West Dover, Nova Scotia
| West Dover | |
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West Dover
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 West Dover
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| Coordinates: 44°29′57.42″N 63°52′49.48″W / 44.4992833°N 63.8804111°WCoordinates: 44°29′57.42″N 63°52′49.48″W / 44.4992833°N 63.8804111°W | |
| Country |
 Canada
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| Province |
 Nova Scotia
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| Regional Municipality | Halifax Regional Municipality |
| Village | West Dover |
| Founded | 1775 |
| Government | |
| • MP | Gerald Keddy (South Shore—St. Margaret's) |
| • MLA | Denise Peterson-Rafuse (Chester-St. Margaret's) |
| • Councillor | Reg Rankin (District 22 Timberlea - Prospect) |
| Elevation | 10 m (30 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 28 m (92 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (July 2010 est.) | |
| • West Dover | 180 |
| • Demonym | Doverite |
| Time zone | AST (UTC-4) |
| • Summer (DST) | Atlantic Daylight Saving Time (UTC-3) |
| Postal Code | B |
| Area code(s) | 902 |
West Dover, is a coastal fishing community located in the Halifax Regional Municipality in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia on the Chebucto Peninsula. West Dover is situated between Peggy's Cove and East Dover on Highway 333.
West Dover was created in the 1770s with the Troope, and Scott land grants. Major settlement began in the 1800s when a permanent fishing village was established. The founding family names were: Morash, Zinck, Scott, Publicover, Cleveland, Berringer, Umlah, Taylor, Troop, Young, Allen and Richardson. These names are still common in the area today. The families were mostly of European descent.
Cod, Mackerel, Pollack, Herring, Haddock, Halibut, Lobster, and Tuna were plentiful in the early years. The fish was salted and dried to preserve them as there was no refrigeration. The fish was sold in Halifax and made its way up and down the East Coast.
Prohibition in the United States created opportunity in West Dover from 1920 - 1933 for rum running. Rum running was something that supplemented fishing income and was risky but highly profitable. The fishermen would set out with a load of alcohol on moonless nights and navigate in the darkness to the coast of Maine. The alcohol was stored in wooden barrels loaded with salt. If the fishermen noticed law enforcement vessels they would dump the barrels overboard. The salt in the barrels would slowly dissolve. A few hours later, after the law enforcement officials had left, the barrels would float back up to the surface and be brought back on board.
This period saw a lot of change occur in West Dover. A new paved highway was built that made Halifax more accessible. The improved roads brought more traffic to the area and saw the first tourists visit the area. Electricity and phone service was added that improved life in the village and reduced the use of oil lamps for lighting. The first TV sets arrived in West Dover in the mid-1950s.
In the 1950s the first government wharf was built at the entrance to Dover Harbour also called Dover Soi. Also in the 1950s the first Post Office was opened by Duggan's General Store and later operated by Judson and Minnie Smeltzer.
In 1961 the Peggy's Cove Preservation Area was created by expropriating the land surrounding Peggy's Cove, West Dover, and Indian Harbour.
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