Maitland, Hants County, Nova Scotia - Shipbuilding

Shipbuilding

Maitland emerged as a major shipbuilding centre in the late 19th century. William Dawson Lawrence became the community's most famous shipbuilder. His ship, the William D. Lawrence, was the largest wooden ship ever built in Canada and third largest in the world, was launched at Maitland in 1874 to one of the largest crowds assembled in Nova Scotia to that date. Every September Maitland celebrates the launch of William D. Lawrence at a weekend festival called "Launch Days". Several other shipyards build large vessels as well, including the barque Calburga, the last large square rigger to sail under the Canadian flag. Today the only remaining remnant of the shipbuilding industry is Frieze and Roy, a general store which has been operating from the 1860s onward.