Sea-faring Women of Maitland Focus of Program

What was daily life like for a sea captain's wife, a child raised aboard a sailing ship, or for a female household servant in Nova Scotia in the late 1800s?

On Sunday, July 13, visitors to the Maitland area can talk to some of the women of the Lawrence household -- portrayed by local actors in costume -- and discover just what life was like for the women of the 1870s.

Meet Mrs. Lawrence, wife of entrepreneur and shipbuilder William D. Lawrence, her daughter Mary Jane Ellis, who was also the wife of a sea captain, and Mary Jane's six-year-old daughter Minnie, who was born at sea. See the maid's quarters and hear Carrie Singer tell about her duties as a household servant and her social life.

"This program makes history come alive for our visitors," said Deborah Poole, Lawrence House manager. "And it gives everyone a chance to see and hear the stories of women whose history often gets lost in grand stories of sea captains, shipping empires, and the golden age of sail of the late 1800s."

The "Women of the Lawrence Household" program adds to stories already told at the museum, including tales of: the life of shipping entrepreneur William D. Lawrence; the building and history of his namesake ship; shipbuilding in Maitland and area and the shipping trade around the world in the 1870s.

Guest singer/songwriter Rosalee Peppard will also perform original songs that look at historical topics through the eyes, lives, and stories of Canadian women.

Guided tours by costumed interpreters take place every half hour between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Regular admission fees apply.

Lawrence House Museum, part of the Nova Scotia Museum, is located at 8660 Hwy 215 in Maitland. Call 902-261-2628 for more information.