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West Hants Historical Society
The West Hants Historical Society is a nonprofit group based in Windsor, Nova Scotia. The Society 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 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 successful 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 Nova Scotia 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.

West Hants Historical Society Museum
The West Hants Historical Society collects and preserves artifacts and historical information related to Hants County, Nova Scotia. The society now owns over 1,000 artifacts, primarily from the West Hants region. Relying on volunteers, the Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday during the summer, and on Wednesdays during the fall, winter and spring seasons.

Areas of Interest


 * The 84th Regiment
 * The Mi’kmaq
 * The Acadians
 * The Loyalists
 * The Planters
 * Fort Edward
 * Genealogies
 * The Great Windsor Fire of 1897
 * Shipbuilding
 * Life and Business in the Area

Genealogy Services
The WHHS operates a Genealogy room within the Museum.

The library contains a large variety of resources including family histories, local newspapers, graveyard headstone inscriptions, school registrars, community histories,… maps, photographs, etc.

Resources include: –Hants Co. Census Records – 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 –Windsor Tribune Newspapers –Hants Journal –Windsor Tribune –Muriel Russell Sivwright –Mrs. Roy Boyd –Edythe Nelson
 * Microfilm
 * Family Genealogies
 * Scrapbooks

The Museum also compiles a list of local Families.

Fort Edward
The West Hants Historical Society operates the visitor centre at Fort Edward national historic site. A national historic site since 1921, the Blockhouse is the oldest surviving structure of its kind in Canada and one of the few remaining eighteenth century structures in the Province. The Blockhouse is all that remains of historic Fort Edward, connecting present day Windsor to the richness of Canadian history.


 * No Entrance Fee
 * Parking Available
 * Wheelchair Accessible
 * Picnic Area
 * Bus Tours Welcome
 * Tour Guide on-site (seasonal)
 * Easy walking trail loops around site