Shubenacadie Canal Significant Dates
While there are no specific dates here is archaeological evidence for First Nations use of the Waterway for over 3,000 years. The earliest known settlement in the Province is in the Debert area approximately 11, 000 years ago. However, there is no evidence these people used the waterway.
1797 - Legislature voted L250 for a survey to assess the practicability of construction of “a navigation” from Halifax Harbour to Minas Basin.
1801, 1814, 1820 - Follow up surveys were conducted.
1824 - Michael Wallace, President of the Legislature contracts engineer, Francis Hall, to prepare plans for the canal.
1825 - July 25th Official Sod Turning in Port Wallace – Lord Dalhousie and James Kempt officiating.
1831 - Construction ceases.
1854 - Work on Canal resumes under the supervision of Engineer Charles William Fairbanks.
As sections of the Canal were completed boats began to make use of it – for example as early as 1857 boats were going from Portobello to Maitland.
1861 - Construction of Canal fully completed and in November Avery makes the first trip from the Harbour to Maitland thus satisfying the requirement placed on the Company by the Provincial Government.
1870 - Last recorded revenue from the Canal
1872 - Lock Keeper, Henry Findlay leaves his job..
Sketch of the Avery. The Avery was the first vessel to make the complete journey from the Dartmouth Cove to Maitland.
Travel back in time when you visit Shubie Park!
Garth Corigan, Pat Coriigan, P. Corigan Sr. and John Costly are all listed as Navvies or Labourers. While we don’t know specifically the role each played, we do know there were a number of Navvies working on the excavation of the Channel or Cut between Lakes Micmac and Charles. The channel is approximately 1390 meters long and it had to be deep enough to provide for a minimum depth of water of 8’. While the excavation of the entire channel would be challenging, it is difficult to imagine the effort required to carve the channel through the bedrock which they encountered along what was referred to as the “Deep Cut”. We can picture these men wearily making their way home each night to one of the stone huts along the “Cut”. On some evenings they would gather at the “Work Camp” where they could share in a time of song and dance. As you make your way along the trails which parallel the “Cut” you are following in the footsteps of the Navvies.
-Bernie Hart
In this photo you can see the remains of one of the buildings found along the trail in Shubie Park.
Visitors enjoying the "Deep Cut" from the water and the trail.
Penstock pipe has been installed on the Flume House!
The newest edition to the Flume House is a six foot diameter penstock pipe that delivered water from Sullivan’s Pond in the elevated timber flume to the turbine located in the below ground chamber of the Flume House, a total vertical drop of 47 feet.
