Digby Pines Resort Hotel

History

The Pines was built in 1905 just outside Digby on a hill overlooking the Annapolis Basin and Digby Gut. The DAR purchased the hotel in 1917. It was expanded and completely rebuilt by the railway in 1929. A seasonal operation from June to September, it included 31 cottages, large landscaped grounds with an ornate outdoor swimming pole. An 18 hole golf course was part of the hotel which included some old railway cuttings of the original approach tracks to Digby from the old Western Counties Railway. Twice a day, hotel bell boys would dip the flag to salute the CPR steamer SS Princess Helene as she steamed by the hotel en route to the Digby Wharf. Vans and "station wagons" collected passengers and luggage from the Digby Station. Although the DAR trains and steamers are long gone, the hotel still operates today, run by the Government of Nova Scotia.

Timeline

1903: Proprietor H.B. Churchill built a three-story hotel in Digby, Nova Scotia and named it The Pines.
The large three story hotel was built during the spring under the foremanship of Mr. D.F. Young.
The Pines was originally situated in the woods, the grounds contained 51 acres and featured all the modern conveniences of the time including electricity and hot and cold water.
1913: Churchill gave up the hotel, the building was then used for WWI officer quarters.
The officers stayed in the hotel while the men camped on the grounds.
1917: the Canadian Pacific Railway (C.P.R.) purchased the hotel.
1918: The Pines reopened.
1928: On May 14, the construction of “The New Pines Hotel” began next to the original Pines.
1928: Parsons Ed Contractors was the company for the job. Three cottages had to be torn down to make room for The New Pines.
1928: On June 28, the old Pines opened its doors for the last time, staying open for the summer and closing for good on September 12.
1929: The New Pines Hotel officially opened on June 24.
1929: The C.P.R purchased 250 acres of land and constructed an 18-hole golf course on July 17.
1931: Planned and constructed under the direction of Stanley Thompson, the 18-hole golf course opened for business in the summer.
1936: Babe Ruth enjoyed a round of golf at The New Pines Hotel during his visit to Nova Scotia.
1942: The New Pines Hotel closed for a period of time during WWII.
1946: The New Pines Hotels reopened .
1965: The Government of Nova Scotia purchased the hotel from C.P.R.
1965: The Government of Nova Scotia changed the name to “The Pines Hotel”.^[1]

Gallery

The first Cornwallis Inn and Digby Pines depicted in the DAR Brochure 1923 Vacation Days in Nova Scotia.
A jitney or hotel bus for "The New Pines", approximately 1931.
Digby Pines as depicted in the DAR 1936 Time Table.
The Digby Pines pictured in the 1946 Evangeline Land Brochure.
Digby Pines rack card, 1950.
Digby Pines viewed from the Digby Wharf in 1954.
Steamer wharf, lighthouse, Digby Pines Hotel, freight cars and Digby Gap, from steamer, at Digby, NS. on August 19, 1959.
Aerial view of Digby from south showing the Digby Station, Digby Railyard, the Digby Pines and the spur to the Digby Wharf, circa late 1950s.