“Having a wonderful time, wish you were here.” Postcards from Annapolis County

The tidal Bear River, dividing Annapolis and Digby Counties at the community which bears its name. Circa 1910

Along with an economy driven by timber—saw logs, pit poles for the mining industry, lathe for house building concerns, and of course shipbuilding, Bear River was also a tourist destination. Grand guest houses welcomed families, while sportsmen engaged local guides for hunting and fishing expeditions into the wild back country. A travelwriter at the time dubbed the village “The Switzerland of Nova Scotia.” The name stuck.

Postcards of the hand-tinted variety highlighted typical local scenes. This one empahsizes the industry of local residents, with a subtle reminder that a train could transport you to Clementsport in comfort. Roads were still a rough way to travel any distance.

Clementsport in 1908, at the mouth of the tidal Moose River, another Annapolis County community founded on shipbuilding and shipping. In the distance, the railway bridge decommissioned in the early 1990s.

Dominion Wharf in Annapolis Royal with a view of Granville Ferry. Freight and passengers arriving by train or ship here made simple transitions here to continue their travel.

This postcard pictures a prosperous waterfront, well-connected by water and rail, and scenic to boot. Subtle advertising aimed travelers and business interest alike. Postcards were the social media choice of the day for Annapolis County communities.

Here you will find an array of postcards, compiled by staff of the Municipality of the County of Annapolis, and hosted at mapannapolis.ca