Canso & Hazel Hill

This concise early history of Canso was written by a number of high school students in Canso.

The history of Canso is recorded as far back as 1604 when it was visited by DeMonts, but foreign fishermen had been there many years before. Most of the inhabitants of Canso, at this time, resided on the islands that form the boundary to Canso harbour.

Canso is among the oldest of Nova Scotia settlements. The French fishermen from a very early date, fished extensively along the coast and dried their fish at Canso. When the season closed they set sail for their distant homes. This practice was carried out before the beginning of the seventeenth century. Throughout the seventeenth century fishing in Canso was, no doubt, in a flourishing state though no definite accounts have been secured on this point.

In 1688, a Frenchman sent by Louis the 14th to examine and report on defences advised that the seat of government be moved from Port Royal to Canso. Writing to the Board of Trade in 1719, Governor Phillips of Nova Scotia said, "Canso is by all accounts the best and most convenient fishery in any part of the king's dominion". In the following year he said, "I have a detachment that winters there for the security of that fishery which by all accounts is the best in the universe, and I hope in the spring to be fully instructed as to what measures to pursue in relation to these inhabitants".

In the year 1720, the place was attacked by Indians with the assistance of some French from Cape Breton. They carried away goods worth $ 80,000. The following year, the place was again attacked by Indians and seven persons were killed.

In June, 1728, Governor Phillips arrived at Canso and reported that there were 250 vessels in port and nearly two thousand men employed in catching and loading fish. Thus it can be seen that at this time the fishing industry was flourishing on a fairly large scale.

In 1744, when France declared war on England, soldiers from Louisbourg burned Canso and the blockhouses and carried the prisoners to Louisbourg. The English at this time had a fortress on Grassy Island, in Canso Harbour.

When Pepperell and Warren proceeded against Louisbourg in 1745, they made Canso (Grassy Island) their meeting place.

Plans were made in 1764, for the building of a town which was to be called Wilmot in honour of the Governor of Nova Scotia. The Governor, writing to the Earl of Halifax, said that there were about 150 people at Canso, all of them Acadians. They had applied to the magistrate there, asking leave to depart to the island of Saint Peter. Being refused, they immediately set out on their own accord. Later, a native of Annapolis, settling at Canso, reported that he found only five families there.

In 1776, the American colonies declared their independence and soon English vessels were being attacked by privateers. A privateer was destroyed by the armed brig "Hope" near Canso.

After peace had been concluded with the United States, Canso became less important and comprised only a few fishermen's homes. The fishing industry was injured greatly by the struggle.

On September 22, 1776, Canso was attacked by the sea pirate John Paul Jones. The buccaneer destroyed fifteen vessels, and damaged much property on shore causing a decline in the population of the area. Once it had been the seat of government and chief commercial centre of the province, but by 1812 it consisted of about five families.

In 1812, the firm of A.N. Whitman and Son Ltd. was founded by Abraham Whitman. Mr.Whitman, who was of Loyalist descent, came to Canso from Annapolis.

At the close of the war of 1812 a company of marines was stationed at Canso to see that no American vessels remained in port more than a few hours.

In 1847, the first Public School was erected, but this was soon found to be too small; it was replaced by the Forrester building, a larger and more pretentious structure. Part of the present building was erected in 1890, and it was remodelled and repaired in 1924.

The Roman Catholic Church is Canso's oldest organization. It has been in operation almost continuously since 1611, when Biencourt, on his way to Port Royal, stopped at Canso, and two priests who accompanied offered Mass. Records show that a church was built in 1845. This structure was destroyed in the August gale of 1873, and was replaced by the edifice that is now in use. This church is known as "The Star of the Sea".

The first Methodist Church, now St. Paul's United, was built in 1851-1852. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Joseph Coffin in 1890.

The first Canso Baptist Church was organized in 1846. The building used immediately after organization was very small, and the congregation soon outgrew it. This church, when it was no longer used, was converted into a public hall. The present church was completed in 1888. The golden jubilee of their organization was celebrated by the Baptist congregation in 1896.

In 1873, the August gale caused considerable damage in Canso. Wharves and stores were destroyed, and two vessels were wrecked. The total damage done was estimated to be in the vicinity of one hundred thousand dollars.

In 1881, the Western Union Cable Office was built on the brow of Norris' Hill. Cables were laid from Canso to New York and England. The Commercial Company was established two miles from Canso at Hazel Hill in 1884.

The town was incorporated in 1901, and its first Mayor was Mr. E.C. Whitman.

The first telephone connection Canso had was a private line from the Commercial Cable Office to the stores of A.N. Whitman and Son Ltd. and A. Cameron. In 1908, the Antigonish-Sherbrooke line was brought into Canso. Two years later this was taken over by the Maritime Telephone Company.

During the War of 1914-1918, the Cable Offices at Canso and Hazel Hill were protected by different regiments of soldiers. This protection was felt necessary because of the importance of Canso in communications. During the war a large number of Canso men and boys went overseas; many of them were killed, while many others were wounded.

At present there is in operation, a Direction Finding Station at Glasgow Head, Canso. This station, which has been in operation since 1917, performs a great service as an aid to navigation. The wireless history in the Canso area is fairly significant and may become the subject of a subsequent digitization project.

At the time this information was compiled, Canso had the following amenities: a large brick post office, a modern theatre equipped with sound, a telephone exchange, two hotels, a large high school, Nova Scotia Liquor Commission store, a branch of the Bank of Montreal, public halls, a bakery, weekly newspaper, two forges, drug store, garages, barber shops, millinery and general stores. There is a boat service daily, except Sundays from Canso to Arichat (Cape Breton) to Mulgrave. As well, a number of sizeable factories exist, largely in the fish processing industry.

Canso has thus grown from a small village of but a few families to a resident population of about 1600. A few years ago it was considered to be one of Nova Scotia's most flourishing towns. However, like many others, a visible mark has been left by world-wide economic depression. The authors of this article, in its original form were grade ten students from Canso. They end their article by saying, "We believe that in the future Canso will resume her former position of importance in Nova Scotia."

This article brings you up to the early 1900's in Canso. Many significant events would happen subsequent to this effect, including the rise and fall of the cable empires, two World Wars and nearly a century of economic challenge.

Canso is a town that relies very heavily on the fishing industry for its survival and prosperity. In early days, the lucrative industry led Canso to its prominent position. Today, when the industry is depressed and cyclical at best, Canso is challenged like many other small towns in the Maritimes. Canso still has one of the largest fish processing operations in the Atlantic Provinces. In operation, this facility employs between 300 and 500 men and women. This makes it the largest and major employer in Guysborough County. As a result of this industrial activity, Canso has grown as a service centre for the county. Canso has the area's only health care facilities, financial institutions, schools, major retailers and recreational facilities.

Taken directly from an article by :

Robert Chafe
Ethel Rowe
Blanche MacKenzie
Mary Ryan

References :
Historic Canso by John A. Morrison
Article in Canadian Fishermen by C.O. Boyd