Blockhouse, a community nestled in the Lunenburg Municipal District of Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Canada, is a place of historical significance and innovative sustainability projects. Named after the blockhouses built by Captain Ephraim Cook in 1756, Blockhouse has a rich history and a vibrant community spirit.
During the French and Indian War, the British and their native allies clashed with the French, Acadians, and Mi'kmaq. Following a raid on Lunenburg in 1756, Governor Lawrence established blockhouses at the LaHave River, Mush-a-Mush (now Mahone Bay), and the Northwest Range (now Blockhouse, Nova Scotia) to protect the area. Despite these measures, the Mi'kmaq and Acadians continued their raids, executing eight more over the next three years. A total of 32 people from Lunenburg were killed, with many more taken prisoner. Blockhouse itself was the target of two Mi'kmaq raids in 1758, resulting in the deaths of six locals. The final blockhouse in the community burned down in 1874.
Blockhouse is home to the oldest Waldorf-focused school in the Atlantic provinces. This independent school, based on the theoretical foundations laid down by Rudolf Steiner, adheres to the principle that any child desiring a Steiner education (known as Waldorf education in North America) should receive one. The school offers K-9 education and is linked to the Waldorf-inspired Lunenburg County Independent High School, located in Mahone Bay.
In 2012, a non-profit sustainability and community integration project was launched in Blockhouse. Volunteers worked under a lease granted by Lunenburg County Council to transform an abandoned 16,000 sq foot municipal building into a community hub. The project aimed to create recreation space for families, establish a community kitchen, promote traditional methods of growing and preserving food, incubate small local businesses, and adhere to permaculture ideals and processes. Despite facing opposition from immediate neighbors and struggling to maintain local support, the project gained members across Canada and attention from around the world before folding in 2015. The land has since been privately purchased, and the future of the site remains uncertain.
Blockhouse is also home to the Hinchinbrook Farm Society, a non-profit charitable organization that provides programs in therapeutic riding and Horse Boy Methods. The society offers year-round equine-assisted learning and activities for children with disabilities or on the autistic spectrum, contributing to the community's commitment to inclusivity and care.
