Yarmouth, N.S. Pewter Ornaments

Each pewter ornament (2 3/8″ dia.) is dated and identified on the reverse and comes with a card giving a history of the landmark.

This home in the English Cottage style with Gothic and Classical features was named after Ann and James Murray who lived there from 1854 to 1899. Ann’s uncle, George Bond, built it sometime between 1825 and 1832.

It has a bell-hipped roof and lovely Gothic windows on the first floor with prayer windows above (so low one has to kneel to see out).

In recent years it has been maintained as a bed and breakfast and then an art gallery. It is now a private home. It is one of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia’s landmarks.

Each pewter ornament (2 3/8″ dia.) is dated and identified on the reverse and comes with a card giving a history of the landmark.

The Old Yarmouth Light at Cape Forchu was built in 1839 and lit January 15, 1840. The red and white octagonal tower housed a plain revolving light which in 1908 was replaced by a classic Fresnel lens (now on display at the Yarmouth County Museum). The lens was floated in a vat of mercury and rotated by weights on the principle of a Grandfather clock. The weights had to be wound every three hours during the night and the rotation blocked in the morning by bolts inserted in the mechanism.

The source of the light was first a kerosene lamp, then a pressurized vapor lamp, and finally electricity generated in the lighthouse station itself. Herbert Cunningham Sr., the light keeper from 1922 to 1952, found a vapor lamp good when it worked, but the light hard to maintain. It had to be watched carefully as it would go out at times. He estimated that in his time as light keeper he climbed the tower stairs at least 47,000 times. The light shone 15 – 20 miles out to sea.

The Old Light was replaced in 1962 by the modern structure. Both have been major tourist attractions and “Yarmouth, N.S. Landmarks”.

Each pewter ornament (2 3/8″ dia.) is dated and identified on the reverse and comes with a card giving a history of the landmark.

On June 9, 1761, the shallop “Pompey Dick” sailed into the Chebogue River from Sandwich, Cape Cod with the first English settlers: Ebenezer Ellis, Sealed Landers and Moses Perry. Two days later Jonathan Crosby and Joshua Burgess arrived from Connecticut. Later in the summer Elishama Eldridge and seven other families arrived from various New England locations.
The Pompey Dick landed at Crawley’s Island. Perry remained there while Ellis moved further down the river to today’s Chebogue Point. Landers went up the harbour at Cape Forchu and set up a mill at the head of the harbour, the present day Milton. Other families that arrived settled at the mouth of Perry’s River to the end of the Wyman Road.
The first winter was harsh and the settlers survived with the help of the Mi’kmaq. The land they were settling on in Chebogue had belonged to a small Acadian settlement that had been settled in 1736. Very little is known of the settlement.
The first meeting of the Township of Yarmouth was held on June 15th, 1763. All who had settled were invited to make formal application for their land. The Council carefully established the township and assigned the land grants.

Each pewter ornament (2 3/8″ dia.) is dated and identified on the reverse and comes with a card giving a brief history of the landmark.

Around 1915 in the small fishing community of Sandford, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia the entrance to the inner harbour boat hole was widened to admit ten foot wide boats. The boat hole is a shelter for boats and is only accessible at high tide. It was at this time that a drawbridge was built replacing the old footbridge over the entrance. Over the years this tiny drawbridge in its picturesque setting has become a major attraction for the area.

The Shore Road had crossed a culvert between the boat hole and an inner tidal pond until the road was washed out c. 1947. It was at this entrance to the pond where the drawbridge was moved in 1984 and the passages were widened to allow for the 14 to 18 foot wide boats. The pond was then used for boat repair. The drawbridge is accessed on each side by stairs which raise it so it only has to be opened for the tallest of the boats. The stairs also allow the drawbridge section itself to remain the same length as in its old location. The Sandford Drawbridge, often referred to as “The World’s Smallest Drawbridge”, is a “Yarmouth, N.S. Landmark”.

Each pewter ornament (2 3/8″ dia.) is dated and identified on the reverse and comes with a card giving a brief history of the landmark.

This monument is situated at Milton in the north end of Yarmouth at the entrance to a string of three lakes. It is built of two millstones and the upright one bears a bronze plaque inscribed with the following: Sealed Landers first settler of the town of Yarmouth June 9, 1761 brought this stone from Sandwich Massachusetts and placed it in a grist mill which he erected on this site. This tablet was placed here by his descendants June 9, 1935

The mill property continued under Landers family ownership until 1861 when it became the Pioneer Mills producing cornmeal and flour under the new operators, Charles and John Beuler. By now a dam had been built nearby. In 1864 Samuel Killam bought the mill when other mills were making business slow and it was in disrepair. In 1919 the Town of Yarmouth bought the land to maintain their water power and in 1935 the property became a park. It is a Yarmouth, N.S. Landmark.

Each pewter ornament (2 3/8″ dia.) is dated and identified on the reverse and comes with a card giving a history of the landmark.

ON THIS, THE SITE OF THE
FIRST LAUNCHING IN THE COUNTY,
1764, THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED
IN PROUD MEMORY OF
ALL THE SEAFARING SONS
OF YARMOUTH COUNTY
WHO “GOING DOWN TO THE SEA
IN SHIP”, BY THEIR OUTSTANDING
SEAMANSHIP AND VALOUR,
BROUGHT UNDYING HONOUR
TO YARMOUTH
IN EVERY PORT AROUND
THE WORLD. Erected by the
Yarmouth County Historical
Society, 1961

Each pewter ornament (2 3/8″ dia.) is dated and identified on the reverse and comes with a card giving a history of the landmark.

St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church on Albert Street was begun in 1889 to replace the old St. Ambrose Church on Barnard Street. The first mass was held at midnight on Christmas Eve of 1889 in the basement and the church was formally dedicated on October 5, 1890 by Archbishop Cornelius O’Brien. The architect, J. C. Dumaresq, designed it in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. James E. Huestis of Yarmouth directed construction. Benjamin Ritchie, also of Yarmouth was responsible for the ornamentation. The parish priest was Fr. Edward J. McCarthy.

In 1908 the church was doubled in length from 75 to 150 feet: the back section of the church was moved backwards and two additional transepts were constructed. The left turret was originally much higher than the right – both have been shortened to be the same height.

Over the main alter is a magnificent stained glass window depicting the Ascension of Jesus. This was installed in 1927 and the other stained glass windows were installed from 1937 to 1953.

When the new Diocese of Yarmouth was created in 1953 St. Ambrose was chosen as its cathedral.

In 1995 the Parish of St. Ambrose celebrated its 150th anniversary. It is now the co-cathedral of the Diocese of Halifax-Yarmouth.

Each pewter ornament (2 3/8″ dia.) is dated and identified on the reverse and comes with a card giving a history of the landmark.

Built in 1831 in the Greek Revival style the Academy continued as a school until 1864. Originally it had a belfry and a two-story high portico supported by four Doric pillars. The pillars were probably removed when it was moved closer to the street in 1864 and was incorporated into the Moody’s Corner business district. About 20 years later it was made into apartments and served as such for about 100 years. In 1993-’94 it was bought and restored by the Town of Yarmouth and housed the VON. It was later sold and became the Academy Tea Room, and since has served as a unique setting for other businesses. The Academy at 113 Main Street is one of the oldest surviving school houses in Canada. This handsome building is a “Yarmouth, N.S. Landmark”.

Each pewter ornament (2 3/8″ dia.) is dated and identified on the reverse and comes with a card giving a history of the landmark.

When it opened on the 2nd of July, 1894 the old Grand Hotel was described as the finest hotel in the Maritime Provinces. Located on the corner of Main and Grand Streets, it was a three storey brick building with a mansard roof and electric lighting. The building was constructed by Rhodes, Curry & Co. of Amherst.

George W. Kenny, the manager from 1921 – 1966, had many improvements made: private baths, a larger drawing room, telephones in each room and a large sunroom. During his management the fire in the fireplace of the main lobby was never allowed to go out and was kept burning day and night, Winter and Summer.

It was believed the writer Meredith Wilson wrote the well-known Christmas carol “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” while staying there.

Radio Station CJLS operated from the top floor of the Grand for its first three or four years. The Grand was also the headquarters for the International Tuna Cup Match from the 1930’s to the mid 1970’s.

The old Grand closed its doors on September 30, 1966 and was dismantled and replaced with the current Grand Hotel. Many of the artifacts from the auction can be found in homes throughout the County and several houses were built using the bricks.

The old Grand Hotel was a Yarmouth, N.S. Landmark that is remembered fondly by many of its citizens and visitors.

Fact or fiction, since its discovery in 1812 the Yarmouth Runic Stone has always been a curiosity and a subject of scholastic debate.  The 400 pound stone with 13 characters incised on its flat face was found by Dr. Richard Fletcher on his land near the Chegoggin Flats on the western side of Yarmouth Harbour. Are the marks natural or man-made? Experts disagree. A popular theory has been that they were Norse. Two translations exist: “Hako spoke to his men.” (1875) and “Leif to Eric raises (this monument)” (1934). These have lead to speculation that Leif Eriksson came as far south as Nova Scotia on his North American voyage c. 1000 AD, but various reputable scholars have denied Norse origins. It has been ascertained that the stone is local. Dr. Fletcher’s own family speculated he contrived it as a practical joke.

In the early 20th century  the stone was sent to Norway for exhibition, from there to England for authentication and finally returned home to Yarmouth. It has been the subject of numerous books and papers. In the 1960’s it was granted to the Yarmouth County Historical Society. Today it is on display at the Yarmouth County Museum at 22 Collins Street where visitors are welcome to examine it for themselves.