Description of Historic Place

The Barn is located on Route 776 directly beside the Bank of Nova Scotia. It is a two-and-a-half storey barn outbuilding with a traditional gambrel roof from the turn of the 20th century. The front area is all paved for the funeral home that operates out of the barn at this time. The original homestead is still beside The Barn and the land between the house and the barn is also paved.

Heritage Value

The Barn on Grand Manan Island is designated a Local Historic Place for being an excellent example of barn outbuilding architecture from the turn of the 20th century. Built as a barn in 1899-1902, it maintains many traditional features such as the gambrel roof, cedar shingle siding and massive rectangular plan.

The Barn has been renovated several times in order to serve many different functions, thus remaining an integral part of the community over time. It was built by Albert and Susan Wooster and has remained in the Wooster family. In 1947, it was converted into a restaurant by Ruth Wooster. Many residents would pass an evening by going to the movies and dining at this restaurant. A few years later, she renovated the rooms upstairs as a bed and breakfast. It was called ‘The Barn’ circa 1966. Later, Ruth’s husband Steve Hamilton operated a marine electronic workshop here called “The Barn Workshop”. Allan Ashfield had a flower shop in The Barn called “Al’s Oasis”. Currently, The Barn is the home to “Ells Funeral Home” which was started in 1982 in part by a Wooster descendant. The rooms upstairs have been made into apartments.

Source: Grand Manan Archives - Local Historic Places files

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements that describe The Barn include:
- voluminous rectangular two-and-a-half storey massing;
- gambrel roof;
- cedar shingle siding;
- proximity to the original homestead;
- views of Grand Harbour Bay.

The character-defining elements relating to the interior include:
- interior spatial arrangement reflecting multiple commercial uses over the years.