Expedia names Digby fourth most charming historic town in Canada
Digby is a town founded on history and now a travel company is appreciating that history by listing Digby as one of the top Charming, Historic Towns in Canada.
Expedia, a globally recognized travel and technology company, created the list and named Digby the fourth listing.
“There are so many interesting towns with strong ties to history, and we wanted to give them a spotlight. We selected the destinations by looking for towns with important historic sites and unique origins stories,” says the author of the article, Jennifer Cuellar. “Digby caught our attention, as it has always represented a safe harbour for travellers. With tranquil beauty and historic buildings around town, it’s an excellent spot to visit.”
In 1783 Digby was settled by United Empire Loyalists, led by Admiral Robert Digby, the captain of the HMS Atalanta, the ship that brought them here.
Citizens who came on the ship, from New York and New England, appreciated Admiral Digby’s efforts in leading them to safety and they petitioned to have the land here named Digby.
In the 1890s Digby was incorporated as a town.
A historic walking tour is offered in downtown Digby where a local historian will guide visitors on a tour through the past.
Some of the facts mentioned on the tour is that Digby has a collection of historic houses in the downtown core. Some built in the 1800-1900s that are still standing today.
Along with that is the Trinity Anglican Church that was first built in 1785 and torn down and rebuilt. The property is now a National Historic Site of Canada and a Provincial Heritage Property.
“Sometimes we don’t appreciate the beauty around us,” says Mayor Ben Cleveland. “We don’t always look back and we should be looking back, to remember what it took to get to where we are today.”
Cleveland has spoken to many tourists visiting the area and he says from what he’s heard, they’re impressed.
“There just amazed of what the town has to offer.”
When asked what his favourite historical aspect of the town was, Cleveland couldn’t decide. He mentioned the arrival of the Empire Loyalists and the early farming settlers in the area but he’s proud of all that Digby has to offer.
“There’s a lot of history here, and everyone has such busy lives, so sometimes I think we overlook it and don’t fully appreciate what we have here,” says Cleveland.