Apple River, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
Apple River is a community in the Canadian
province of Nova Scotia
, located in Cumberland County
.
The community is located on two sides of the Apple River, a small river which widens dramatically to produce a large, shallow tidal harbour facing Chignecto Bay
, an arm of the Bay of Fundy
. The river and harbour are bordered by extensive tidal salt marshes, protected by Cape Capstan to the East and a long sand bar to the west. The two sides of the harbour are known as East Apple River
and West Apple River
. Apple River is located on Route 209
and one of the communities that form the Fundy Shore Ecotour
. A tidal, small craft harbour at the end of the bar serves as base to several small commercial fishing boats. A small grass air strip known as the Apple River Airport
is located in West Apple River.
The area was known to the Mi'kmaq
as Agoomakun, meaning place of abundant Herring
. Current settlement dates the United Empire Loyalist migration after the American Revolution
. In 1788 several Loyalist families from New York settled at Apple River including Robert Dove, Hugh Pudsey and Joseph Elderkin. Apple River had one of the first lighthouses in the Upper Bay of Fundy, established in 1848 at the tip of Cape Capstan. The family tree of Fowler indicates John Fowler 1785-1866 served as an early lighthouse keeper
and is buried in Apple River, Nova Scotia. Lumbering led the community to grow in the late 19th century until local stands were exhausted. At least 14 vessels were built at Apple River between 1845 and 1909.
The River and community are believed to be named after an old stand of apple trees
, although some sources attribute the name to the wreck of a ship carrying apples which left the shoreline strewn with apples.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, located in Cumberland County
Cumberland County, Nova Scotia
Cumberland County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:The name Cumberland was applied by Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Monckton to the captured Fort Beauséjour on June 18, 1755 in honour of the third son of King George II, William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, victor at...
.
The community is located on two sides of the Apple River, a small river which widens dramatically to produce a large, shallow tidal harbour facing Chignecto Bay
Chignecto Bay
Chignecto Bay is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy located between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and separated from the waters of the Northumberland Strait by the Isthmus of Chignecto. It is a unit within the greater Gulf of Maine Watershed...
, an arm of the Bay of Fundy
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
. The river and harbour are bordered by extensive tidal salt marshes, protected by Cape Capstan to the East and a long sand bar to the west. The two sides of the harbour are known as East Apple River
East Apple River, Nova Scotia
East Apple River makes up the eastern and upriver portion of the Canadian rural community of Apple River, Nova Scotia located in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.It is situated west of Advocate Harbour on the Bay of Fundy....
and West Apple River
West Apple River, Nova Scotia
West Apple River is the western side and main populated area of the Canadian rural community of Apple River, Nova Scotia in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.Located west of Advocate Harbour on the Bay of Fundy, it is situated on the Glooscap Trail....
. Apple River is located on Route 209
Nova Scotia Route 209
Route 209 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in Cumberland County and follows the shoreline of the Bay of Fundy, connecting Parrsboro with River Hebert. The linked communities are known as the Parrsboro Shore....
and one of the communities that form the Fundy Shore Ecotour
Fundy Shore Ecotour
The Fundy Shore Ecotour is a scenic drive in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia and encircles several sub-basins of the Bay of Fundy, which contains the highest tidal range on the planet....
. A tidal, small craft harbour at the end of the bar serves as base to several small commercial fishing boats. A small grass air strip known as the Apple River Airport
Apple River Airport
Apple River Airport was located west of Apple River, Nova Scotia, Canada....
is located in West Apple River.
The area was known to the Mi'kmaq
Mi'kmaq
The Míkmaq are a First Nations people, indigenous to the northeastern region of New England, Canada's Atlantic Provinces, and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec. The nation has a population of about 40,000 , of whom nearly 9,100 speak the Míkmaq language...
as Agoomakun, meaning place of abundant Herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
. Current settlement dates the United Empire Loyalist migration after the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. In 1788 several Loyalist families from New York settled at Apple River including Robert Dove, Hugh Pudsey and Joseph Elderkin. Apple River had one of the first lighthouses in the Upper Bay of Fundy, established in 1848 at the tip of Cape Capstan. The family tree of Fowler indicates John Fowler 1785-1866 served as an early lighthouse keeper
Lighthouse keeper
A lighthouse keeper is the person responsible for tending and caring for a lighthouse, particularly the light and lens in the days when oil lamps and clockwork mechanisms were used. Keepers were needed to trim the wicks, replenish fuel, wind clockworks and perform maintenance tasks such as cleaning...
and is buried in Apple River, Nova Scotia. Lumbering led the community to grow in the late 19th century until local stands were exhausted. At least 14 vessels were built at Apple River between 1845 and 1909.
The River and community are believed to be named after an old stand of apple trees
Apple Trees
Apple Trees is a 1992 German drama film directed by Helma Sanders-Brahms. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Johanna Schall - Lena* Thomas Büchel - Heinz* Udo Kroschwald - Sienks...
, although some sources attribute the name to the wreck of a ship carrying apples which left the shoreline strewn with apples.