The West Hants Historical Society is a community based museum that is part of the Nova Scotia family of museums. The Society seeks to preserve, present and promote the rich history of West Hants in relation to the larger history of the Province of Nova Scotia and the nation of Canada. It runs a seasonal museum as well as a genealogy department that is open year-round. In addition, the society provides summer guide service at the Fort Edward Blockhouse.
The society is based in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada at 281 King Street, the location of its museum and genealogy room. It is run almost entirely by volunteers. Although the WHHS receives a large portion of its funding through grants, it also supports itself through publishing, its research library and fundraising.
History
The first meeting of the West Hants Historical Society was held on April 13th, 1973 in the Windsor Court House. Twenty five people attended and Roland E. Meuse was made the president. The society became official on September 25th, 1973 when it was incorporated under the Societies Act of Nova Scotia.
Its first accomplishment was a successfull campaign to open the blockhouse at Fort Edward to the public. With the help of the Fort Edward Restoration Committee, an offshoot of the historical society, and Parks Canada, the blockhouse was opened officially on June 1, 1978.
In 1984, the WHHS opened its first museum in a section of the N.S. Power Corporation Building on Water Street in Windsor (the building has since been torn down).
As it became obvious that a larger space was needed, in early 1991 the old Methodist church on King Street in Windsor was acquired. It was purchased from the Independent Order of Oddfellows, who continue to meet in the building.
Still housed in the old church, the society now owns over 1,000 artifacts and has approximately 175 members.
Objectives Listed in the Memorandum of Association (1973):
- To Collect, Record and Preserve the History of Hants County and adjacent area.
- To Identify and Mark any important Lankmark, Structure, or Event connected with the History of Hants County.
- To Establish and Operate a Museum and Research Library.
- To Promote the Restoration and Preservation of Fort Edward, Windsor, N.S., and the erection of other structures and services incidental thereto.
- To Initiate and Promote Programmes to further historic interest in the Heritage of Hants County.
- To Compile and Publish Historical Data from material collected by the Society.
Mission Statement
In 2009, the Society adopted the following Mission Statement:
The West Hants Historical Society seeks to preserve, present and promote the rich history of West Hants in relation to the larger history of the Province of Nova Scotia and the nation of Canada.
