South Maitland

South Maitland Village Park & Caboose Museum

Once known as Five Mile River and Rockville, this area was at one time a favourite camping ground of the Mi'kmaq.  During the heyday of the area's shipbuilding boom, many fine wooden ships were built here, and local traffic was brisk.  Today you can enjoy a visit to the Railroad Museum (in a real caboose!) as well as picnic area and nature trails along the river.  Stroll the path to various water side look offs and learn about the local bird life from the Ducks Unlimited Interpretive Boards.  Parking, outdoor toilet facilities, close to a general store and the Interpretive Centre in the nearby Tidal Interpretive Park.

village park entrance	caboose museum

Maitland

Oak Island Cemetery - An island on dry land? 

'...before the Acadians dyked the land and controlled the waters in the tidal ditches, this high mound became an island every day and night when the impressive tides rushed up the river.  Oral history tells that it was an early Indian burial site and when the road was built up to the site, bones were unearthed.  It was reported that Father Le-Loutre consecrated an area on the southern end during Acadian times.  The mound was covered by a grove of giant oak trees, which were cut down in shipbuilding days (second half of the 19th century) but later replaced.  ...Today, one of the interesting grave markers is the one for Captain Ellis, master of the W.D. Lawrence.  It is made of a cast metal, often called white bronze, and topped with palm branches.  There are other interesting markers to shipbuilders, sea captains and lost seamen.  At the entrance turn and look over the tidal marsh and you will see to the left the waters of the Ducks Unlimited pond and beyond to Lawrence House, straight ahead the main Maitland dyke behind Dawson-Dowell Park and the Bay just beyond that.'*

Lawrence House

"William D. Lawrence, Maitland's most famous shipbuilder, was born in Ireland in 1817 but grew up in Five Mile River, Hants County, NS.  He built his first vessel, the brigantine St. Lawrence, 1852 and established his own shipyard in Maitland in 1855.  His vessel the William D. Lawrence was launched in 1874 and was the largest square-rigged ship ever built in Canada."* Today the launch of the WD Lawrence is commemorated each fall during Launch Day festivities.

The Lawrence House stands on a hill overlooking the site of the shipyard.  Built in the Classical Revival style, it has a graceful Italianate entrance and an extensive rear ell.  The house was designated as a National Historic Site in 1965, and became part of the Nova Scotia Museum system in 1967.  This beautiful residence is open to the public from May to October and our friendly, knowledgeable staff welcome your visit!

Walking Tours - three different tours of 55 Heritage Properties in Maitland

"...the tall beautiful sailing ships are gone, as are many of the names like Putnam, Douglas, Frieze, MacCallum and Ellis.  But many of the homes built by these wealthy shipbuilders remain complete with their individual stamps, i.e. varied attic windows, type of bracket, or window hood etc.

Present day owners are playing their role in maintaining and restoring these gems of Greek Revival, soaring Gothic Revival, Second Empire, Classical Revival (Cape Cod) or Classical Revival (Colonial) styles."*

Booklets to assist you in your self-guided Walking Tour of Maitland's Historic Homes are available for just $2.00 at various locations including:

Provincially Designated Heritage Homes

Springhurst, Maitland

8557 Highway 215

'This was the home of Alfred Putnam, one of Maitland's most prominent citizens in the late 19th century.  As a shipbuilder, Putnam launched a total of sixteen vessels, including the barques Strathlorne, Strathmuir, and Strathern.  The house was constructed by Harris Neil, a local builder, and is designed in a picturesque Victorian Gothic style.  The front facade features a two storey central bay flanked by ground floor bay windows and bracketed gables over the second floor windows.  Houses of similar design were built for Alfred's brothers, Charles and Jack.  Springhurst was designated as a Provincial & Municipal Heritage Property in 1989.'*

a truly elegant dining room...	& a true 'country kitchen'!

 

Smith Duckenfield House, Selma

8098 Highway #215, Selma

Registered in the Provincial Registry of Heritage Properties in February 1996 & and in the Municipal Registry of Heritage Properties in August 1996.

Once known as Selma Hall, the house was built in 1825 by Col. Richard Smith, a figure of note in both politics and the economy in the mid-19th century.  Born in 1784, Smith was appointed magistrate in 1824 and served as a member of the Legislature from 1827 to 1830.

The house is a rare example of an early 19th century stone house.  During the 1870's the original gable roof was altered to a mansard profile as was done at the McCulloch House in Pictou and other early stone houses in Halifax.  The fine detailing of the sandstone trim remains in good repair today, and demonstrates the work of an accomplished mason.  The date of construction is carried in the keystone over the entrance, rosettes are incorporated into the top of the pilasters, and quoins have been 'worked' in a stylized pattern.  In one quoin of a front window, there appears a clearly defined 'W', the mark of the stonemason.  So called banker-marks were an aspect of the mason's craft with medieval roots.

Front Hall original (c1825) Christian door with evidence of original box lock original fanlight and reeded pilaster original splined plank floor hand stenciled by owner stair case & railing 1870's	Parlour original front window and reeded columns original woodwork around bay windows and doorways some original baseboards floors are original splined planks fireplace surrounds and mantles 1870's fireplace converted to coal burning in the lat 1890's colours of trim paint chosen from curtain fabric and matched to a paint colour chart for the Federal period
Family Room original splined plank floors original woodwork around windows which appear to be bay windows from the inside - result of stone walls being 26" thick!
Kitchen was the dining room originally original kitchen was in basement and then moved to a summer kitchen in the 1870's.  This ell was beyond repair and was dismantled by owner. tongue and groove wainscoting was salvaged from summer kitchen

walls, doors and windows feature unique brick & stone work...

Selma

Gallery 215 - The Old Selmah Schoolhouse

In 1868 local shipbuilders wanted a schoolhouse that would reflect their achievements in the flourishing local shipbuilding industry. The skill and craftsmanship of the ship building carpenters is seen in the Palladian-style windows with their arched window "brows" on the gable and front sides, and pieced facing boards, brackets and transom windows over the front doors.  The bell tower capped the centre of the roof of this picturesque style of building - unique on these shores. 

The first Inspector of Schools for the Municipality of East Hants once reported to the Superintendent of Schools for Nova Scotia, T.H. Shand that, "in terms of structure and style, the Selmah School was one of the most outstanding rural schools in Nova Scotia."

This unique building served as a two-room school for 96 years (1868-1964). In 1964 the Municipality of East Hants sold the schoolhouse to the Selma Community club  and in 1990 the Municipality declared it a Designated Historic Property.  The Community Club sold the schoolhouse building in 2003 to the Maitland and District Development Association for $1 for preservation and restoration.  The Selma School had finally fallen fate to old age, having served the people of the area as a school and hall for 135 years, but the community refused to let it be destroyed and embarked on an extensive restoration & renovation effort by the MDDA.  It reopened as a community art gallery in 2006, and stands today as a reflection of the vision and skill of our forbearers, reminding future generations of these worthy attributes.

Lower Selma

East Hants Historical Society Museum

"The object of the Hants East Historical Society is to gather, compile and preserve written and printed documents of historic value and interest; to gather and record stories until now unwritten, which exist only in the memories of older people; to operate a museum and library which will house objects and documents thus collected; to promote the marking of historic sites within the county by suitable plaques, cairns, or otherwise; and to co-operate with civic officials in civic celebrations of an historic nature.

The museum operates in a former church, now an Heritage Building. The cemetery surrounding the building, with a gorgeous view of the Cobequid Bay, is an historical and genealogy lesson in itself. The structure was built in the 1800s, and the plastered interior was beautifully and uniquely painted by hand using feathers.

The many artifacts in the Museum attest to the history of the area, the people, their activities, and labour (farming, fishing and lumbering). A section of the Museum is dedicated to the War Heroes (WWI & WWII); a section to quilts and flags of bygone era, as well as a Titanic display. 

The Hants East Historical Society has an extensive genealogy section, and all of the cemeteries in East Hants are recorded in detail. This is brought up-to-date yearly. This is of great benefit to those searching for their roots. "

Excerpt courtesy of www.novascotiaheritage.ca