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Digby Town and County has had its share of events and projects over the years. We have had special events such as visits of famous people, from Politicians to Royality. We have had major infrastructure projects such as building roads, water reservoirs and dams, as well as bringing in the telephone and electricity.

Each of these construction projects brought us one step closer to the present age. Today Digby and County are modern and properous thanks to these, and many more, important developments.

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Fenians
1914
Digby, Nova Scotia

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Fenians* were anti-British Irish-Americans who formed a movement with the objective of securing Ireland's independence from Britain. By the end of the American Civil War (1865) they had "...about 10,000...veterans of that conflict organized into military clubs." (Info taken from The Canadian Encyclopedia)

"...after the Civil War [(1881-1885) there were]..." persistant attacks on British territory by the Fenian Brotherhood." (Info taken from The Maritimes and Canada Before Confederation, W. M. Whitelaw).

The Fenian threat was significant insofar as it swayed the Maritimes' public opinion in favour of Confederation.

The Militia was called out in Digby County in response to this threat. A Royal Artillery Brigade was raised to man the Battery which was re-established on the Cannon Banks in 1866.

*also known as the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), formed in 1858 in Ireland with an American wing.

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The Fenian Bounty
Digby Weekly Courier - September 11, 1914

Nearly Two Hundred Old Veterans met at the Court House in Digby Wednesday Afternoon, September 9th
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A gathering which was forth going miles to see took place in Digby Wednesday afternoon when 170 old veterans met at the Court House and were presented with their bounty cheques ($100.00 each) as mark of appreciation by the Canadian government for their services in a time of need.

It was certainly an appropriate time for patriotic speeches, but none were made.

Mr. Charles L. Panet, of the Militia Dept., Ottawa, assisted by Mr. White of the same city, passed the cheques to the aged veterans in a jury room off the main Court room as they filed in one door and out another which led to the main corridor.

Inside the room, besides the paymasters, were Messrs. H.H.Marshall, M.P.P., F.W. Nichols and J.A. Gilerson, barristers.

A Courier representative, who was personally acquited with the majority of the veterans, noted their pleasant smile as they passed out the building.

Some of them needed the money very much indeed, while others were already well supplied with the world's goods. Six of the aged defenders of our county who received their cheques with the rest are inmates of the Alms House at Marshalltown.

The local banks remained open until a late hour Wednesday afternoon so that all who desired could cash their cheques the same evening.

Mr. Pual Yates, Digby's enterprising photographer, had pictures of the veterans on sale within two hours after their arrival at the Court House yesterday morning at a similar gathering in Weymouth (Odd-Fellows Hall) 165 veterans received their cheques. At Metghan River (Post Office) in the afternoon 180 were handed theirs and the same thing is going on this morning in the Temperance Hall, Freeport.

Those who were not present at the four pay stations will receive theirs by mail, making a total of $90,000 received by the aged men of Digby county during the past three days.

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Digby Neck Road Gang
1921
Little River, Digby County, Nova Scotia

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Digby Neck Road Gang
1921
Little River, Digby County, Nova Scotia

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Digby Neck Water Wagon
1921
Little River, Digby County, Nova Scotia

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Municipality of the District of Digby

Council Minutes - January 12th, 1921

Ordered(?) not(?) one(?) committee on roads and ? have leave to oil. Councilor Cossaboom took ? ? rose and reported as follows - That this petition for the ? of a ? road at Little River along the East side of the river to property of Howard Frankland be received and the clerk be instructed to forward the same to the Highway Board at Halifax.....

Half Yearly Meeting - May 1921

...The Warden took his chair and called the Council to order at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. A ? from the chairman of the Highway Board was read in answers to the petition of residence of Little River for an extention of a road to the Council in Jan'y 1921 - This petition was accepted on the understanding that the opening of such road will not-entail expenditure of any money on account of road damages....

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Waiting for Elections Results
1911
Water Street, Digby, Nova Scotia

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With Free Trade the main issue, Digby residents crowd downtown to await federal election results. Maritime fishing communities were backing the Liberals and free trade with the United States, while Central Canada's manufactures were backing the Conservatives, rallying "No trucks with the Yankees". Laurier was defeated and free trade was dead. It wasn't until 1988 that the Conservative party struck a contentious freetrade agreement with the United States.

Information taking from: "Historic Digby" by Mike Parker

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Sir Wilfred Laurier Visits Digby
August, 1923
Digby, Nova Scotia

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Canadian Prime Ministers Sir Wilfred Laurier (seated left in photo), Richard Bennett, and McKenzie King all campaigned in Digby during their political travels. Knighted in London at Queen Victoria's 1897 Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Laurier (1841-1919) served the longest unbroken term of any Canadian prime minister - 1896-1911.

Other public dignitaries have made appearances in Digby over the years. For example Edward, Duke of Kent in 1794; Sir James Kempt, King's representative circa 1820; Lord and Lady Falkland in 1844. The Prince of Wales--later King George V--said to have had his shoes shined by Hardy Bent of Digby. The Marquis of Lorne, Governor General of Canada, and companion Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, sixth child of Queen Victoria, were entertained at a reception at John Daley's Royal Hotel in August 1880.

Information taken from: "Historic Digby" by Mike Parker

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Excavating the Digby Water Reservoir
1900
Digby, Nova Scotia

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Workmen pause from digging a water reservoir near Sydney Street.

April 1895 work began on the town's reservoir. Council decided to install the water works itself, rather than contracting privately. Within eight (8) months Digby had 8 miles of pipeline, 19 fire hydrants, a masonry dam holding 11 million gallons of water and a 600,000 gallon reservoir that is still used today.

Information taken from "Historic Digby" by Mike Parker