Chester Municipal Heritage Society

03/21/2026

12/22/2025

It is with deep sadness we, the Board of the Chester Municipal Heritage Society, announce the passing of Carol Nauss (d. Dec 16, 2025), one of the founding members and longtime Chair.

Our condolences go out to her family, friends and to all who dearly loved and appreciated Carol’s tireless work to restore Lordly House and Maple Cottage, the Chester Train Station, and preserve our shared history that shaped Chester for generations. She will be deeply missed.

The Society was established in 1980–81. Carol joined the Chester Municipal Heritage Society shortly thereafter and devoted her life to preserving and celebrating our local history. As a hands-on Chair and tireless volunteer she led the restoration of Lordly House and Maple Cottage, built the museum’s genealogy and research collections, organized annual events and fundraisers. Carol’s energy, attention to detail, and generosity of time made her the heart of our heritage community — a person who could always be counted on to find an artifact, write a grant, run a tour, or mobilize volunteers. Her legacy will live on in the buildings she helped save and in the community she strengthened.

Carol organized fundraisers and community programming, curated exhibits, and was the go-to person for local heritage, genealogy and events — quietly making the Municipality of Chester richer in history and community pride.

Her work has been publicly acknowledged by the Municipality and in provincial records and recognitions. Carol was recognized by the Association of Nova Scotia Museums as one of 15 Nova Scotians in the museums sector with a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award, awarded by the Lt.-Gov. Arthur J. LeBlanc.

11/16/2025

For the first time since it's creation, the Explore Oak Island Display at the Chester Train Station, 20 Smith Road is open all year long, seven days per week and 9 -5 every day. What does this mean for me you ask? Well, not much if you have no interest in the longest running and most famous treasure hunt in the world that just happens to be in our Municipality and back yards so to speak. If you have never seen the Display, drop by sometime and immerse yourself into fascinating history and heritage. This photo (1912) shows Isaac's Point with the famous Live Oaks that once populated the Island, the last of them died in the 1960s after a black ant infestation. Enter the Display through Station Antiques Limited and be sure to say hello to our Station Master, Ryan Cameron. Photo by Louise Este Fisher

10/26/2025

The late Stanley Whitford (pictured) was one of Chester Train Station's Stationmasters in the 1950s. In February of 2025, a paranormal group out of Kentville, Paranova Productions, conducted an investigation of our Station and declared there to be the spirit of an “angry man” there. Station agents in general had reason to be angry with the railroad on issues of pay and hours required to be on duty. Want to see and learn more? Go to this Youtube video (below) and watch their videos

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=FULL+EPISODE+-+Chester+Train+Station+PARANORMAL+INVESTIGATION&mid=E43FFB66C19029B7A8EAE43FFB66C19029B7A8EA&FORM=VIRE

Photo from the collection of Larry Ryan

10/19/2025

The Halifax Southwestern Railway's Ocean Shore Route ran from Halifax to Yarmouth and was an essential transportation pathway that connected small villages and towns all along the south shore of Nova Scotia. On those rails passed passengers, Christmas trees, logs, lumber, barrels, food and goods for industry. The Chester Municipal Heritage Society's Railway Station at 20 Smith Road has a unique and growing railway display that speaks of this heritage and we invite you to drop by and have a look. There is no fee and we are open seven days per week, 9 – 5 PM and it is 100% run and operated by volunteer time. Curated by top notch railway aficionado Duane Porter of Lunenburg, we think you will be impressed, enlightened and entertained. Photo by Danny Hennigar

10/12/2025

This fox on Oak Island's causeway as captured by a quick photographer just yesterday may not be your atypical Thanksgiving image but it illustrates that even the creatures must take a moment (like this guy) to reflect on the good things in life. The Chester Municipal Heritage Society would like to wish each and every one of you a happy Thanksgiving Day. Thank you for your support this summer and remember, the Train Station remains open for your viewing pleasure. Photo by Yvonne Hennigar

10/04/2025

On Tuesday of this week, 55 guests dropped by to see the Explore Oak Island Display from New Brunswick. They were part of a bus tour put on by Nancy's Tours from Sussex NB. On Monday evening, they heard an Oak Island presentation by EOID Curator Danny Hennigar at the Oak Island Resort and Conference Centre. Ms. Drury is a long time visitor to this area and she always brings a bus load of friends/clients. Lets hope we can convince her to make the Chester Train Station part of her tour schedule. If you have not visited the EOID or the Train Station for that matter, please come in for a look, lots to see, like our new train display curated by Duane Porter!

09/06/2025

The Chester Municipal Heritage Society is proud to have finished another big project, this time, it is a ramp for our Freight Shed. Our many visitors who have mobility issues can access the Station itself, the new Platform we built last year and now, the Freight Shed. To throw down a lighthearted challenge, who will be the first to use it officially? A debt of gratitude and recognition goes out to Vice Chair Wayne Cameron, Station Master Ryan Cameron and super volunteers Bob Haley and Keith Campbell who built this ramp in 15 days. What a dream team!!!

09/06/2025

ATTENTION VAN SHOW IS STARTING LATE!!
They should be there by 12noon!!
Due to unforseen traffic the vans are running behind schedule! We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.