LOCATION:
Oakfield is on the east side of Grand Lake and is
about thirty-two kilometers from Halifax.
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Oakfield was the name of the estate once owned by
Colonel John William Laurie. He named it for the numerous oak trees
found on his property.
SETTLEMENT HISTORY:
The Laurie family had been living on Morris Street
in the south end of Halifax when Colonel Laurie decided to buy about
800 acres on Grand Lake. On a visit to Devonshire, England to see
his eldest son, a Member of Parliament for Barnstaple, he decided to
bring Devonshire farmers back to Nova Scotia to work his estate. He
offered each family a house and a barn and had hopes of setting up a
thriving agricultural farm.
Soon the small community was a self-sufficient
village with a tannery and a lumber mill. Colonel Laurie built a
schoolhouse in 1875 to educate the farmer's children. He also
provided his workers with a small wooden chapel, which has been
enlarged over the years.
The Colonel returned to England in 1889 and leased
his farm to James Chipman, a horse breeder. Over time, others leased
the land and continued to provide employment for the villagers until
the death of Colonel Laurie in 1912. A year later the church that
Colonel Laurie had built was given to the Anglican Diocese of Nova
Scotia. Several members of the family are interred in the cemetery
located beside the church.
OAKFIELD TODAY:
Today the Oakfield Provincial Park is situated on
Grand Lake where Colonel Laurie established his agricultural far. It
was officially opened in 1961, and a plaque stands as a memorial to
the Laurie family. Designated picnic areas are situated along the
open fields and a large grassy area is available for group events. A
small beach and walking trail are accessible as well as a place to
launch boats.
"one City...Many Communities" co -
published BY Halifax Regional Municipality AND Nimbus, funded BY
the HRM Millennium Committee.Author : Alfreda Withrow
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©
1999-2004 by Halifax County NS Canada GenWeb and/or it's contributors
RETURN
TO NOVA SCOTIA GENWEB
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Halifax County Genweb Project
gratefully acknowledges the following sources:
Historical Information on many
community pages is from : One
City...Many Communities" co - published by Halifax Regional
Municipality and Nimbus, funded By the HRM Millennium
Committee.Author : Alfreda Withrow.
Mapeeze: Free map linking on
Destination Nova Scotia.
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