No. 4 - Scottsdale
Scottsdale was originally called Ellesmere. The area was first surveyed in 1855 and was described as, "the best soil on the island ... well-watered, with a mild climate" by the surveyor James Reid Scott, for whom the town is named. This rings true today as the town, as well as being the regional centre for other north-east towns, is a major agricultural centre.
The first land was selected in 1859, and the hamlet of Ellesmere grew up. Ellesmere Post Office opened on 29 November 1865 and was renamed Scottsdale in 1893.During the Second World War a vegetable processing factory opened, followed by the Armed Forces Food Science Establishment in 1949. In 2004 the town's population was static with the closure of the vegetable processing factory and the tendency of people to live at Bridport and commute to work. The town supports two large softwood processing factories and relies on forest-based industries as well as agriculture.
Scottsdale’s old-school charm resonates through the architecture and heritage buildings. The old 1880’s-built post office is now home to the town’s folk museum and Anabel’s on Kings Street, which was originally built in the 1890’s and has been repurposed as a restaurant and motel with cottage style gardens blooming with wisteria, rhododendrons and camellias in the spring.
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