In the late 1800s, William D. Lovitt was one of Yarmouth’s most prominent shipowners. He was the major owner of seven ships.
William Dodge Lovitt owned his own shipyard in Belliveau’s Cove, Digby County (some fifty miles from Yarmouth) where the majority of his vessels were built. These vessels ranged the world taking the name of Yarmouth with them and bringing home profits for Lovitt and the other owners of his ships.
He was president of the Yarmouth Duck and Yarn Co, a local textile mill that was profitable into the 20th century.
The William L. Lovitt House is a two and a half storey Queen Ann Revival-style wood frame house built in 1897. It is located on Vancouver Street in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia on a large residential lot overlooking the head of Yarmouth Harbour.