Spencer's Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Spencer's Island
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Village
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 Spencer's Island
Location in Nova Scotia
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| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Nova Scotia |
| Municipality | Cumberland County |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (AST) |
| Postal code |
B
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| Area code(s) | 902 |
| Telephone exchange | 392 |
| List of communities in Nova Scotia | |
Spencer's Island is a quiet community in Nova Scotia, Canada. It sits right on the beautiful Bay of Fundy. This area is famous for having the highest tides in the world! The community gets its name from a small island nearby, also called Spencer's Island.
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What's in a Name?
The name "Spencer's Island" has a couple of interesting stories. Some local tales say it's named after a man named Spencer. He is believed to be buried on the nearby island.
However, it's more likely that the name comes from Lord Spencer. He was an important British leader when the community was first settled.
A Look Back in Time
Long ago, the Mi'kmaq people used Spencer's Island seasonally. They called it Wochuk, which means "small kettle island." The first recorded European settlers arrived in 1778. These were the Spicer families.
Shipbuilding History
Spencer's Island became a very important place for building ships. This was during the later years of the Age of Sail. Many large ships were built here.
One famous ship was the Amazon, built in 1861. This ship later became known as the Mary Celeste. You might have heard of its mysterious story!
Another huge ship built here was the Glooscap in 1891. It was the biggest ship ever built in Cumberland County. It was also the last "square rigger" built along the Parrsboro Shore. Today, the old shipyard area is part of the Old Shipyard Beach Campground.
Where is Spencer's Island?
Spencer's Island is located in Nova Scotia. It is found at these coordinates: 45º21'16"N, 64º42'54"W. To the west, you'll find the community of Advocate Harbour. To the east are Port Greville and the village of Parrsboro.
The community is on Route 209. It is also one of the stops on the Fundy Shore Ecotour. This tour lets you explore the beautiful natural areas along the Bay of Fundy.
Things to See and Do
Spencer's Island has some cool places to visit. It has a historic lighthouse, a lovely beach, a campground, and a cafe.
The Historic Lighthouse
The lighthouse was built in 1904. It's a special landmark in the community. Recently, the Canadian Coast Guard allowed the lighthouse to turn its light back on.
You can visit the lighthouse! Inside, you'll find pictures of the old shipbuilding days. There are also artifacts from the ships built here. A special plaque inside honors Stanley Spicer. He was a local historian who helped save the lighthouses. He also wrote many books about the history and shipping of the Bay of Fundy.
Next to the lighthouse, there's a picnic park. There's also a public boat ramp. Small boats can be launched from mid-tide to high tide. Public bathrooms are open from June to September.
