History of Paradise
History of Paradise
Nestled between the North and South Mountains in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, the history of Paradise goes back centuries.
The Mi’kmaw originally named the area Nesogwaakade meaning “Place of Eel Weirs”. In the 1600s the Acadians arrived and named the area Paradis Terrestre meaning “Paradise on Earth”. Today the area is known as Paradise.
To learn more about the history of Paradise, please find our growing collection of articles below, or we also have the book Paradis Terrestre available for purchase in our shop.
Featured Story
William Malcolm “Mack” Bent’s Autograph Book
The Victorians loved autograph books and these books are a trove of information about the people who owned them.
In this series of articles, we’ll go back to 1886 and learn a little about each person who signed this autograph book that was given to William Malcolm “Mack” Bent when he was just 13 years old.
Each of their stories tells us much about Paradise in its time of greatest prosperity.
More Stories from Our Past
The Brooks Family
William Malcolm Bent's Autograph BookIn 1867 Edward Brooks, 24, from Nottingham England married Jessie Ann Skinner, 18, in Hopewell, Pictou County. She was the daughter of Andrew Skinner and Margaret MacKenzie , who emigrated from Scotland to Nova Scotia. Edward is...
Helen and Charles Bent
William Malcolm Bent's Autograph BookIn the fall of 1888, Mack (William Malcolm) Bent – or his book – went on a trip. His autograph book had signatures from his American cousins Helen Bent of New York and Charles E Bent of Kansas.The Victorians of Paradise travelled...
Samuel Chipman Shaffner
William Malcolm Bent's Autograph BookMack’s teacher signed his book one winter’s day in 1887. Samuel Chipman Shaffner was Principal and teacher of the advanced class at the Paradise Academy, and Mack was one of fifty-two young people in the Class of 1887! Mr. Shaffner...
Bessie and Helen Starratt
William Malcolm Bent's Autograph BookMack Bent was 13 when he got his new autograph book, and his friend Harry Starratt, who was 15, signed it right away. So did Harry’s little sister, Bessie, who was 13. A third child of Benjamin and Clara (Fowler) Starratt, little...
Harry Starratt
William Malcolm Bent's Autograph BookIt was a new year – 1886! – and 13-year-old “Mack” Bent had a brand new autograph book, perhaps a gift from his stepmother, Clara Foster Bent. She signed it right away on January 2nd, and on the same day, Mack went across the Post...
Clara Foster Bent
William Malcolm Bent's Autograph BookThe first entry in 13-year-old William Malcolm “Mack” Bent’s autograph book was that of his stepmother, Clara Foster Bent, who was the third wife of Ambrose Bent. Ambrose’s first wife was Amoret Elizabeth Morse, the daughter of...
History of Hooked Rugs in Nova Scotia
2025 gifted us with a cold winter. With our heat pums, airtight fireplaces, furnaces, we count our blessings that we have not just a house, but a warm home to shield us from this cold. But imagine it is, say, 1840 in Paradise, Bridgetown, Lawrencetown, or any other...
Notable Graduates of Paradise Academy
Paradise School as it was originally built.Many graduates of the Paradise Academy went on to make great contributions to Nova Scotia and other places. University professors, doctors of medicine, political leaders of stature, railway commissioner, activists for human...
Harry Havelock Morse
A glimpse of the life of young Harry Havelock Morse…
Educating Mary and Susie: Paradise 1901-1902
In January 1902, two young women were returning to classes at the Acadia Ladies’ Seminary. Their education at that Seminary was the thin edge of a mighty wedge, whether they knew it or not…