Historic Property Records Unveiled at Nova Scotia Archives

Nova Scotians who want to join the Canada-wide celebration of Heritage Day can explore a new heritage property resource at the Nova Scotia Archives.

For the first time, records and photos of pre-1914 built homes, churches, railway stations, bridges and other community structures are available.

"What better way to celebrate this year's Heritage Day theme, Heritage Homes and Neighbourhoods, than to unveil such a spectacular record of Nova Scotia's built history," said Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister Leonard Preyra. "Thanks to the staff at the Nova Scotia Archives and the Heritage Property Program, more and more records of historic properties will be made widely available for people to learn about our communities, culture and heritage.

"I would also like to thank the Heritage Trust and everyone involved in conserving heritage properties across the province."

A selection of the records is now available for visitors on public computers in the archives' reading room. The records include photos, descriptions of the properties and information about historical features and architecture.

"The opening up of the heritage property records at the Nova Scotia Archives is a huge step in allowing researchers, family genealogists and others to search out the records that are needed to help understand the problem," said Trudi Bunting, chair of the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia's Places of Worship Committee. "We are delighted to be able to update our records of churches that were extant at the turn of the last century.

"This will give us hard numbers to confirm our alarming observations that the iconic places of worship that are a consistent part of the landscape of this province are fast disappearing."

The Provincial Built Heritage Inventory Project began in the late 1990s to record and document all buildings built before 1914. The Heritage Property Program records were digitized then transferred to the Archives in January.

Each year, on the third Monday in February, The Heritage Canada Foundation celebrates Heritage Day across the country. The focus of Heritage Day is Canada's built history, featuring a number of types of historic properties.

Information about the archives' resources and programs is available at www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm.