Helping to Preserve the Past

The province is helping to preserve the past this summer.

More than $1.1 million will be spent repairing and upgrading historic buildings across Nova Scotia, including jewels in the family of provincial museums.

Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works, said staff will work on historic buildings and museums such as Province House, Digby courthouse, Sherbrooke Village, Uniacke Estate, Haliburton House, Balmoral Grist Mill, the Fisherman's Life Museum in Jeddore and others.

"The province is playing its part in ensuring that these valuable sites are preserved for today's generations and future generations," said the minister.

"We're committed to preserving and promoting Nova Scotia's rich heritage, including our heritage buildings, which are some of the most historically significant and oldest buildings in the country," said Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. "Our heritage plays an important role in attracting visitors to the province."

This summer staff expect to complete the following work on functioning government buildings:

• a $22,500 project to refurbish the fences and gates around Province House, built in 1819 and registered as a national historic site; and
• $190,000 to repair masonry on the Digby courthouse, built in 1909.

This summer staff expect to complete work on the following museums:

• $558,000 for building repairs and underground electrical replacements at Sherbrooke Village;
• $45,000 to replace siding on half of the main house at Uniacke Estate, purchased in 1813 by Richard John Uniacke, a lawyer and politician in colonial Nova Scotia;
• $67,000 to restore the exterior walls of Haliburton House in Windsor. Built in 1838, it housed Thomas Chandler Haliburton, lawyer, MLA and celebrated author of the Sam Slick novels;
• a $36,000 paint job to the Balmoral Grist Mill near Tatamogouche, Colchester Co., built in 1874;
• $20,000 in repairs to the Hector Centre in Pictou County;
• $13,000 for repairs to the Annapolis Valley Macdonald Museum;
• $17,000 to replace the furnace and repair the well at the Ross Farm Museum;
• $54,000 to replace the roof and repair the exterior of the Barrington Woolen Mill, Shelburne County;
• $22,000 to replace the roof of the Dory Shop in Shelburne County;
• $38,000 for the boiler room and general repairs to the Prince's Lodge Museum, Halifax Regional Municipality;
• $63,000 for shingle repairs to the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, Lunenburg County; and
• $13,000 to reshingle part of the Fisherman's Life Museum in Jeddore.