Parrsboro, Nova Scotia

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Pagename
other_name =
native_name =
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settlement_type = Town
motto = Parrsboro 'Rocks'


imagesize =
image_caption = Main Street Parrsboro


flag_size =
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seal_size =
image_shield =
shield_size =
image_blank_emblem =Parrsboro logo.pngblank_emblem_size =


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mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
image_dot_

dot_mapsize = 250px
dot_map_caption =Location of Pagename
dot_x =73 |dot_y =79
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = CAN
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = NS
subdivision_type2 = Municipality
subdivision_name2 = Cumberland County
subdivision_type3 =
subdivision_name3 =
subdivision_type4 =
subdivision_name4 =
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =Mayor
leader_name =Doug Robinson
leader_title1 = Governing Body
leader_name1 =Parrsboro Town Council
leader_title2 =
leader_name2 =
leader_title3 =
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leader_title4 =
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established_title = Founded
established_date = 1670
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = July 15, 1889
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
area_magnitude =
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area_total_km2 = 14.88
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area_urban_km2 =
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population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
population_note =
population_total = 1,401
population_density_km2 = 94.1
population_density_sq_mi =
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timezone = AST
utc_offset = -4
timezone_DST =
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latd=45 |latm=24 |lats=21 |latNS=N
longd=64 |longm=19|longs=33 |longEW=W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 0-47
elevation_ft = 0-155
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = B0M 1S0
area_code = 902
blank_name =Telephone Exchange
blank_info =254
blank1_name =Median Earnings*
blank1_info =$14,519+
blank2_name = NTS Map
blank2_info = 021H08
blank3_name = GNBC Code
blank3_info = CBCYW
website = [http://www.town.parrsboro.ns.ca/ http://www.town.parrsboro.ns.ca/]
footnotes = *Median household income, 2000 ($) (all households)

Part of a series about Places in Nova Scotia

Parrsboro (2006 population: 1,401) is a Canadian town located in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.

The town is known for its port on the Minas Basin, the Ship's Company Theatre productions and the Fundy Geological Museum.

History

Prior to the arrival of European settlers, Parrsboro was a portage point for Mikmaq travellers along the Minas Basin and Cumberland County river systems. The native inhabitants called the region "Awokum," meaning a 'short-cut' or 'passing-over point.' [cite web | url = http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/cap/places/page.asp?ID=515 | title = Public Archives of Nova Scotia C@P Site - Place-Names and Places of Nova Scotia | accessdate = 2007-09-06]

The first European settlers were the Acadians in 1670 at the western mouth of the Parrsboro Harbour, near Partridge Island. [cite web | url = http://www.ottawahouse.org/pages/history/acadian-presence.php | title = Ottawa House By-The-Sea Museum - Acadian Presence| accessdate = 2007-08-07] After they were expelled in 1755, they were replaced by settlers from New England. [cite web | url = http://www.ottawahouse.org/pages/history/new-england-planters.php| title = Ottawa House By-The-Sea Museum – New England Planters| accessdate = 2007-08-07] The old settlement, Mill Village, was renamed Parrsboro in honour of Nova Scotia Governor John Parr in 1784, and the town was incorporated on July 15, 1889. [cite web | url = http://www.town.parrsboro.ns.ca/history.html| title = History - Town of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia| accessdate = 2007-09-10]

The Springhill and Parrsboro Railway began service to the town from the coal mining town of Springhill on July 1, 1877; Parrsboro became a coal shipping port for the Springhill mines, primarily serving Saint John, New Brunswick. Railway service to Parrsboro was abandoned on June 14, 1958, following several years of declining shipments, several months before the 1958 mining disaster. [cite web | url = http://www.town.parrsboro.ns.ca/timeline.html| title = Historical Timeline - Town of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia| accessdate = 2007-09-10]

Throughout the late 19th century and first four decades of the twentieth century, Parrsboro saw daily ferry service across the Minas Basin to the Annapolis Valley ports of Kingsport and Wolfville. The 13th and final vessel in this service, operated by the Dominion Atlantic Railway, was the MV "Kipawo", which is now permanently beached at Parrsboro and incorporated into the Ship's Company Theatre performance centre. [cite web | url = http://www.bellisland.net/history/kipawo.htm| title = Kipawo| accessdate = 2007-08-07]

A Handley Page V/1500 named "Atlantic" made a forced landing in Parrsboro July 5, 1919. When the starboard engine failed the pilot, Major Brackley saw the lights of the town during the night and landed. After three months, the aircraft was repaired and departed for Greenport, New York, Parrsboro's sister town. [cite web | url = http://www.town.parrsboro.ns.ca/handleypage/hp1.html| title = The Handley Page, Parrsboro, N.S., Page 1| accessdate = 2007-09-10] The local Air Cadet Squadron, 689 Handley Page, is named after this event.

On April 10, 1984, Parrsboro resident Eldon George located the world's smallest dinosaur footprints at Wasson's Bluff, a cliff to the east of Parrsboro Harbour. The prints are now on display at the Parrsboro Rock and Mineral Shop and Museum, owned by George. [cite web | url =http://museum.gov.ns.ca/fossils/finders/george.htm| title = Tim Fedak| accessdate = 2007-08-07]

Town features

As with much of rural Nova Scotia, the primary industry in Parrsboro is tourism. The town is known for its seasonal theatre productions, fossil and rockhounding attractions, museums and high tides. The coastline around Parrsboro is abundant with cliffs that contain fossils of prehistoric animals and plants. Many of these collectibles are visible in local museums.

Of the three museums in Parrsboro, two are dedicated to geological history. The Fundy Geological Museum, located along the eastern shore of Parrsboro Harbour, [cite web | url = http://museum.gov.ns.ca/fgm/| title = Fundy Geological Museum, Nova Scotia - Home| accessdate = 2007-08-07] and the Parrsboro Rock and Mineral Shop and Museum, along the western shore, [cite web | url = http://www.parrsbororockandmineralmuseum.com/| title = The Parrsboro Rock and Mineral Shop and Museum| accessdate = 2007-08-07] display many unearthed discoveries and provide information on the history of the region's landscape.

The third museum is the Ottawa House. It was built 1775 but contains evidence of Acadian construction as well as several additions. Located along the western coast of Parrsboro Harbour, near Partridge Island, it occupies the original town site and is near the legendary landing site of Henry Sinclair, 1397, and the factual site of Samuel de Champlain, 1607. It was the summer home of Father of Confederation Sir Charles Tupper, 1860s, and was named in honour of the Confederation of Canada. A major focus is Parrsboro's shipbuilding history and the museum has many artifacts that date to the Age of Sail. [cite web | url = http://www.ottawahouse.org/| title = Ottawa House By-The-Sea Museum - Home| accessdate = 2007-08-07]

Other town features include local churches, a library, a primary and secondary school, and a radio station, Parrsboro Community Radio on 99.1 FM.

Economy

Although Parrsboro has a flourishing tourism industry and several small businesses, the town - common to many maritime communities is economically struggling. The decline of wooden shipbuilding dealt a severe blow to the local economy, along with neighbouring communities such as Port Greville and Shulie. The town also suffered from the depletion of local forests and the closing of the Springhill coal mines which ended coal shipments. A further blow was the relocation of the Trans-Canada Highway, which once ran through the centre of town but was relocated in the 1960s to the Wentworth Valley.

However a number of businesses have remained consistent and sustainable. In addition to a number of small fishing operators and mills in the area, the town is also the base of several large blueberry operations and is home to Parrsboro Metal Fabricators, a firm which has found a successfully niche in producing home heating oil tanks for the region. Small businesses in or near Parrsboro include a supermarket, a Tim Hortons, a Home Hardware, an Irving Oil gas station, a convenience store, a golf course, a skating arena and a tavern. There are many accommodations and restaurants in Parrsboro due to the large tourist attraction. [cite web | url = http://www.town.parrsboro.ns.ca/profile.html| title = Town Profile - Town of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia| accessdate = 2007-09-10]

In 2006, a British Columbia based board game manufacturer Headz Gamez announced that it was relocating 1,500 manufacturing jobs from its facilities in China to Parrsboro. Promises of manufacturing facilities, employee housing and recreation facilities were made. The project, however, was canceled later that year after the CEO sold off his personal company stock and resigned his position. The company declared bankruptcy in early 2007. [cite web | url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2007/01/09/headz-bankrupt.html| title = Headz Gamez files for bankruptcy| accessdate = 2007-08-07]

Demographics

As of the 2001 Canadian Census, 99 percent of the population speak English only and 100 percent of the population is white. Protestant residents compose 73 percent of the population and Catholic citizens make up the other 27 percent. [cite web | url = http://www12.statcan.ca/english/Profil01/CP01/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=1211002&Geo2=PR&Code2=12&Data=Count&SearchText=parrsboro&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=12&B1=All&Custom=| title = 2001 Community Profiles| accessdate = 2007-10-01]

Parrsboro's Sister Cities

*.
*. [cite web | url = http://www.citizenweekly.com/index.cfm?sid=66289&sc=136 | title = The Amherst Citizen:News | Parrsboro to adopt West Coast sister | accessdate = 2007-10-03]

External links

* [http://www.town.parrsboro.ns.ca Town of Parrsboro]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=45.404959,-64.324951&spn=0.027651,0.060257&t=h&hl=en Google map of Parrsboro]
* [http://www.shipscompany.com Official Site of the Ship's Company Theatre]
* [http://museum.gov.ns.ca/fossils/sites/parrs Parrsboro Fossil Site]
* [http://museum.gov.ns.ca/fgm/ Fundy Geological Museum]
* [http://www.centralnovascotia.com Central Nova Tourist Association - official website]

References

*Parrsboro Centennial Book Committee. "Heritage Homes and History of Parrsboro". Halifax, NS: McCurdy Printing and Typesetting, 1988.

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Subdivisions of Nova Scotia