Description of Historic Place

The Coopers Inn and Guest House is a two-and-one-half storey Georgian style home with Italianate features located on Shelburne Harbour in Shelburne, NS. A guest house is also located on the property and is complementary to the main building's design. The buildings and property are included in the municipal designation.

Heritage Value

The Coopers Inn and Guest House is valued for its association with original owner, George Gracie, and for its contribution to the streetscape along Shelburne’s historic Dock Street.

George Gracie came to Nova Scotia as did many Loyalists, fleeing the American Revolution in 1784. He settled in Shelburne where he established a shipyard and mercantile business, and went on to become the co-owner of the privateer vessel “Nelson.” Gracie was elected to the Provincial Legislature and continued his successful business pursuits until his death.

Cooper’s Inn is a wood clad Georgian home, built to face the Shelburne Harbour. A guest house is also located on the property. The buildings have some common Georgian features such as their symmetrical facades and window arrangement. There are also echoes of the Italianate style in their exteriors, notably the deep eave overhangs with supporting brackets and the widow's walk on the main building. The house and guest house have undergone some renovations and presently both are operated as a bed and breakfast.

Source: Town of Shelburne, Heritage Property file, no. 3, Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

Character-Defining Elements

Character-defining elements of Cooper's Inn include:

- location on Dock Street, overlooking Shelburne Harbour;
- close proximity to the street;
- wood shingled exterior;
- original granite foundation;
- all features of the Georgian style including steeply pitched hip roof; three-bay symmetrical façade; two-quarter inset chimneys; molded trim and a four-light transom surrounding front door; six-over-six and four-over-four paned windows, and front shutters; two-storey bay window with molded trim framing the upstairs of the bay;
- all features of the Italianate Style including deep eave overhang and support brackets around the house including the decorative support brackets under the overhang of the two-storey bay window; bracketed hoods over windows; widow’s walk.

Character-defining elements of the Guest House include:

- wood shingled exterior;
- steeply pitched gable roof.