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Digby Courier Office (Interior)
1900
Water Street, Digby, Nova Scotia

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The first newspaper in the area was The Weekly Athenian which started in 1858. The Digby Courier has been published continuously since 1874. The office has been located in many different sites, on or near, Water Street until 2003.

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Paul Yates' photography studio downtown
1910
Digby, Nova Scotia

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Paul Yates, Photographer
1910

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Photographer Paul Yates, born 1863 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, first started out in advertisement and commercial photography. He moved to Annapolis County in 1906 and opened his first commercial photography studio. A few years later he opened another studio in Digby, "The Little Art Gallery" on Water Street. The Annapolis studio burned down in 1921 leaving Yates to spend all of his time in Digby. He married an employee of the Digby studio, Jeanette W. VanTassell, after his first wife died.

Yates specialty was scenic photos but was often hired to do portraits and business photographs. Since his wife Jeanette could assume an active role in the business, Yates was able to travel throughout North America showing his photographs. When Paul Yates died in 1946 Jeanette continued to operate the Digby studio until 1968. She passed a way 2 years later. Only a few hundred of Paul Yates's thousands of negatives survive today. In 1960 Jeanette had to dispose of the hazardous glass negatives, as they where causing the ceiling of the studio to sag. She had many thrown over the bank. Only a few were kept for postcards.

Source: Historic Digby - Mike Parker

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Old Royal Bank
1900
Water Street, Digby, Nova Scotia

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Present Royal Bank
1900
Water Street, Digby, Nova Scotia

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A 1910 advertisement in the Digby Courier claimed that Royal Bank of Canada's assets totalled $95 million. See ad below:

"The Savings Department of this Bank provides a safe place for your savings to accumulate, and grow with the Interest which is added half-yearly. $1.00 or upward is enough for the first deposit. Money may be withdrawn whenever required. No man remains poor who saves every week, or month, or year, a certain amount, no matter how small. Few ever get rich without doing so."

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Old Salvation Army Building
1921
Water Street, Digby, Nova Scotia

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ReMax: Old Salvation Army Building
1900
Water Street, Digby, Nova Scotia

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Digby Weekly Courier - February 9, 1983

"The first [Salvation Army]corps in Digby, began its ministry in 1887, constructing a building on Water Street. The [record of the]early history of the Digby detachment is very limited. It is known they suffered through many difficulties in order to survive, but finally gained acceptance in the area, and according to records, were able to preach the word of God "in an incredible wayin the surrounding areas."

Outposts were opened in Bear River and Freeport, and for a number of years the army flourished in their ministry. The economic conditions of the 1930's however, took its toll on the army, and the outposts were closed, never to re-open. The depression that caused so much ruin and loss only served to make the army stronger.

From 1944 to 1947, the army barracks on Water Street underwent extensive renovations. Members enjoyed their new surroundings until 1953, when a fire completely destroyed the inside of the building, including many of the precious records.

In 1965, the army was able to purchase a building on Queen Street and still occupies these premises today (1983). "

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Digby Courier - January 28, 1987

The Salvation Army Digby Corps was started by Capt. Susan Halfyard, Jan. 26, 1887. Since this time, Digby Salvation Army has had approximately 160 officers with the latest and present Corps officer, Lieut. Daniel Roode (1987).

It was noted there was a Salvation Army Corps in Freeport from 1888-1912; Bear River from 1887-1921 and Annapolis Royal from 1886-1921.

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Old Bank of Nova Scotia
1899
Water Street, Digby, Nova Scotia

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The Bank of Nova Scotia was built on Water Street in 1899 after the first private Bank was opened in Halifax. It was constructed of rock-face stone with multi-coloured brick around the windows and doorways. It was a solidly-built architecturally distinctive building. In 1970 it was torn down and was replaced by the bland brick and glass box that stands there today.

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Digby Waterfront
1966
Digby, Nova Scotia