West Hants Historical Society rallies community to fund cemetery projectPublished Jul 27, 2025Last updated 3 hours ago5 minute readWest Hants Historical Society vice-president Juanita Giles, left, and summer student Gretchen Archibald unveiled the new inscription on the Anslow family headstone honouring Kay Anslow during a special service July 19. Photo by Carole Morris-UnderhillArticle contentA former newspaper editor, who left a legacy of preserving Windsor genealogy by meticulously documenting marriages, obituaries and accomplishments, will forever be remembered thanks to a community-led initiative.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentKatherine (Kay) Mabel Anslow, who died in 2004 at 92, was buried in Maplewood Cemetery in Windsor alongside her parents. However, their headstone was never inscribed with her name.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentJuanita Giles, the vice-president of the West Hants Historical Society, said the society noticed her grave marker was missing last year while conducting cemetery tours.Article content“On her parents’ headstone, there was obviously a gap, and you can tell that was (left) there for somebody else,” Giles said.Article contentAnslow never married and didn’t have children.Article content“She was an only child; so, I knew she was there.”Article content Kay Anslow was buried next to her parents in Maplewood Cemetery in Windsor in 2004. On July 19, 2025, her name was added to the family tombstone. Photo by Carole Morris-UnderhillArticle contentGiles contacted Maplewood Cemetery staff and they confirmed her belief.Article contentShe then put a call out on social media to see if anyone would contribute to the costs of getting the headstone inscribed.Article content“I want to give a big thank you to the West Hants community and everybody that was involved in supporting this project. I was overwhelmed by the support,” Giles said.Article contentWithin a week, enough funds were raised to complete the project. The historical society then arranged to have Heritage Memorials undertake the work this year. A small celebration was held July 19 as the revamped gravestone was unveiled.Article contentArticle content“It was very heartwarming to know that Kay has touched so many lives within the West Hants community,” Giles said.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentEarly lifeArticle contentGretchen Archibald, a summer student at the historical society’s museum, outlined Anslow’s contributions to Hants County during the ceremony.Article content“Kay Anslow was an accomplished historian, athlete, teacher, and volunteer. She was passionate about making her community a better place and made it her mission in everything she did, which was a lot,” Archibald said.Article content Kay Anslow worked as a secretary for King’s Collegiate School’s headmaster, was a teacher of Commercial Form, started her own business school, which ran from 1943 to 1961, served as the managing editor of the Hants Journal from 1952 to 1957, and taught students at Windsor Regional High School from 1965 to 1974. She’s pictured here in 1941. Photo by ContributedArticle contentAnslow, who was born in 1911, graduated from the Windsor Academy in 1929 and then went to Success Business College in Truro. After graduation, she accepted a position at King’s Collegiate School (KCS), which is now King’s-Edgehill School, in 1934 as secretary to its headmaster Gerald White.Article content“Kay, of course, took this opportunity to establish a school of business within KCS, introducing co-education for the first time at the college,” Archibald said.Article contentBy 1943, Anslow opened her own school of business in Windsor.Article content“The school educated many people in the region who went on to become accomplished in their careers,” Archibald said.Article contentAnslow kept track of all of her students, creating alphabetized books for each year she taught. In these books, she kept the final marks, a school photo with names of everyone on the back, and any records she could find about the students in the future, which included marriage records and obituaries, as well as correspondence.Article contentArticle contentMulti-sport enthusiastArticle contentThe gifted student and teacher was also an exceptional athlete.Article content“She played for the ladies’ hockey team, and many people said that she was the star of the game,” Archibald said.Article contentArticle contentAnslow, who helped found the Windsor Hockey Heritage Society’s museum in the early 1990s, was inducted into the Birthplace of Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998.Article content“She was definitely a competitive spirit. She won many awards in sports,” Giles said.Article content In 1931, Kay Anslow was named the first Miss Windsor. Photo by ContributedArticle contentAnslow was a charter member of the Windsor Curling Club and competed locally, provincially, and nationally. She also helped establish new curling clubs across the country.Article content“Kay’s love of sports continued throughout her life as she also played baseball, was an avid cross-country skier, loved trout fishing in the Chester Road lakes, and spent many an evening playing tennis or golf up at Fort Edward,” Archibald said at the graveside service.Article contentIn 1931, she was chosen to become the first Miss Windsor due to her participation and enthusiasm for fundraising and volunteer efforts.Article contentShe was involved in many musical endeavours, both as a soloist, at public and private functions, and within groups. She was a choir master for the Windsor United Baptist Church, and participated in organizing the Windsor Concert Party, a group that entertained troops and civilians alike during the Second World War. She was also a member of the Juniper United Church in Falmouth.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentNewspaper connectionArticle contentAnslow’s grandfather, James John Anslow, relocated to Windsor from Newcastle, N.B., in 1886. A widow with five children, he purchased the Windsor Mail and renamed it the Hants Journal. He was publisher and editor until 1914, when his son, Harold, took the reins.Article contentKay Anslow took the helm of the Hants Journal after her father died in 1952. In 1955, she purchased the Windsor Tribune, the paper’s chief rival, and secured its subscription lists.Article contentIn 1957, while still operating her school of business, Anslow sold the newspaper to David Allbon, ending the Anslow family’s 71-year ownership. Allbon retained ownership until 1971, when it was sold to the Kentville Publishing Company.Article contentNow known as the Valley Journal-Advertiser, it is owned by Postmedia Network Inc.Article contentAnslow retired from her business school in 1961 before going on to teach at Windsor Regional High School from 1965 to 1974.Article content Kay Anslow, who operated her own business school and, for a time, ran the Hants Journal, was passionate about preserving history and kept detailed records of the Hants County residents she met. She’s pictured here in 1947. Photo by ContributedArticle contentArticle contentCollector of informationArticle contentAside from following the lives of her former students, Archibald said Anslow kept tabs on notable families in Windsor.Article content“In her free time, she continued to collect clippings and documents from the community, compiling her own personal collection, which she would lovingly refer to as her treasures,” Archibald said.Article content“After Kay retired, she kept herself busy by helping those who were researching their family find answers through her collection of historical documents. She had collected over a thousand obituaries and boxes of many other records and interesting pieces.”Article contentIn 1990, Anslow received the Dr. Phyllis. R. Blakeley Lifetime Achievement Award (now called Dr. Phyllis R. Blakeley Award for Archival Excellence) for her efforts in collecting and recording local history. The award was named in honour of the first female provincial archivist in the province.Article contentArticle contentPrior to her death, Anslow donated her collection to the West Hants Historical Society.Article content“Without her vast collection of obituaries and pieces of history, our genealogy research room and the information in our archives would not be the same,” Archibald said.Article content“Today, Kay’s impact is felt every time a researcher is able to uncover more about their family due to the collection that was lovingly passed along to us.”Article content In front of a small crowd, Juanita Giles, the West Hants Historical Society vice-president, left, and summer student Gretchen Archibald unveiled the new inscription on the Anslow family headstone in Maplewood Cemetery in Windsor on July 19. Giles said Kay Anslow had a competitive spirit, a desire to teach others and a passion for preserving history. Photo by Carole Morris-UnderhillArticle contentGiles said Anslow’s passion for record keeping and meticulous documentation are gifts that keep giving.Article content“The information that she collected on this community is amazing,” Giles said.Article contentShe said it was important to recognize Anslow’s final resting place not only for how much she contributed to Windsor, but because of how much she accomplished in her life.Article content“It’s hugely important for this area because Kay, the more you discover who she was, the more you’re in awe,” Giles said.Article contentArticle contentKatherine “Kay” Mabel AnslowArticle contentBorn: Aug. 6, 1911.Article contentDied: Feb. 17, 2004.Article contentAge: 92.Article contentParents: Harold Anslow and Dorothy McElhiney.Article contentSiblings: None.Article contentBuriel site: Maplewood Cemetery, Windsor.Article contentArticle contentDid you know?Article contentThe West Hants Historical Society Museum, including its genealogy room, is located at 281 King St., in Windsor. It’s currently open Wednesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The website is westhantshistoricalsociety.ca.Article content
Remembering Kay Anslow: Headstone inscribed for Windsor businesswoman, historian
