For all to see
New book chronicles the history of Mahone Bay
DAVID MACDONALD SOUTH SHORE BREAKER
MAHONE BAY, N.S. — The rich history of Mahone Bay has been inked to paper thanks to the recent launch of a book celebrating the first 100 years of the South Shore community.
The book launch for Mahone Bay: 100 Years and Counting took place Sunday, Dec. 1 at Trinity United Church.
The first thing you'll notice about the book, written by Bob Sayer, a longtime Mahone Bay resident now living in Lunenburg, is its eye-catching cover. It depicts the famous and striking image of three churches - St James' Anglican; St John's Evangelical Lutheran and Trinity United – overlooking the head of the bay. But, of course, many other interesting historical images and information are contained inside.
The book covers any and all aspects of the town, not only the 100 years of incorporation, but also an acknowledgement of the Indigenous communities that lived in the area for thousands of years before the Europeans arrived in 1754.
Various community groups, including the volunteer fire department and town council, are featured, while the town's once-vibrant shipbuilding industry is also depicted.
“Mahone Bay was the most prolific boat-building town in Atlantic Canada,” Mahone Bay Mayor David Devenne said, making special mention of a boat-building firm located along the waterfront in front of the three churches.
Devenne said because the water there was relatively shallow, any boat built there had to be hauled out to the bay on its side before being launched.
“And they didn't have the machinery that exists today,” he said.
The last fibreglass boat plant shut down in the 1980s, but that was soon followed by the arrival of Reinforced Plastic Systems, Inc., now the town's biggest employer.
The town has seen other changes as well. The mayor said the tourism industry has become a major economic driver for Mahone Bay and other towns along the South Shore. He also noted while the population of the town has decreased over the years, this decade has seen an increase of nearly 10 per cent, as well as changing demographics.
“When I moved here in 1998, many (of my neighbours) were my age or older,” Devenne said. “Now, I've got families with young children on both sides of me.”
Those younger demographics bode well for the future of the town, he said.
“The profile of the town has changed, with an increasing number of people from other areas discovering Mahone
Bay and its lifestyle, and choosing to be members of the community,” he said.
“Mahone Bay has been a relatively stable municipality over the years. There hasn't been any real influx of big-box stores, there aren't any major highway systems in the centre of town, we have architectural control to keep the look and character of the town. The flavour of the town has remained consistent and it's the same with the character of the citizens.”
Devenne said the book wouldn't have been possible without the work of author Bob Sayer, as well as town staff, including heritage researcher Deborah Trask, deputy clerk Kelly Redden and volunteers Kara Turner and Tracey Lothian, who both edited the project. As well, residents provided photographs and other historical information.
The books are available at Kinburn Pharmacy, the Teazer, Chris's Convenience, Novel Idea, The Biscuit Eater, the Mahone Bay Museum and the town hall.