New France
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The Electric City
The arrival of the Stehelin family from France in 1892 marked the beginning of an era in Digby County. For 18 years the numerous Stehelin family members with their servants and sawmill employees built a substantial lumbering operation and cultural facilities that a prominent French family would enjoy in the middle of the forest. The settlement became known as the Electric City because electric lighting was installed to operate from the mill's power before such comforts were known in the rest of Digby County.
A pole railway with rails made of logs was built to carry lumber to markets through Weymouth, some 17 miles away. The returning train also brought supplies and often guests from Europe and America to New France. In 1910 with the death of the matriarch, the family left New France as their home.
The Stehelin men left to fight in the war of 1914. When they returned at the war's end, lumber prices had declined. The family sold some 4000 hectares of land and moved away. The remains of this adventurous settlement, New France, were torn down in the 1950's.
At this unique site, which lies between two lakes on the banks of the Silver River, J.D. Irving Ltd. has created a natural park with interpretative signage to show the extent of this turn-of-the-century lumbering community. New France is protected by the company as part of their Unique Areas Program.
The arrival of the Stehelin family from France in 1892 marked the beginning of an era in Digby County. For 18 years the numerous Stehelin family members with their servants and sawmill employees built a substantial lumbering operation and cultural facilities that a prominent French family would enjoy in the middle of the forest. The settlement became known as the Electric City because electric lighting was installed to operate from the mill's power before such comforts were known in the rest of Digby County.
A pole railway with rails made of logs was built to carry lumber to markets through Weymouth, some 17 miles away. The returning train also brought supplies and often guests from Europe and America to New France. In 1910 with the death of the matriarch, the family left New France as their home.
The Stehelin men left to fight in the war of 1914. When they returned at the war's end, lumber prices had declined. The family sold some 4000 hectares of land and moved away. The remains of this adventurous settlement, New France, were torn down in the 1950's.
At this unique site, which lies between two lakes on the banks of the Silver River, J.D. Irving Ltd. has created a natural park with interpretative signage to show the extent of this turn-of-the-century lumbering community. New France is protected by the company as part of their Unique Areas Program.
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