Heading back to the mainland on Highway 217 we head to Digby, which was formally settled and surveyed as a town in June 1783 by the United Empire Loyalists under the leadership of Sir Robert Digby, hence the name. Throughout the 19th century, the town developed a sizable shipping fleet. One famous Digby vessel was the brigantine Dei Gratia, which discovered the famous mystery ship Mary Celeste that was adrift and deserted in the
Atlantic Ocean off the Azores Islands. The Mary Celeste was discovered on December 4, 1872. This is an intriguing story because the ship was found in dishevelled but seaworthy condition under partial sail with the lifeboat missing. The last entry in the ship's log was dated ten days earlier. The Mary Celeste left New York City for Genoa on November 7 and was still amply provisioned when found. Her cargo of alcohol was intact, and the captain's and crew's personal belongings were undisturbed. None of those who had been on board were ever seen or heard from again and the mystery has never been solved but residents will be happy to share the stories regarding the fate of those on board that have been passed on over the years. Tourism has played an important role in Digby since the start of the 20th century, beginning with the establishment of railway and steamship links.
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • VOL 23 ISSUE 4
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