Old Annapolis Road, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
The Old Annapolis Road was a planned direct route between Halifax
and Annapolis Royal
, the current and former capitals of Nova Scotia
, in Eastern Canada
. Work began in 1784, but the road was never completed, though sections remain in use today.
by sea. Transportation between the two cities was by a lengthy and indirect route of early roads, following ancient trails from Halifax to Windsor, and then West through roads linking the Acadian
settlements of the Annapolis Valley
. Approximately the same route is followed by Nova Scotia Highway 101
today.
Work began on surveying a new road from Halifax to Annapolis Royal as early as 1776. In 1784 a new survey was conducted to plan a new route through the wilderness between the two cities, with the intention of reducing travel time - particularly for the movement of troops - and opening up the land for settlement.
- approximately halfway along the intended route. East of Sherbrooke, the hostile terrain proved too difficult and construction halted.
Some construction was completed at the Halifax end, where the road joined today's Bedford Highway
near Kearney Lake
.
. Sections of the Eastern construction still exist, as logging roads and trails, and in the alignment of several local road segments.
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...
and Annapolis Royal
Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
Annapolis Royal is a town located in the western part of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. Known as Port Royal until the Conquest of Acadia in 1710 by Britain, the town is the oldest continuous European settlement in North America, north of St...
, the current and former capitals 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...
, in Eastern 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...
. Work began in 1784, but the road was never completed, though sections remain in use today.
Historical context
Annapolis Royal was the original colonial capital of Nova Scotia, until the founding of Halifax in 1749. Nevertheless in the late 18th century it was an important commercial center and vital to the economy of the colony. It was also the principle gateway to New BrunswickNew Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
by sea. Transportation between the two cities was by a lengthy and indirect route of early roads, following ancient trails from Halifax to Windsor, and then West through roads linking the Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
settlements of 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:...
. Approximately the same route is followed by Nova Scotia Highway 101
Nova Scotia Highway 101
Highway 101 is an east-west highway in Nova Scotia that runs from Bedford to Yarmouth.The highway follows a route along the southern coast of the Bay of Fundy through the Annapolis Valley. Between its western terminus at Yarmouth to Weymouth, the highway is 2-lane controlled access. Between...
today.
Work began on surveying a new road from Halifax to Annapolis Royal as early as 1776. In 1784 a new survey was conducted to plan a new route through the wilderness between the two cities, with the intention of reducing travel time - particularly for the movement of troops - and opening up the land for settlement.
Geography
The interior of Nova Scotia consists of thick forest and extensive swamps, and in the early 19th century was an uninhabited wilderness. The route of the road was varied to make areas of potentially-better farmland more accessible.Construction
Road building commenced in 1784. After a few miles had been constructed at the Western (Annapolis Royal) end of the road, work ceased until 1816. When it resumed, considerable progress was made in the West, with the road reaching Sherbrooke - today known as New RossNew Ross, Nova Scotia
New Ross is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in the Chester Municipal District. Home of the Ross Farm Museum.New Ross was the end-point for construction of the Western segment of the Annapolis Road which was intended to eventually reach Halifax...
- approximately halfway along the intended route. East of Sherbrooke, the hostile terrain proved too difficult and construction halted.
Some construction was completed at the Halifax end, where the road joined today's Bedford Highway
Bedford Highway
The Bedford Highway is a highway in the Halifax Regional Municipality , Nova Scotia that is part of Trunk 2. It runs around the western side of the Bedford Basin...
near Kearney Lake
Kearney Lake
-References:*...
.
The road today
Sections of the road are in use as parts of the road from Annapolis Royal to New Ross, which follows approximately the same route as that surveyed in 1784. Sections of the Eastern construction still exist, as logging roads and trails, and in the alignment of several local road segments.