Maple Cottage is the first municipal building in the municipality and contained the original desk and safe used by Mr. Charles Lordly, the first Municipal Clerk, his son the second clerk/treasurer and Mr. Cottman Smith the third clerk.

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In 1879 Chester had become its own municipality when it was officially separated from the Municipality of Lunenburg. It was now responsible for its own affairs and development.

 

This was a time when the American tourist industry flourished, large summer homes were built and large hotels dotted the village. It was claimed that Chester had at least 300 rooms available at any time. The railroad from Halifax had not yet been built to the village but passenger vessels arrived regularly from there. Chester was also the main land route from Halifax to the Annapolis Valley and so was a bustling municipality. It grew from a rural area providing wood, produce and building materials for Halifax to an area of tourism and small manufacturing.

 

Discover a wealth historical resources at the Lordly House Museum, where research material originally housed at Maple Cottage has been relocated for public access. The archive showcases minutes from early council meetings, correspondence from Lordly, and the MacNutt collection, all of which illuminate the political and economic development of the Municipality of the District of Chester from 1870 to 1937. Visit to delve into this rich history and explore the stories that shaped our history.

 

Photographs reflect the changing landscape and the development of the village and municipality over the years.