maple cottage

The Chester Municipal Heritage

Society was established in 1981

to promote and cultivate

awareness of the unique

heritage of the

Municipality of

the District of Chester

for the

enjoyment and benefit of

present and future generations

through the preservation of

historically significant

properties and the delivery of

educational programming.

Maple Cottage

Chester Municipal Heritage Society

75 Regent Street, Chester, NS

Maple Cottage, originally built in 1870, houses the society office, washrooms, the

research and educational areas for the museum.

It is the first municipal building in the municipality and contains the original desk

and safe used by Mr. Charles Lordly, the first Municipal Clerk, his son the second

clerk/treasurer and Mr.Cottman Smith the third clerk. The building houses

minutes from early council meetings, Lordly's correspondence and materials

from the MacNutt collection help to reflect the political and economic

development of the Municipality of the District of Chester and cover the period of

1870 - 1937. Photographs reflect the changing landscape and the development of

the village and municipality over the years.

In 1879 Chester had become its own municipality when it was officially separated

from the Municipality of Lunenburg. It was now responsible for its own affairs

and development.

This was a time when the American tourist industry flourished, large summer

homes were built and large hotels dotted the village. It was claimed that Chester

had at least 300 rooms available at any time. The railroad from Halifax had not yet

been built to the village but passenger vessels arrived regularly from there.

Chester was also the main land route from Halifax to the Annapolis Valley and so

was a bustling municipality. It grew from a rural area providing wood, produce

and building materials for Halifax to an area of tourism and small manufacturing.

To access our files call 902-275-3826 or 902-275-5179

Closed for the season