Parrsboro

Before the arrival of European settlers, Parrsboro was a portage point for Mikmaq travellers along the Minas Basin and Cumberland County river systems. The native inhabitants called the region "Awokum," meaning a 'short-cut' or 'passing-over point.'{{cite web | url = http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/places/page.asp?ID=515 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130115134021/http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/places/page.asp?ID=515 | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 15, 2013 | title = Nova Scotia Archives - Place-Names and Places of Nova Scotia | access-date = 2013-05-13 }}

The first European settlers were the Acadians in 1670 at the western mouth of the Parrsboro Harbour, near Partridge Island. After they were expelled in 1755, they were replaced by New England Planters.{{cite web|url = http://www.ottawahousemuseum.ca/our-history|title = Ottawa House By-The-Sea Museum – Our History|access-date = 2013-05-13|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130716004440/http://www.ottawahousemuseum.ca/our-history|archive-date = 2013-07-16|url-status = dead}} The centre of settlement gradually shifted from Partridge Island to the sheltered estuary of the Parrsboro River where a harbour and surrounding mills grew. The settlement, at first named Mill Village, was renamed Parrsboro in honour of Nova Scotia Governor John Parr in 1784, and the town was incorporated on July 15, 1889.{{cite web| url = http://www.town.parrsboro.ns.ca/history.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071221043948/http://www.town.parrsboro.ns.ca/history.html| url-status = dead| archive-date = 2007-12-21| title = History - Town of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia| access-date = 2007-09-10}}

File:Town Hall and Civic Gardens of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia - 08673.JPG

Parrsboro thrived in the mid 19th century as the hub of a string of shipbuilding communities from Economy to Advocate collectively known as the "Parrsboro Shore". The town became a port of registry in 1850 for over 115 locally built schooners as well as giant square riggers, culminating in the largest, the ship Glooscap in 1891. In its peak years of the 1890s, over 1646 ships arrived and departed annually.Stanley Spicer ''Sails of Fundy: The Schooners and Square-riggers of the Parrsboro Shore (Hantsport, NS: Lancelot Press, 1984), p.15

The Springhill and Parrsboro Railway began service to the town from the coal mining town of Springhill on July 1, 1877; Parrsboro became a coal shipping port for the Springhill mines, primarily serving Saint John, New Brunswick. Railway service to Parrsboro was abandoned on June 14, 1958, following several years of declining shipments, several months before the 1958 mining disaster.{{cite web| url = http://www.town.parrsboro.ns.ca/timeline.html| title = Historical Timeline - Town of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia| access-date = 2007-09-10}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Throughout the late 19th century and first four decades of the twentieth century, Parrsboro saw daily ferry service across the Minas Basin to the Annapolis Valley ports of Kingsport and Wolfville. The 13th and final vessel in this service, operated by the Dominion Atlantic Railway, was the MV Kipawo, which is now permanently beached at Parrsboro and incorporated into the Ship's Company Theatre performance centre.{{cite web| url = http://www.bellisland.net/history/kipawo.htm| title = Kipawo| access-date = 2007-08-07| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928213910/http://www.bellisland.net/history/kipawo.htm| archive-date = 2007-09-28}}

A Handley Page V/1500 named Atlantic made a forced landing in Parrsboro July 5, 1919. When the starboard engine failed the pilot, Major Brackley saw the lights of the town during the night and landed. After three months, the aircraft was repaired and departed for Greenport, New York, Parrsboro's sister town.{{cite web| url = http://www.town.parrsboro.ns.ca/handleypage/hp1.html| title = The Handley Page, Parrsboro, N.S., Page 1| access-date = 2007-09-10}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The local Air Cadet Squadron, 689 Handley Page, is named after this event.

On April 10, 1984, Parrsboro resident Eldon George located the world's smallest dinosaur footprints at Wasson Bluff, a series of cliffs to the east of Parrsboro Harbour. The prints are now on display at the Parrsboro Rock and Mineral Shop and Museum, owned by George.{{cite web| url = http://museum.gov.ns.ca/fossils/finders/george.htm| title = Tim Fedak| access-date = 2007-08-07| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071010052129/http://museum.gov.ns.ca/fossils/finders/george.htm| archive-date = 2007-10-10}}

Parrsboro was incorporated as a town on July 15, 1889. On October 5, 2015 the Town Council filed an application for dissolution with the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board. The NSURB held public hearings in November 2015 and issued a decision on June 15, 2016 granting the application. The Town of Parrsboro was dissolved effective November 1, 2016 and merged into the larger Municipality of the County of Cumberland.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cumberlandcounty.ns.ca/doc_download/1807-m07110-decision.html |title=Town of Parrsboro Order of Dissolution |access-date=2016-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222224152/http://www.cumberlandcounty.ns.ca/doc_download/1807-m07110-decision.html |archive-date=2016-12-22 |url-status=dead }}

{{Weather box

|location = Parrsboro, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1897–present

|single line = Yes

|metric first = Yes

|width=auto

|Jan record high C = 18.2

|Feb record high C = 16.9

|Mar record high C = 20.0

|Apr record high C = 27.2

|May record high C = 31.0

|Jun record high C = 31.7

|Jul record high C = 33.3

|Aug record high C = 33.3

|Sep record high C = 29.4

|Oct record high C = 27.4

|Nov record high C = 22.5

|Dec record high C = 18.9

|year record high C = 33.3

|Jan high C = -0.8

|Feb high C = -0.5

|Mar high C = 3.0

|Apr high C = 8.8

|May high C = 15.1

|Jun high C = 19.7

|Jul high C = 23.1

|Aug high C = 23.1

|Sep high C = 19.3

|Oct high C = 13.7

|Nov high C = 7.9

|Dec high C = 2.4

|year high C = 11.2

|Jan mean C = −5.8

|Feb mean C = −5.6

|Mar mean C = -1.6

|Apr mean C = 4.0

|May mean C = 9.6

|Jun mean C = 14.1

|Jul mean C = 17.5

|Aug mean C = 17.5

|Sep mean C = 14.1

|Oct mean C = 8.8

|Nov mean C = 3.6

|Dec mean C = -1.9

|year mean C = 6.2

|Jan low C = -10.8

|Feb low C = -10.5

|Mar low C = -6.2

|Apr low C = -0.9

|May low C = 4.0

|Jun low C = 8.5

|Jul low C = 11.9

|Aug low C = 11.8

|Sep low C = 8.9

|Oct low C = 3.9

|Nov low C = -0.7

|Dec low C = -6.2

|year low C = 1.1

|Jan record low C = -35.6

|Feb record low C = -35.0

|Mar record low C = -27.2

|Apr record low C = -23.9

|May record low C = -9.4

|Jun record low C = -3.9

|Jul record low C = -0.6

|Aug record low C = -3.9

|Sep record low C = -5.6

|Oct record low C = -11.7

|Nov record low C = -23.3

|Dec record low C = -31.7

|year record low C = -35.6

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 112.5

|Feb precipitation mm = 83.9

|Mar precipitation mm = 96.3

|Apr precipitation mm = 104.8

|May precipitation mm = 98.0

|Jun precipitation mm = 100.2

|Jul precipitation mm = 85.2

|Aug precipitation mm = 82.3

|Sep precipitation mm = 122.0

|Oct precipitation mm = 114.4

|Nov precipitation mm = 111.9

|Dec precipitation mm = 135.6

|year precipitation mm = 1247.1

|Jan snow cm = 60.9

|Feb snow cm = 48.8

|Mar snow cm = 45.5

|Apr snow cm = 17.0

|May snow cm = 1.4

|Jun snow cm = 0.0

|Jul snow cm = 0.0

|Aug snow cm = 0.0

|Sep snow cm = 0.0

|Oct snow cm = 0.1

|Nov snow cm = 10.6

|Dec snow cm = 46.0

|year snow cm = 230.3

|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 17.6

|Feb precipitation days = 16.3

|Mar precipitation days = 16.2

|Apr precipitation days = 16.6

|May precipitation days = 16.2

|Jun precipitation days = 14.9

|Jul precipitation days = 14.0

|Aug precipitation days = 13.7

|Sep precipitation days = 14.0

|Oct precipitation days = 15.3

|Nov precipitation days = 16.9

|Dec precipitation days = 18.9

|year precipitation days = 190.4

|unit snow days = 0.2 cm

|Jan snow days = 10.8

|Feb snow days = 9.6

|Mar snow days = 8.0

|Apr snow days = 3.4

|May snow days = 0.36

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.05

|Nov snow days = 2.6

|Dec snow days = 8.7

|year snow days = 43.4

| time day = 15:00 LST

| Jan humidity = 70.6

| Feb humidity = 65.6

| Mar humidity = 60.4

| Apr humidity = 58.9

| May humidity = 61.9

| Jun humidity = 64.7

| Jul humidity = 67.5

| Aug humidity = 65.8

| Sep humidity = 66.3

| Oct humidity = 67.1

| Nov humidity = 70.6

| Dec humidity = 74.6

| year humidity = 66.2

|source 1 = Environment Canada (snow 1981–2010){{cite web

| publisher = Environment Canada

| url = http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?stnID=6428&lang=e&province=NS&provSubmit=go&page=26&dCode=0

| title = Parrsboro, Nova Scotia

| work = Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010

| date=October 31, 2011 | access-date = 12 May 2015}}{{cite web

| publisher = Environment Canada

| url = https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1991_2020_e.html?searchType=stnName_1991&txtStationName_1991=parrsboro&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=42000000&dispBack=1

| title = Parrsboro

| work = Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020

| date = 30 January 2024

| access-date = 8 April 2024}}

|date = November 2011

}}

{{Historical populations

|1881|1206

|1891|1909

|1901|3391

|1911|2856

|1921|2748

|1931|1919

|1941|1971

|1951|1906

|1956|1849

|1961|1834

|1981|1799

|1986|1729

|1991|1634

|1996|1617

|2001|1529

|2006|1401

|2011|1305

|2016|1205

|footnote =[http://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1966-eng.aspx?opt=/eng/1966/196602190191_p.%20191.pdf Census 1956-1961][http://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1910-eng.aspx?opt=/eng/1910/191000690013_p.%2013.pdf Census 1881-1901]{{cite web |url=http://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1932-eng.aspx?opt%3D%2Feng%2F1932%2F193201410103_p.+103.pdf |title=Canada Year Book 1932 |access-date=August 30, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019190112/http://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1932-eng.aspx?opt=%2Feng%2F1932%2F193201410103_p.%20103.pdf |archive-date=October 19, 2014 }}, Censuses 1871-1931{{cite web |url=http://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1955-eng.aspx?opt%3D%2Feng%2F1955%2F195501710145_p.+145.pdf |title=Canada Year Book 1955 |access-date=August 30, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209035552/http://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1955-eng.aspx?opt=%2Feng%2F1955%2F195501710145_p.%20145.pdf |archive-date=2013-12-09 }}, Census 1941-1951{{cite web |url=http://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1967-eng.aspx?opt%3D%2Feng%2F1967%2F196702210189_p.+189.pdf |title=Canada Year Book 1967 |access-date=August 30, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223151220/http://www66.statcan.gc.ca/eng/acyb_c1967-eng.aspx?opt=%2Feng%2F1967%2F196702210189_p.%20189.pdf |archive-date=2014-12-23 }}, Census 1961[http://www.gov.ns.ca/finance/publish/CENSUS/Census%201.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005011332/http://www.gov.ns.ca/finance/publish/CENSUS/Census%201.pdf |date=2013-10-05 }}, Censuses 1981-2001{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/index-eng.cfm | title=Census of Population | date=January 15, 2001 }}

|2021|1327}}

As with much of rural Nova Scotia, the primary industry in Parrsboro is tourism. The community is known for its seasonal theatre productions at the Ship's Company Theatre, fossil and rock hounding attractions, museums, high tides and heritage buildings. The cliffs along the Minas Basin to the east and west of Parrsboro contain fossils of prehistoric animals and plants. Many fossils are on display in local museums.

Of the three museums in Parrsboro, two are dedicated to geological history. The Fundy Geological Museum, located along the eastern shore of Parrsboro Harbour,{{cite web| url = http://museum.gov.ns.ca/fgm/| title = Fundy Geological Museum, Nova Scotia - Home| access-date = 2007-08-07| archive-date = June 13, 2006| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060613052751/http://museum.gov.ns.ca/fgm/| url-status = dead}} and the Parrsboro Rock and Mineral Shop and Museum, along the western shore,{{cite web| url = http://www.parrsbororockandmineralmuseum.com/| title = The Parrsboro Rock and Mineral Shop and Museum| access-date = 2007-08-07| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071008183732/http://www.parrsbororockandmineralmuseum.com/| archive-date = 2007-10-08| url-status = dead}} display many unearthed discoveries and provide information on the history of the region's landscape.

File:Parrsboro Customs House.JPG

The third museum is the [http://www.ottawahousemuseum.ca/ Ottawa House]. It was built 1775 but contains evidence of Acadian construction as well as several additions. Located along the western coast of Parrsboro Harbour, near Partridge Island, it occupies the original town site and is near the legendary landing site of Henry Sinclair, 1397, and the factual site of Samuel de Champlain, 1607. It was the summer home of Father of Confederation Sir Charles Tupper, 1860s, and was named in honour of Canada's Capital. A major focus is Parrsboro's shipbuilding history and the museum has many artifacts that date from the Age of Sail.{{cite web| url = http://www.ottawahouse.org/| title = Ottawa House By-The-Sea Museum - Home| access-date = 2007-08-07| archive-date = August 6, 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070806010406/http://www.ottawahouse.org/| url-status = dead}}

A three-storey clock tower is a prominent feature of Parrsboro's Main St. The tower is part of a big, red-brick government building that was partially opened in 1913 and completed the following year.Centennial Book Committee (1988, 2001). Heritage Homes and History of Parrsboro. Dartmouth: Print Atlantic. The building housed an armoury that conducted military training during both World Wars, a post office, a customs house and a weather station.{{cite web|url=http://hmsnonesuch.com/2013/01/|title=Radio Talk About Main & Station|date=January 24, 2013 |publisher=CBC Information Morning|access-date=2013-05-12}} The federal government sold it to private interests in 1973 when the post office moved to another location. The building stood empty for decades, but was acquired in 2011 by Harvey Lev, a Montreal businessman with interests in heritage real estate. After extensive renovations, Lev and his partner, Judith Bauer, opened a centre called Main & Station in the spring of 2013. It provides spaces for a variety of activities including art exhibits, conferences, workshops, poetry readings and a café.{{cite web|url=http://hmsnonesuch.com/department-store/|title=depARTment store|date=January 21, 2013 |publisher= Main & Station|access-date=2013-05-12}}

A cultural and community centre, known locally as The Hall, has been a prominent feature of community life for more than a century. It is located in a former Presbyterian Church at 44 King St. that dates from 1884. The Town of Parrsboro purchased the building in 1942 and used it for school purposes. It served as a school auditorium and music room as well as a space for household and vocational training. The extensively renovated building is now run by the Parrsboro Band Association. It features concert performances by the Parrsboro Citizens' Band, one of the oldest such citizens' bands in Canada. Professional musicians also perform at The Hall and there are frequent community "Open Mic" nights. Films are regularly shown in its movie theatre and it provides space for community meetings, theatre rehearsals and fundraising events.{{cite web|url=http://www.thehall.ca|title=Parrsboro Band Association|access-date=2013-05-13}}

Other community features include local churches, a public library, a primary and secondary school, and a 50-watt radio station, Parrsboro Community Radio, heard at 99.1 FM.

File:License plate shed near Parrsboro, NS - 08659.jpg

Although Parrsboro has a flourishing tourism industry and several small businesses, the community - common to many maritime communities faces economic challenges. The decline of wooden shipbuilding in the late 19th century dealt a severe blow to the local economy, along with neighbouring communities such as Port Greville and Shulie. The community also suffered from the depletion of local forests and the closing of the Springhill coal mines which ended coal shipments and railway service. A further blow was felt from highway route changes in the late 1950s as part of the Trans-Canada Highway project; Highway 2 was the primary highway from Truro to Amherst until the upgrading (and new construction) of Highway 4 through the Wentworth Valley to form the present-day expressway Highway 104. These changes contributed to an economic decline in Parrsboro in the latter half of the 20th century after some businesses, such as the O'Regan's garage and car dealership, moved to larger population centres.[http://www.oregans.com/about-us/ "About Us" O'Regans Car Dealership]

File:Blueberry fields at Parrsboro.jpgA number of businesses have remained consistent and sustainable in Parrsboro, owing to the community's central location along the north shore of the Minas Basin. There is a number of small coastal fishing operations in the area and the community is also the base of operations for several large blueberry harvesting companies, as well as being home to Granby Furnaces, a firm which has found a success in producing home heating appliances (oil furnaces, cast boilers, heat exchangers, etc) for export. Small businesses in or near Parrsboro include the Crossroads Co-op supermarket, a Tim Hortons franchise, Harrison’s Home Hardware, an Irving Oil gas station, a convenience store, an art gallery called The Destination Gallery, a [http://www.parrsborogolf.ca/ nine-hole golf course], a skating arena, a bottle depot, and a restaurant/tavern. There are many seasonal accommodations businesses in the Parrsboro area to serve the tourism industry, which primarily operates during the summer and fall seasons.{{cite web| url = http://www.town.parrsboro.ns.ca/profile.html| title = Town Profile| access-date = 2007-09-10| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071221052407/http://www.town.parrsboro.ns.ca/profile.html| archive-date = 2007-12-21}}

In 2006, Headz Gamez, a British Columbia-based board game manufacturer, announced that it was relocating 1,500 manufacturing jobs from its facilities in China to Parrsboro. Promises of manufacturing facilities, employee housing and recreation facilities were made; however, the project was cancelled later that year after the CEO sold off his personal company stock and resigned his position. The company declared bankruptcy in early 2007.{{cite news | url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/headz-gamez-files-for-bankruptcy-1.646366| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121103193957/http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2007/01/09/headz-bankrupt.html| url-status = live| archive-date = November 3, 2012| title = Headz Gamez files for bankruptcy| access-date = 2007-08-07 | work=CBC News| date=2007-01-09}}

• Walter Harris Callow
• Sir Charles Tupper
• Abraham Pineo Gesner
• Eldon George
• Charles Brenton Huggins

The 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada showed a population of 1327{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-02-09 |title=2021 Census of Population geographic summary: 12110082 [Dissemination area], Nova Scotia |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/search-recherche/productresults-resultatsproduits-eng.cfm |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-02-09 |title=2021 Census of Population geographic summary: 12110083 [Dissemination area], Nova Scotia |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/search-recherche/productresults-resultatsproduits-eng.cfm |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-02-09 |title=2021 Census of Population geographic summary: 12110081 [Dissemination area], Nova Scotia |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/search-recherche/productresults-resultatsproduits-eng.cfm |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}} living in the former Town of Parrsboro living in 662 of its 817 total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:1327-1205}}|1205|1}} from its 2016 population of 1,205. With a land area of {{convert|14.8|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|1205|14.8|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2016.{{cite web | url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=86&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=12 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Nova Scotia) | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=February 8, 2017 | access-date=February 12, 2017}}

• 30px Greenport, New York, United States.
• 30px Blue Lake, California, United States.{{cite news | url = http://www.citizenweekly.com/index.cfm?sid=66289&sc=136 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130119130145/http://www.citizenweekly.com/index.cfm?sid=66289&sc=136 | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 19, 2013 | publisher = Amherst Daily News | title = Parrsboro to adopt West Coast sister | author = Andrew Wagstaff | access-date = 2007-10-03 }}

• List of municipalities in Nova Scotia

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20170822180811/http://www.town.parrsboro.ns.ca/ Town of Parrsboro]

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Parrsboro, Nova Scotia

| North = Lakelands
on Trunk 2 20px

| Northeast =

| East = New Prospect
on Trunk 2 20px

| Southeast = Greenhill

| South = Minas Basin

| Southwest = West Bay

| West = Kirkhill
on Route 30px

| Northwest =

}}

{{NSCumberland|state=expanded}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Communities in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia

Category:Former towns in Nova Scotia

Category:Populated places disestablished in 2016

Category:Populated coastal places in Canada