West Hants Historical Society

About

The West Hants Historical Society operates a historical museum, genealogy library, and Fort Edward.

Story

The West Hants Historical Society runs a seasonal Museum as well as a genealogy department that is open year-round. In addition, the society provides summer guide service at the Fort Edward Blockhouse.

The WHHS is run almost entirely by volunteers. Although the WHHS receives a large portion of its funding through grants, it also supports itself through publishing, its research library and fundraising.

The first meeting of the West Hants Historical Society was held on April 13th, 1973 in the Windsor Court House. Twenty five people attended and Roland E. Meuse was made the president. The Society became official on September 25th, 1973 when it was incorporated under the Societies Act of Nova Scotia.

Its first accomplishment was a successful campaign to open the blockhouse at Fort Edward to the public. With the help of the Fort Edward Restoration Committee (an offshoot of the Historical Society) and Parks Canada, the blockhouse was opened officially on June 1, 1978. The oldest surviving structure of its kind in Canada, Fort Edward is a must-see in the Avon Valley.