Other Name(s)
Nairn House
Shelburne County Museum
Links and documents
Construction Date(s)
1784/01/01 to 1784/12/31
Listed on the Canadian Register:
2007/06/18
Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
The Shelburne County Museum is located on the north-east corner of Maiden Lane and Dock Street. The original house was built in 1784, with later additions on the north elevation and to the rear. The building and property are included in the municipal designation.
Heritage Value
The Shelburne County Museum is valued for its historical association with craftsman, David Nairn, its architecture and its contribution to the streetscape along Shelburne’s historic Dock Street.
The Shelburne County Museum was built by David Nairn in 1784. Nairn was a cooper from Fifeshire, Scotland. The house was later owned by Thomas and Agnes (Muir) Johnson. Thomas was a shipbuilder.
This building currently houses the Shelburne County Museum and is a resource centre for information on local history, including articles belonging to those who previously lived there, including the inventory of David Nairn's estate, among other things.
The Shelburne County Museum is a two-and-a-half storey wood frame building. It has a steeply pitched gable roof, clapboard siding, low granite foundation and a symmetrical five-bay front façade. Decorative elements include narrow cornerboards and a transom over the front door. There have been later additions added to the rear and north side.
The house sits very close to the street and affords an excellent view of the Shelburne Harbour.
Source: Town of Shelburne, Heritage file, no. 21, Shelburne, Nova Scotia.
Character-Defining Elements
Character-defining elements of the Shelburne County Museum relating to its New England Colonial style include:
- two-and-a-half storey wood construction;
- very steeply pitched gable roof;
- clapboard siding;
- low granite foundation;
- symmetrical five-bay front façade;
- central chimney;
- small cornerboards;
- transom over the front door;
- six-over-six windows;
- rear and north side additions;
- prominent location on Dock Street, sited close to the streetline and facing the harbour.
Recognition
Jurisdiction
Nova Scotia
Recognition Authority
Local Governments (NS)
Recognition Statute
Heritage Property Act
Recognition Type
Municipally Registered Property
Recognition Date
1989/06/16
Historical Information
Significant Date(s)
n/a
Theme - Category and Type
- Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life
- Architecture and Design
- Building Social and Community Life
- Community Organizations
Function - Category and Type
Current
- Leisure
- Museum
Historic
- Residence
- Single Dwelling
Architect / Designer
n/a
Builder
n/a
Additional Information
Location of Supporting Documentation
Town of Shelburne Office, Water Street, P.O. Box 670, Shelburne, NS, B0T 1W0.
Cross-Reference to Collection
Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier
51MNS0021
Status
Published
Related Places
n/a