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Street Scapes

Digby County began its history as part of Annapolis County and was for the most part undeveloped until the arrival of the Loyalists in 1783. The first homes were rough cabins but with time more elaborate structures were erected. These first permanent homes reflected New England styles, the Georgian, or Loyalist style, being the most notable.

Both the residential and commercial streetscapes of the towns and villages of Digby county have changed considerably over the centuries. The town of Digby as the county seat has certainly undergone drastic alterations. The early unadorned Loyalist buildings gave way to elaborate Victorian edifices. The great fire of 1899 destroyed a large section of the downtown business area. Today the main street is a mix of the old and the new.

We value the built heritage represented in our streetscapes. This is exhibited by the fact that both the Municipality of the District of Digby and the Town of Digby have Heritage Communities to recognize outstanding buildings. From time to time we honour them with plaquing ceremonies.

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Downtown
1910
Digby, Nova Scotia

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The old postcard of downtown Digby shows the Oxmobile and the automobile. Oh, how things have changed since then!

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Looking south
1900
Water Street, Digby, Nova Scotia

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Present day
14 August 2004
Water Street, Digby, Nova Scotia

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From Sydney Street looking south down Water Street
1) Fancy Jewellery
2) RBC ( Royal Bank)
3) Kaywin Restaurant
4) Hair Dresser shop
5) Rewards Department Store
6) Club 98's parking lot
7) Gift shop
8) Aliant telephone office

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Old Post Office
1905
Water Street, Digby, Nova Scotia

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Downtown
1999
Water Street, Digby, Nova Scotia

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Downtown Digby looking south, yesterday and today.

The building on the corner with its distinctive mansard roof has been a jewellery store for over 100 years!

Over the years the jewellery store was Keen's, Saunders, and is now Fancy's.

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Corner of Water Street looking North
Past Present
1). Bank of Nova Scotia - Still in same location
2). Webber Store - Shoe Box
3). Morse Store - Wooden Cookie
4). Shreve Block -
Parking Lot for Fundy Complex
5). Post Office -
6). Warne Block,
Capital Theatre - Parking lot & Vitamin Sea
7). Woodman's Paint Store - Blue Fin
8). A. A. Short Chippe
Grocery Store - Guilding Light & Quilt Store
9). McMullen Block -
Aralee's Hair Styling & Mo-Jo's Pawn Shop

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The Racquette
1890
Racquette Road, Digby, Nova Scotia

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The Racquette
2001
Racquette Road, Digby, Nova Scotia

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The Racquette, Mi'Kmaq word for snowshoe, no doubt named for its circular shape, is a protected cove at the north end of town. This is the site of some of Digby's earliest wharves and shipbuilding. Circa 1766, Christopher Prince from Boston, built a trading post here and carried on an extensive trade, largely with Indians, for some years.

Today, there is no activity, with the exception of the occasional beachcomber.

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Waverley Hotel
1899
Corner of Birch & Water Street, Digby, Nova Scotia