, where it was shipped out. There is now a board and shingle mill, where this
old one stood, about one mile from the church.
In eighteen hundred and fifty, mail was brought to Kemtville for the first time. This was driven
by Mr. William Prosser from Yarmouth. He drove a stage coach from Kemptille to Yarmouth,
once a week for several years. Later Mr. Harvey Hamilton was in charge of the mail, and it
came twice a week. We have had daily mail now for a number of years. Mr. A.M. Gates is the
postmaster, and Messrs. James Crosby, of Brazil Lake, and O.P. Ryerson, of Pleasant Valley,
are mail drivers. The mail comes from Yarmouth to Brazil Lake by car instead of being driven
directly from Yarmouth as before.
In 1881 the old church was taken down and a new one was erected in its place. The present
one is built of oak, ash, and birch. It will seat about three hundred people and is a pretty little
church. A few years ago the walls and ceiling were metallic which greatly improved its
appearance.
In the same year gold was discovered by Mr. James Reeves. In 1885 the Cowan Gold Co.
mine of Yarmouth was organized. Share holders were Messers, L.E. Baker, David Cowan, A.C.
Robbins, E.K. Spinney, William Cowan, E.M. Veits, and J.D. Dennis.
This company began work at Kemptville and although the mines have not been steadily
worked, a large amount of gold has been obtained.
In 1882, the Carleton Telephone Company ran a line into Kemptville which was a great
benifit to the people.
At the present time Kemptville is an enterprising little village of about six hundred
inhabitants. There are two churches, both Baptist; two stores and five schools. In the summer
many people, espeacially from Yarmouth and the United States, come to spend their vacation in
this pretty place. There they have excellent privilages for boating, bathing, and fishing on the
grand old Tusket; as well as tenting and picnicing in the beautiful forests near by.
One whose early life was spent here can say with the poet:
We love the play place of our early days,
The scene is touching and the heart is stone
That feels not at that sight, and feels at none.
This fond attachment to the well known place,
Whence first we started into the well known place,
Maintains its hold with such unfailing sway
We'll feel it even in age, and at our latest day.
Cowfer
In reference to the map, the following letters correspond :
A: East Kempt, B: Blacksmith Shop, C: Ridge School,
D: Gang Mill, E: Hawthorne School, F: Peppermint Brook,
G: Riverside School, H: Church, I: Steam Mill,
J: Tate's Store, K: Parsonage L: Bolumbia Hall,
M: Mayflower Cottage, N: Beach Lodge, O: Center School,
P: Store Q: Imperial Hotel, R: Blacksmiths,
Credits
Map drawn by Rayman Chan
Layout by Glen Robicheau
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