I spent a great part of the summer of 2011 researching the days of yore. Although I only managed to visit a small portion of the myriad museums and historic sites Nova Scotia has to offer, I had a marvellous time, learned much, bought dozens of local history books, and took oodles of pictures.
This is not one of those photos. When I visited Uniacke Estate Museum Park, the front of the house was covered with scaffolding. This is the picture and description from their website: "Uniacke Estate Museum Park is part of what was the expansive country estate of Attorney-General Richard John Uniacke (1753-1830). Built between 1813 and 1815, the grand country house is one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in Canada. The estate offers visitors a vivid glimpse of life in the early 1800s among Nova Scotia's gentry."
Here are just a few of the many images I captured on my most recent visit. Uniacke Estate Museum Park is one of my favourite places in the province. The house, with its beautiful furnishings, overlooks a lake; and there are numerous hiking trails of varying distances and scenery to enjoy.
Above:
The room has a Broadwood pianoforte (not shown), which probably took two months to arrive from England. The portrait is of Uniacke's daughter, Alicia, at 19 or 20 years of age.
When I saw the footwear in a display case, I immediately thought of CDs and called to my daughter, "Come, see dees shoes!"
Below:
The barns and outbuildings contained all sorts of farming implements and carriages. In another building, we watched male and female mannequins being garbed in period clothing.
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We visited Liverpool, NS, during Privateer Days. Musket fire made me jump out of my skin during a reenactment. This photo was taken at an apothecary display in one of the many local museums.
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One of the highlights of my summer was a day spent at Fortress of Louisbourg, which I dubbed 'a Disneyworld for history buffs'. The place is amazing! Here's the official description: "France's jewel in the 18th century. Canada's treasure today. North America's largest historical reconstruction. Discover an 18th-century adventure nestled on the edge of a continent–a place where muskets and mortars, women in hoop skirts and men in wigs, town criers and the 'iron collar' are a part of everyday life."
Here are some random shots taken that wonderful day in Cape Breton.
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While in Cape Breton, I visited Cossit House, built in 1787; and I learned a lot from my guide. The photo is of the 'birthing room'. The Rev. Mr. Ranna Cossit's wife, Thankful, would have given birth there; but it was also used to quarantine the sick.
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Back on the mainland, one of my daughters accompanied me to Prescott House in the Annapolis Valley. 'Acacia Grove' was the elegant Georgian home of horticulturalist Charles Prescott. Nova Scotia's apple industry was cultivated by Prescott from 1811 to 1859. His love of gardening is obvious even in the display of plates (above). I can't remember if the bedroom (below) was his or not.
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Next post will include a few other things I did on my summer vacation (not all of it was spent researching).
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