Mill Village: A History of Wood on the Medway River
Accommodation in Mill Village
Mill Village brings together a distinct local history and the Medway River: mills, wood processing, and historical fishing reports tell of the area’s importance across different centuries. If you’re looking for a holiday rental for your stay, consider the town as a destination for a history-themed getaway. You can reach Mill Village via Exit 17A off Highway 103.
Traces of the Woodworking History
In 1894, Davison Mill in Mill Village was the largest wood producer in Nova Scotia. The town was at the centre of an area with numerous gristmills and sawmills along the Medway River; wood from the area was made into masts for the Royal Navy. This means the town’s history links its mill landscape with the maritime use of its timber.
Another episode dates to 1865: Davison sold his mill in Mill Village and moved his lumbering operation to Bridgewater. The sale and relocation add a specific change in the history of the local wood industry to the later account of wood production.
One building adds another detail to this picture: the Medway Inn in Mill Village was built by Patrick Doran in 1784 as a Cape Cod house. Its named architectural style and exact year of construction add a specific architectural connection to the history of mills and wood.
Historical Fishing on the Medway River
Fishing reports from 1881 also turn the focus to the Medway River. A Canadian fisheries report for that year recorded a salmon catch reported by John Fitzgerald, the overseer of Mill Village. Another account from the same year notes 5,000 barrels of alewives in the Medway River and places this fishing context in Mill Village and Queens County. These two historical records describe catches at the time and offer a glimpse into the area’s fishing history.
Nature and Culture in Queens County
Queens County also offers a range of nature experiences. The Shelburne River Wilderness Area protects nearly 3,500 hectares of remote wilderness in the lower Shelburne River watershed. The Peppered Moon Nature Reserve preserves an undisturbed coastal forest that provides habitat for rare lichens, including the Peppered Moon lichen. The nature experiences in Queens County therefore range from an extensive wilderness area to a unique lichen habitat.
The Queens County Museum features exhibits on Mi’kmaq history, early medicine, maritime history, and wartime memorabilia. Visitors can step aboard a replica deck of the famous privateer ship “Liverpool Packet” and learn why Liverpool was known as the “Port of the Privateers.” The museum thus combines exhibits with an engaging glimpse into the history of privateering.
For a day outdoors, Kejimkujik Seaside is a free day-use park where visitors can explore trails and a beach. The Seaside features the Harbour Rocks Trail and the Port Joli Head Trail. Visitors of all ages can cycle in Kejimkujik National Park. Another way to discover Queens County is the Kejimkujik Scenic Drive, Highway 8: it connects Liverpool with Annapolis Royal and passes through Milton, Middlefield, and Caledonia.
Choose the Right Focus for Your Holiday Rental
When looking for a holiday rental, you can first decide what kind of stay you want: would you like Mill Village itself and its local history to be the focus, or would you prefer to explore Queens County as a broader setting for a variety of nature and culture experiences? The route to Mill Village via Exit 17A off Highway 103 is a useful point of reference for planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Hunts Point, Greenfield, Port Medway, Port Mouton, Liverpool
For the broader travel overview: Queens County.
