Local Landmarks
On this page I plan to collect information about some of the local terms used for places mentioned in old books, wills and deeds.
Amherst Hill
I've seen several deeds that refer to Amherst Hill. These properties are in the same general area as Coates Hill, but I think Amherst Hill was a bit further west.
I've seen several deeds that refer to Amherst Hill. These properties are in the same general area as Coates Hill, but I think Amherst Hill was a bit further west.
Baker's Road
A road called "Barker's Road" was marked in the location of Lower Porter Road on an 1860 map. To view this map online, go to the Nova Scotia Provincial Archives Historical Maps section at https://archives.novascotia.ca/maps/ and search for “Cumberland County”. The map is titled “Cumberland County Grants” and dated 1860. Controls at the bottom of the page will allow you to enlarge and rotate the map. You can also download the map and then use the controls on your computer to enlarge and rotate the map.
A road called "Barker's Road" was marked in the location of Lower Porter Road on an 1860 map. To view this map online, go to the Nova Scotia Provincial Archives Historical Maps section at https://archives.novascotia.ca/maps/ and search for “Cumberland County”. The map is titled “Cumberland County Grants” and dated 1860. Controls at the bottom of the page will allow you to enlarge and rotate the map. You can also download the map and then use the controls on your computer to enlarge and rotate the map.
Beaver Lake Creek
The creek called Beaver Creek, Beaver Lake Creek, or Bartlett's Creek in older deeds is Lime Kiln Brook in newer deeds. Bartlett Gould once owned a lot just west of the Wm. Keiver homestead in the area.
The creek called Beaver Creek, Beaver Lake Creek, or Bartlett's Creek in older deeds is Lime Kiln Brook in newer deeds. Bartlett Gould once owned a lot just west of the Wm. Keiver homestead in the area.
Coates Hill
I've seen several deeds that refer to a road leading from Coates Hill to the homestead of Francis Caleb Smith. Smith's property was bounded on the west by Joseph Coates who lived just west of the railroad tracks on Smith Road. Thomas Coates bought portions of Lot 23 in this area from Robert Fletcher and additional properties from Young. So, I believe Coates Hill was located in the vicinity of the railroad tracks that cross Smith Road. See Smith Road: The Moffat Lots on this website.
I've seen several deeds that refer to a road leading from Coates Hill to the homestead of Francis Caleb Smith. Smith's property was bounded on the west by Joseph Coates who lived just west of the railroad tracks on Smith Road. Thomas Coates bought portions of Lot 23 in this area from Robert Fletcher and additional properties from Young. So, I believe Coates Hill was located in the vicinity of the railroad tracks that cross Smith Road. See Smith Road: The Moffat Lots on this website.
Crawford's Hill
In a 1906 Essay, Lida Boomer wrote that Hood Coates lived on Crawford's Hill, then known as Coates Road. Coates Rd. is a small road off Southampton Road (Hwy 302) near the Amherst Bird Sanctuary. The Hood Coates property is also identified as Crawford's Hill on the division of property plan made for his father Robert's estate.
Crawford's Hill is also marked on an 1860 map. To view this map online, go to the Nova Scotia Provincial Archives Historical Maps section at https://archives.novascotia.ca/maps/ and search for “Cumberland County”. The map is titled “Cumberland County Grants” and dated 1860. Controls at the bottom of the page will allow you to enlarge and rotate the map. You can also download the map and then use the controls on your computer to enlarge and rotate the map.
In a 1906 Essay, Lida Boomer wrote that Hood Coates lived on Crawford's Hill, then known as Coates Road. Coates Rd. is a small road off Southampton Road (Hwy 302) near the Amherst Bird Sanctuary. The Hood Coates property is also identified as Crawford's Hill on the division of property plan made for his father Robert's estate.
Crawford's Hill is also marked on an 1860 map. To view this map online, go to the Nova Scotia Provincial Archives Historical Maps section at https://archives.novascotia.ca/maps/ and search for “Cumberland County”. The map is titled “Cumberland County Grants” and dated 1860. Controls at the bottom of the page will allow you to enlarge and rotate the map. You can also download the map and then use the controls on your computer to enlarge and rotate the map.
Crossroads (Nappan)
When reading deeds, the location of the "crossroads" in Upper Nappan and Fenwick can be either Nappan Road and Lower Porter Road for older deeds or Hwy 2 and Fenwick Road for newer deeds. Myrtle Chappell calls the Nappan/Porter intersection the "old" crossroads and the corner of Hwy2/Fenwick Rd. the "new" crossroads. See Fenwick 1778-1978, p. 80 and 83 for examples.
When reading deeds, the location of the "crossroads" in Upper Nappan and Fenwick can be either Nappan Road and Lower Porter Road for older deeds or Hwy 2 and Fenwick Road for newer deeds. Myrtle Chappell calls the Nappan/Porter intersection the "old" crossroads and the corner of Hwy2/Fenwick Rd. the "new" crossroads. See Fenwick 1778-1978, p. 80 and 83 for examples.
Dickinson Road
Myrtle Chappell refers to a portion of Fenwick Road east of Hwy 2 as Dickinson Road. A 100-acre property purchased by William Bulmer from Augstus DesBarres in 1836 was later sold to George A. Dickinson who had a homestead on the property. Fenwick Road ran through the northernmost portion of this property.
Myrtle Chappell refers to a portion of Fenwick Road east of Hwy 2 as Dickinson Road. A 100-acre property purchased by William Bulmer from Augstus DesBarres in 1836 was later sold to George A. Dickinson who had a homestead on the property. Fenwick Road ran through the northernmost portion of this property.
Gould Road
Myrtle Chappell refers to the section of Nappan Road east of Lower Porter Road and up the hill as Gould Road. (See Fenwick 1778-1979 p. 80)
Myrtle Chappell refers to the section of Nappan Road east of Lower Porter Road and up the hill as Gould Road. (See Fenwick 1778-1979 p. 80)
High Road
This was another name for Fenwick Road.
This was another name for Fenwick Road.
McCully's Creek
Several deeds refer to a McCully's Creek. These properties are in an area where previous deeds referred to a Sunken Creek. So I believe they are one and the same. Sunken Creek ran from today's Blair Lake to the Nappan River a little west of where Henry Ripley's homestead was located on the opposite bank. See Francis Caleb Smith on this website.
Several deeds refer to a McCully's Creek. These properties are in an area where previous deeds referred to a Sunken Creek. So I believe they are one and the same. Sunken Creek ran from today's Blair Lake to the Nappan River a little west of where Henry Ripley's homestead was located on the opposite bank. See Francis Caleb Smith on this website.
McCully Lake
I believe this is today's Blair Lake. The estate plan of James K. Noiles shows lots bordered on the north by McCully Lake and on the south by Denson's Line. This was the northern border of Denson's grant, stretching from Cobequid Rd. on the east all the way along McDonald Road and then crossing Hwy 2. See Lot X James Read bottom of the page. During McCully's time it was called the "big lake".
I believe this is today's Blair Lake. The estate plan of James K. Noiles shows lots bordered on the north by McCully Lake and on the south by Denson's Line. This was the northern border of Denson's grant, stretching from Cobequid Rd. on the east all the way along McDonald Road and then crossing Hwy 2. See Lot X James Read bottom of the page. During McCully's time it was called the "big lake".
McCully's Old Canal
The Old McCully Canal stretched from today's Blair lake in a southwest direction toward the Nappan River. It passed over Smith Road somewhere between the Sifto Salt plant and the small pond on Smith Road.
For more details on this property see Old McCully Canal on this website. The Canal may have emptied into McCully Creek/Sunken Creek. However, if you look at Nappan on Openstreetmap, you can see what looks like a canal extending from the southwest corner of today's Blair Lake.
The Old McCully Canal stretched from today's Blair lake in a southwest direction toward the Nappan River. It passed over Smith Road somewhere between the Sifto Salt plant and the small pond on Smith Road.
For more details on this property see Old McCully Canal on this website. The Canal may have emptied into McCully Creek/Sunken Creek. However, if you look at Nappan on Openstreetmap, you can see what looks like a canal extending from the southwest corner of today's Blair Lake.
Reed's Road
The Reed or Read's Road mentioned on some Upper Nappan deeds is Lower Porter Road. However, on other deeds or maps, e.g. the Wm. Keiver estate map, Reed's Road is roughly in the location of today's Hwy 2. A Read descendant confirms that this road led to Reeds's Hill, also known as Fenwick Hill. The Read family still owns property in the location.
The Reed or Read's Road mentioned on some Upper Nappan deeds is Lower Porter Road. However, on other deeds or maps, e.g. the Wm. Keiver estate map, Reed's Road is roughly in the location of today's Hwy 2. A Read descendant confirms that this road led to Reeds's Hill, also known as Fenwick Hill. The Read family still owns property in the location.
The New Noiles Road
A road called the “New Noiles Road” was marked in the location of today’s Hwy 2 on an 1860 map. To view this map online, go to the Nova Scotia Provincial Archives Historical Maps section at https://archives.novascotia.ca/maps/ and search for “Cumberland County”. The map is titled “Cumberland County Grants” and dated 1860. Controls at the bottom of the page will allow you to enlarge and rotate the map. You can also download the map and then use the controls on your computer to enlarge and rotate the map.
A road called the “New Noiles Road” was marked in the location of today’s Hwy 2 on an 1860 map. To view this map online, go to the Nova Scotia Provincial Archives Historical Maps section at https://archives.novascotia.ca/maps/ and search for “Cumberland County”. The map is titled “Cumberland County Grants” and dated 1860. Controls at the bottom of the page will allow you to enlarge and rotate the map. You can also download the map and then use the controls on your computer to enlarge and rotate the map.
Sunken Creek
This creek ran roughly north/south from the Nappan River and crossed Smith Road between the Railroad Tracks and the small pond on Smith Road on the homestead of Francis Caleb Smith. It was previously called Denson's Creek, then Sunken Creek and afterwards called McCully's Creek.
This creek ran roughly north/south from the Nappan River and crossed Smith Road between the Railroad Tracks and the small pond on Smith Road on the homestead of Francis Caleb Smith. It was previously called Denson's Creek, then Sunken Creek and afterwards called McCully's Creek.
The Old Post Road
This road is also called the Main Post Road, the Cobequid Road, and today, Nova Scotia Hwy 204. Cobequid Road was the eastern boundary of Henry Denny Denson's grant, where it ran south of McDonald Road near Brookdale. Another road sometimes called the Old Post Road ran from Parrsboro up the west side of the Maccan River and River Hebert through the Francklin Manor Grant. Kerr Canning wrote an excellent article about the two roads that you can view online.
This road is also called the Main Post Road, the Cobequid Road, and today, Nova Scotia Hwy 204. Cobequid Road was the eastern boundary of Henry Denny Denson's grant, where it ran south of McDonald Road near Brookdale. Another road sometimes called the Old Post Road ran from Parrsboro up the west side of the Maccan River and River Hebert through the Francklin Manor Grant. Kerr Canning wrote an excellent article about the two roads that you can view online.