History of Prospect Village
The history of Prospect is a long involved history that touches on every aspect of the broader movements and events happening in Nova Scotia throughout the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Unfortunately, the Prospect area has never been given the formal treatment other areas in Halifax County have been given when it comes to the writing of a formal history. Throughout the years local school children have collected oral histories and efforts to compile bits of the area's history have taken place. The chapters below attempt to make the history of the Prospect area available to all in a formal, academic, yet interesting format. This is a work in progress that will be updated when new information is available and/or if there are any conflicting opinions about what is presented. Remember that this history is being written based on historical documents and sources available to the public, secondary sources and those oral bits of history that have been passed down through the generations. This is my attempt to piece it all together. I hope you enjoy.
Chapters
- 1500 - 1754: Early History of Prospect, Halifax County, Nova Scotia
- 1754 - 1823: Establishing a Community
- 1794 - 1823: Establishing Religion along the Western Shore
- 1823 - 1867: Maintaining a Community
- 1867 - 1900: From Boom to Bust
Significant Events
Year | Description |
---|---|
1754 | First settled |
1773 | 250 people living in the area called Prospect |
1794 | First Roman Catholic church built in the village of Prospect |
1812 | The Prospect road from Halifax is built |
1823 | Church records are started |
1827 | 307 people living in Prospect |
1838 | 363 people living in Prospect |
1856 | Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic church built to house the growing population |
1867 | Prospect village outright votes against Confederation |
1871 | Population of Prospect reaches 856 souls |
1873 | Sisters of Charity open a convent |
1881 | 1135 people are listed as living in the area known as Prospect |
1891 | 662 people live in Prospect |
1901 | 465 people live in Prospect |
1921 | Our Lady of Mount Carmel catches fire and burns to the ground |
1922 | Our Lady of Mount Carmel is rebuilt |
1947 | First street light |
1959 | Atlantic Memorial Elementary School opens in Shad Bay. The school in Prospect is closed |
1994 | 200 years since the founding of the Catholic church |