Country Harbour, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
Country Harbour
Country Harbour (formerly named Mocodome} is a Canadian
rural community in Guysborough County
, Nova Scotia
.
The community is situated on a large deep natural harbour of the same name and is located along the province's Eastern Shore
close to Canso, Nova Scotia
.
Country Harbour has several districts along Route 316
:
The entire population of the area is less than 1,000 permanent residents.
During Father Le Loutre’s War, on February 21, 1753, nine Mi'kmaq from present-day Antigonish (Nartigouneche) in canoes attacked an English vessel from Canso, Nova Scotia
which had a crew of four at Country Harbour, Nova Scotia. The Mi'kmaq fired on them and drove them toward the shore. Other natives joined in and boarded the schooner, forcing them to run their vessel into an inlet. The two English men witnessed the Mi'kmaq kill and scalp two of their crew. The Mi'kmaq killed two English men and took two others captive for seven weeks. After seven weeks in captivity, on April 8, the two English men killed six Mi'kmaq and managed to escape.
In response, on the night of April 21, Jean-Baptiste Cope
and the Mi'kmaq attacked another 10 crew English schooner in a naval battle between Outique Island and Isle Madame in which the Mi'kmaq attacked an English schooner. There were nine English men and one Acadian who was the British interpreter. The Mi'kmaq killed the English and let the Acadian named Anthony Casteel off at Port Toulouse, where the Mi'kmaq sank the schooner after looting it. Despite the collapse of peace on the eastern shore, the British did not formally renounce the Treat of 1752 until 1756.
Country Harbour was reportedly considered by British colonial authorities for the provincial capital and military base that was ultimately sited at Halifax
. There are several sites dedicated to preserving the heritage of the early European settlers, including a restoration of a small village (probably home to less than 20 families) and Mount Misery
.
Mount Misery was an early agricultural community which was renowned for its harsh winter conditions, resulting in the death of almost all original settlers within their first year of emigration. Mount Misery is connected to Country Harbour Mines via a cable ferry
operated by the provincial Department of Transportation and Public Works, providing convenient access to the neighbouring community of Port Bickerton
.
, forestry
and fishing
. Many residents have established their fishing businesses in Port Bickerton due to the geographic advantages provided by that port, however several deep-sea fishing vessels use Country Harbour for transferring their cargo to land-based transport.
Country Harbour once had an extensive gold mining industry. However, the last serious attempt at mining this resource took place in the early 1980s with the opening of the Forest Hills Gold Mine. Nothing of significant value was recovered from this operation, and it closed after several years.
In neighbouring Goldboro
, the Sable Offshore Energy Project
pipeline comes ashore from natural gas
fields 200 km offshore at Sable Island
. There, a gas liquids separation plant operates which sends gas liquids on a pipeline to a plant at Point Tupper
and the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline carries the pure natural gas westward to markets in the Maritimes
and New England
.
Country Harbour has few significant employment opportunities aside from the traditional primary resource industries. Many residents tend to commute to Antigonish
or even as far as New Glasgow
, Port Hawkesbury
and Halifax for employment, however the majority of the community is retirees.
The area is within the district of Guysborough
but is served by St. Mary's Education Centre and St. Mary's Academy in nearby Sherbrooke
.
Country Harbour (formerly named Mocodome} is a Canadian
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...
rural community in Guysborough County
Guysborough County, Nova Scotia
Guysborough County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:Taking its name from the Township of Guysborough, which was named in honour of Sir Guy Carleton, Guysborough County was created when Sydney County was divided in 1836.In 1840, the Township of St. Mary's, in Guysborough...
, 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...
.
The community is situated on a large deep natural harbour of the same name and is located along the province's Eastern Shore
Eastern Shore (Nova Scotia)
The Eastern Shore is a region of Nova Scotia Canada. It is the Atlantic coast running northeast from Halifax Harbour to the eastern end of the peninsula at the Strait of Canso....
close to Canso, Nova Scotia
Canso, Nova Scotia
For the headland, see Cape Canso.Canso is a small Canadian town in Guysborough County, on the north-eastern tip of mainland Nova Scotia, next to Chedabucto Bay. The area was established in 1604, along with Port Royal, Nova Scotia. The British construction of a fort in the village , was instrumental...
.
Country Harbour has several districts along Route 316
Nova Scotia Route 316
Route 316 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in Antigonish County and Guysborough County, connecting Lower South River at Highway 104 with Half Island Cove at Trunk 16.-Communities:*Half Island Cove*Upper Whitehead...
:
- Country Harbour LakeCountry Harbour Lake, Nova ScotiaCountry Harbour Lake, is a small community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Municipality of the District of Staint Mary's in Guysborough County.In 1753 there was the attack at Country Harbour, Nova Scotia.-References:*...
- Cross Roads Country HarbourCross Roads Country Harbour, Nova ScotiaCross Roads Country Harbour is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Municipality of the District of Guysborough in Guysborough County.In 1753 there was the attack at Country Harbour, Nova Scotia.-References:*...
- Middle Country HarbourMiddle Country Harbour, Nova ScotiaMiddle Country Harbour is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia , located in the Municipality of the District of Guysborough in Guysborough County.-References:*...
- Country Harbour MinesCountry Harbour Mines, Nova ScotiaCountry Harbour Mines is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia , located in the Municipality of the District of Guysborough in Guysborough County.-References:*...
The entire population of the area is less than 1,000 permanent residents.
History
Attack at Country HarbourDuring Father Le Loutre’s War, on February 21, 1753, nine Mi'kmaq from present-day Antigonish (Nartigouneche) in canoes attacked an English vessel from Canso, Nova Scotia
Canso, Nova Scotia
For the headland, see Cape Canso.Canso is a small Canadian town in Guysborough County, on the north-eastern tip of mainland Nova Scotia, next to Chedabucto Bay. The area was established in 1604, along with Port Royal, Nova Scotia. The British construction of a fort in the village , was instrumental...
which had a crew of four at Country Harbour, Nova Scotia. The Mi'kmaq fired on them and drove them toward the shore. Other natives joined in and boarded the schooner, forcing them to run their vessel into an inlet. The two English men witnessed the Mi'kmaq kill and scalp two of their crew. The Mi'kmaq killed two English men and took two others captive for seven weeks. After seven weeks in captivity, on April 8, the two English men killed six Mi'kmaq and managed to escape.
In response, on the night of April 21, Jean-Baptiste Cope
Jean-Baptiste Cope
Jean Baptiste Cope was also known as Major Cope, a title he was likely given from the French military, the highest rank given to Mi’kmaq. Cope was the sakamaw of the Mi'kmaq people of Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia...
and the Mi'kmaq attacked another 10 crew English schooner in a naval battle between Outique Island and Isle Madame in which the Mi'kmaq attacked an English schooner. There were nine English men and one Acadian who was the British interpreter. The Mi'kmaq killed the English and let the Acadian named Anthony Casteel off at Port Toulouse, where the Mi'kmaq sank the schooner after looting it. Despite the collapse of peace on the eastern shore, the British did not formally renounce the Treat of 1752 until 1756.
Country Harbour was reportedly considered by British colonial authorities for the provincial capital and military base that was ultimately sited at Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
. There are several sites dedicated to preserving the heritage of the early European settlers, including a restoration of a small village (probably home to less than 20 families) and Mount Misery
Mount Misery
-In the United States:* Mount Misery, a rocky hill in Pachaug State Forest, Connecticut* Mount Misery, a hill in the town of Auburn, New Hampshire* Mount Misery, or Valley Forge Mountain, in Tredyffrin Township, Pennsylvania...
.
Mount Misery was an early agricultural community which was renowned for its harsh winter conditions, resulting in the death of almost all original settlers within their first year of emigration. Mount Misery is connected to Country Harbour Mines via a cable ferry
Cable ferry
A cable ferry is guided and in many cases propelled across a river or other larger body of water by cables connected to both shores. They are also called chain ferries, floating bridges, or punts....
operated by the provincial Department of Transportation and Public Works, providing convenient access to the neighbouring community of Port Bickerton
Port Bickerton, Nova Scotia
Port Bickerton is a small community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Municipality of the District of Saint Mary's in Guysborough County.-References:*...
.
Economy
Traditional industries have included miningMining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
, forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
. Many residents have established their fishing businesses in Port Bickerton due to the geographic advantages provided by that port, however several deep-sea fishing vessels use Country Harbour for transferring their cargo to land-based transport.
Country Harbour once had an extensive gold mining industry. However, the last serious attempt at mining this resource took place in the early 1980s with the opening of the Forest Hills Gold Mine. Nothing of significant value was recovered from this operation, and it closed after several years.
In neighbouring Goldboro
Goldboro, Nova Scotia
Goldboro is a Canadian rural community in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia.Located on the Eastern Shore along Route 316, Goldboro is approximately 16 kilometres west of the shire town of Guysborough....
, the Sable Offshore Energy Project
Sable Offshore Energy Project
The Sable Offshore Energy Project is a consortium based in Halifax, Nova Scotia which is attempting to locate and produce natural gas found near Sable Island on the edge of the Nova Scotian continental shelf in eastern Canada...
pipeline comes ashore from natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
fields 200 km offshore at Sable Island
Sable Island
Sable Island is a small Canadian island situated 300 km southeast of mainland Nova Scotia in the Atlantic Ocean. The island is a year-round home to approximately five people...
. There, a gas liquids separation plant operates which sends gas liquids on a pipeline to a plant at Point Tupper
Point Tupper, Nova Scotia
Point Tupper is a small rural community located in Richmond County, Nova Scotia on the Strait of Canso in western Cape Breton Island.-History:...
and the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline carries the pure natural gas westward to markets in the Maritimes
Maritimes
The Maritime provinces, also called the Maritimes or the Canadian Maritimes, is a region of Eastern Canada consisting of three provinces, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. On the Atlantic coast, the Maritimes are a subregion of Atlantic Canada, which also includes the...
and New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.
Country Harbour has few significant employment opportunities aside from the traditional primary resource industries. Many residents tend to commute to Antigonish
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Antigonish is a Canadian town in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia. The town is home to St. Francis Xavier University and the oldest continuous highland games in North America.-History:...
or even as far as New Glasgow
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
New Glasgow is a town in Pictou County, in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is situated on the banks of the East River of Pictou, which flows into Pictou Harbour, a sub-basin of the Northumberland Strait....
, Port Hawkesbury
Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
-Historical residents:*Henry Nicholas Paint , member of Parliament for Richmond county, merchant and land owner. His family received land grants at Belle Vue on the Strait of Canso in 1817 and at Point Tupper in 1863, and did much to develop the local communities in the area.*Arthur John Langley ...
and Halifax for employment, however the majority of the community is retirees.
The area is within the district of Guysborough
Guysborough, Nova Scotia
Guysborough is an unincorporated Canadian community in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia.Located on the western shore of Chedabucto Bay, fronting Guysborough Harbour, it is the administrative seat of the Guysborough municipal district....
but is served by St. Mary's Education Centre and St. Mary's Academy in nearby Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia
Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia is a Canadian rural community in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia.Sherbrooke is nestled between Sherbrooke Lake and St. Mary's River...
.