Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia

History

Beaver Bank dates back to the arrival of Boston loyalists in the late eighteenth century.

The first recorded land grants in the community were issued in 1798 to Andrew Blair, George and John Bond, John Hockinbul, Henry King, and John and Philip Hefler.

Following the War of 1812, several families settled in the area. By 1827, ten families were recorded in Beaver Bank, and the 1838 census reported a population of 108.

Lumbering and farming were early sources of income. The community’s first sawmill was built on the site of the present Barrett Lumber Company.

Transportation history

The stagecoach between Halifax and Sackville began service on February 14, 1815, stopping near the Old Windsor Road.

Construction of the Windsor Branch of the Intercolonial Railway began in 1854, and the Halifax–Windsor line opened on June 3, 1858. Daniel Hallisey became the first stationmaster; three generations of the Hallisey family operated Beaver Bank Station.

The station closed on March 31, 1956. The building was moved to Beaver Bank Crossroads, renovated, and later destroyed by fire in November 1967.

A prehistoric archaeological site near the former station, identified as BeCw–1, contains lithic material dating to more than 3,000 years before present.

Cold War period

Main article: RCAF Station Beaverbank

Beaver Bank was home to RCAF Station Beaver Bank, a Pinetree Line radar installation designated Site C-11. It was originally Canadian-funded and Canadian-manned.

After its closure, the site became known as the Beaver Bank Villa and included duplex housing, a nursing home, an adult residential centre, a school, a fire station, a church, a post office, a variety store, a mobile dwelling, a rental office, and playing fields. Many of these buildings later faced significant maintenance challenges.

Geography

Beaver Bank is situated in a drumlin landscape of rolling hills formed during the last glaciation. Its soils consist mainly of fine-textured loams and sandy clay loam derived from Meguma slate and greywacke.

Historically, upland areas supported yellow birch, sugar maple, and American beech, while red spruce was common on lower slopes. Modern forests in the area are generally younger and dominated by red maple, poplar, and birch.

Demographics

The Beaver Bank community had a population of approximately 6,000 at the time of the 2006 census.

Infrastructure

Ivy Meadows

Ivy Meadows, formerly Scotia Nursing Home, operated in Beaver Bank for over 50 years. In June 2021, Rosecrest Communities announced it would not renew its contract to provide 38 long-term care beds due to staffing challenges related to the location of the facility and the loss of bus service in 2019.

In May 2023, it was announced that Northwood would assume operations of Ivy Meadows and reopen closed spaces.

Transportation

Beaver Bank is served by Halifax Transit Routes 86 and 186, providing connections to Sackville and Halifax.

In early 2021, CN removed several sections of rail at the Beaver Bank Road/Windgate Drive crossing due to safety concerns. Although rails were removed, the crossing remains legally active and buses must continue to stop until the matter is resolved with Transport Canada.

Religion

The first official church in Beaver Bank was the Good Shepherd Church. The land was donated by the Grove family, and funds were donated by their students. The first service was held on October 3, 1886, and the church was formally consecrated on June 17, 1890. A newer, larger building was later constructed.

Education

Beaver Bank is served by three public schools within the Halifax Regional Centre for Education:

• Beaver Bank–Kinsac Elementary School (Primary–5)
• Beaver Bank–Monarch Drive Elementary School (Primary–5)
• Harold T. Barrett Junior High School (Grades 6–8)

References

References

1. "Halifax Regional Municipality Urban Forest Master Plan". Government of the Municipality of Halifax.
3. "About Beaver Bank". Beaver Bank Community Awareness Association.
4. "BBK Bulletin Vol. 4 No. 3 (May 1998)". Beaver Bank Community Awareness Association.
5. "Kjipuktuk (Halifax) Indigenous Map". Parks Canada.
6. "Halifax Regional Municipality Urban Forest Master Plan". Halifax Regional Municipality.
7. "Beaver Bank". Fultz House Museum.
8. "Beaver Bank–Hammonds Plains–Upper Sackville MPS". Halifax Regional Municipality.
9. "Beaver Bank". Fultz House Museum.
10. "Beaver Bank". Fultz House Museum.
11. "Heading Down the Rails: Railway Heritage". Fultz House Museum.
12. "Heading Down the Rails: Railway Heritage". Fultz House Museum.
13. "Archaeological Appendix – Highway 107". Nova Scotia Department of Environment.
14. "Post-WWII Radar Stations in Canada". Federation of American Scientists.
15. "Beaver Bank–Hammonds Plains–Upper Sackville MPS". Halifax Regional Municipality.
16. (23 June 2021). "Beaver Bank continuing care facility closing in 2023 due to insurmountable staffing challenges". HalifaxToday.ca.
17. (31 May 2023). "Northwood to take over operating at Ivy Meadows". The Laker News.
18. "Routes & Schedules". Halifax Transit.
19. Healey, Pat. (1 February 2021). "Councillor Blackburn provides Beaver Bank train track update". The Laker News.
20. "Beaver Bank". Fultz House Museum.
21. "Beaver Bank–Kinsac Elementary School".
22. "Beaver Bank–Monarch Drive Elementary School".
23. "Harold T. Barrett Junior High School".