New Germany, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
New Germany, Lunenburg County
(2006 population: 464) is a community in a central portion of southwestern Nova Scotia
, Canada
. It is located on the LaHave River
, which splits the town into two halves which are connected by two early-20th century steel bridges. A main service centre on Trunk 10, New Germany is 25 kilometers north of Bridgewater
on the south shore and 64 kilometers south of Middleton
in the Annapolis Valley
.
who arrived in Lunenburg in the 18th century. The first settlement was close to the New Germany Lake.
Through the years, New Germany has been the site of varied economic activity. It was the hub for numerous outlying communities. J. Zwicker and Son of New Germany sold electric power to the Barss Corner Electric Light Company for distribution. Not only was there a mill at Morgan Falls on the LaHave River, there was also a factory on the LaHave River
which produced wooden boxes for products such as fish. During the mid-20th century, the town was particularly vibrant and home to numerous grocery stores, clothing stores, and a movie theatre. Until the 1980s, New Germany was also accessible by the Halifax and Southwestern Railway
though the now-abandoned railroad tracks are popular with all-terrain vehicle
enthusiasts who sometimes gather at the Small Engine Repair Station yard, and one of the few available spaces for young people to gather.
, forestry
and Christmas trees which are shipped over North America. Many workers are employed in the nearby town of Bridgewater, with the Bowater
Mill in Oakhill and the Michelin
tire plant in the industrial park employing numerous people from the area. Current conditions in the forestry industry have led to many small operators leaving the business and journeying to Alberta
. As well, the Christmas tree industry has been hit by the rising value of the Canadian dollar, which impacts revenues from the United States market.
Though a combination of factors including outmigration and the expansion of Bridgewater as a shopping destination have led to New Germany becoming predominantly a retirement community, there are plans to make the community vibrant once again for people of all ages. Due to lack of environmental development, very little has been done to progress the state of this fair village. Citizens have united to bring changes to the community. The group began holding farmer's markets at the small Lions Club Park in the fall of 2007.
New Germany is home to a community-built medical centre, liquor store, New Germany Elementary School, New Germany Rural High School
, bank, convenience store, several churches, Shoppers Drug Mart
, Village Glassworks, Irving Oil
gas station, and restaurants such as Guppy's Family Restaurant, DeLong's Dairy Kone, and the Critter Burger. It has a fairly large fire department, which covers an extensive district, as well as an RCMP outpost which is housed in the same building as the fire department.
is newly renovated and serves students in grades seven to twelve. New Germany is also home to New Germany Elementary School, which is right down the street from NGRHS, for students from grades primary to six.
Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia
Lunenburg County is a county located on the South Shore of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, It ranges from Hubbards to the east and Vogler's Cove to the west.-History:...
(2006 population: 464) is a community in a central portion of southwestern 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...
, Canada
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...
. It is located on the LaHave River
LaHave River
The LaHave River is a river in Nova Scotia, Canada, running from its source in Annapolis County to the Atlantic Ocean. Along its way, it splits the communities of LaHave and Riverport and bisects the town of Bridgewater flowing into the LaHave River estuary .The river and various spots in the area...
, which splits the town into two halves which are connected by two early-20th century steel bridges. A main service centre on Trunk 10, New Germany is 25 kilometers north of Bridgewater
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
Bridgewater is a town in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Canada, at the navigable limit of the LaHave River. It is the largest town in the South Shore region. While the majority of the South Shore's economy is based upon the tourist trade, Bridgewater is more a commercial and industrial centre and...
on the south shore and 64 kilometers south of Middleton
Middleton, Nova Scotia
Middleton is a Canadian town in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia.It is situated on the north bank of the Annapolis River. Incorporated in 1909, it is located near the centre of the Annapolis Valley, from which it gets its nickname, "The Heart of the Valley".-Economy:Founded by New England Planters,...
in the Annapolis Valley
Annapolis Valley
The Annapolis Valley is a valley and region in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is located in the western part of the Nova Scotia peninsula, formed by a trough between two parallel mountain ranges along the shore of the Bay of Fundy.-Geography:...
.
History
The area was settled in the early 19th century by descendants of the Foreign ProtestantsForeign Protestants
The "Foreign Protestants" were a group of immigrants to Nova Scotia in the mid-18th century and the ethnonymical basis behind the name "New Brunswick", as well as support behind naming "Prince Edward Island" for a representative of the Braunschweiger dynasty....
who arrived in Lunenburg in the 18th century. The first settlement was close to the New Germany Lake.
Through the years, New Germany has been the site of varied economic activity. It was the hub for numerous outlying communities. J. Zwicker and Son of New Germany sold electric power to the Barss Corner Electric Light Company for distribution. Not only was there a mill at Morgan Falls on the LaHave River, there was also a factory on the LaHave River
LaHave River
The LaHave River is a river in Nova Scotia, Canada, running from its source in Annapolis County to the Atlantic Ocean. Along its way, it splits the communities of LaHave and Riverport and bisects the town of Bridgewater flowing into the LaHave River estuary .The river and various spots in the area...
which produced wooden boxes for products such as fish. During the mid-20th century, the town was particularly vibrant and home to numerous grocery stores, clothing stores, and a movie theatre. Until the 1980s, New Germany was also accessible by the Halifax and Southwestern Railway
Halifax and Southwestern Railway
The Halifax and Southwestern Railway was a historic Canadian railway operating in the province of Nova Scotia. The H&SW was created in spring 1901 when William Mackenzie and Donald Mann approached the provincial government with plans to finish the abortive plans for a railway from Halifax to...
though the now-abandoned railroad tracks are popular with all-terrain vehicle
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
enthusiasts who sometimes gather at the Small Engine Repair Station yard, and one of the few available spaces for young people to gather.
Present day
Local employment hinges on natural resources such as farming, blueberries, maple syrupMaple syrup
Maple syrup is a syrup usually made from the xylem sap of sugar maple, red maple, or black maple trees, although it can also be made from other maple species such as the bigleaf maple. In cold climates, these trees store starch in their trunks and roots before the winter; the starch is then...
, 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 Christmas trees which are shipped over North America. Many workers are employed in the nearby town of Bridgewater, with the Bowater
Bowater
Bowater was an American pulp and paper company based in Greenville, South Carolina. Bowater had 12 pulp and paper mills in the United States, Canada and South Korea and 13 North American sawmills. It had approximately 10,000 employees...
Mill in Oakhill and the Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
tire plant in the industrial park employing numerous people from the area. Current conditions in the forestry industry have led to many small operators leaving the business and journeying to Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. As well, the Christmas tree industry has been hit by the rising value of the Canadian dollar, which impacts revenues from the United States market.
Though a combination of factors including outmigration and the expansion of Bridgewater as a shopping destination have led to New Germany becoming predominantly a retirement community, there are plans to make the community vibrant once again for people of all ages. Due to lack of environmental development, very little has been done to progress the state of this fair village. Citizens have united to bring changes to the community. The group began holding farmer's markets at the small Lions Club Park in the fall of 2007.
New Germany is home to a community-built medical centre, liquor store, New Germany Elementary School, New Germany Rural High School
New Germany Rural High School
New Germany Rural High School is in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is administered by the South Shore Regional School Board.-External links:*...
, bank, convenience store, several churches, Shoppers Drug Mart
Shoppers Drug Mart
Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation is Canada's largest pharmacy chain with more than 1,241 stores operating under the names Shoppers Drug Mart in nine provinces and two territories and Pharmaprix in Quebec as well as in Hawkesbury, Ontario....
, Village Glassworks, Irving Oil
Irving Oil
Irving Oil is a gasoline, oil, and natural gas producing and exporting company. It is also one of the few energy companies in Canada to publicly support the Kyoto Accord. Irving Oil operates one large oil refinery...
gas station, and restaurants such as Guppy's Family Restaurant, DeLong's Dairy Kone, and the Critter Burger. It has a fairly large fire department, which covers an extensive district, as well as an RCMP outpost which is housed in the same building as the fire department.
Education
New Germany Rural High SchoolNew Germany Rural High School
New Germany Rural High School is in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is administered by the South Shore Regional School Board.-External links:*...
is newly renovated and serves students in grades seven to twelve. New Germany is also home to New Germany Elementary School, which is right down the street from NGRHS, for students from grades primary to six.