Randall House Museum/Private Residence
Location: 259 Main St.Welcome to your first stop on the tour! Randall House, as it is referred to as today, was built around 1810 and is the oldest house in Wolfville that is open to the public, versus private dwellings. It is built in the New England Colonial style, sometimes referred to as Georgian style, and retains most of its character inside and out. The house has multiple fireplaces and chimneys and also features closets. Closets may be standard today, but when this house was built, closets were a luxury!Established as a museum in 1949, this building has seen many exhibits, artifacts, stories, community events and people from all over the world.As of today, this heritage building is facing an unpredictable future. With a severe shortage of board members (which are responsible for the museum) and a dwindling number of volunteers, the museum is facing closure by the end of 2023. Questions about how this happened or what you can do to help save this museum and building (if it ends up being sold, it will likely be torn down, regardless of its Heritage status) please contact randallhouse@outlook.com. Let’s not allow Nova Scotia to lose any more heritage buildings!Photos:The museum, as of July 2023
Royal Canadian Legion/The Tabernacle
Location: 310 Main St.Originally built in 1903, by the Wolfville Baptist church for poor outreach, this building was called The Tabernacle. It was later bought by the Town of Wolfville and used as an educational facility for industrial arts education. In 1958, it was then purchased by the Royal Canadian Legion, and has been in their home ever since. The legion began renovations in 2021 and are expected to wrap up in 2024. The extensive remodel includes: raising the building 12", replacing the foundation, installing a new drainage system, an elevator shaft, new roof, a mechanical room, a renovated basement to include a new ramp, power entry door, 2 accessible washrooms, an accessible bar and 6 accessible dart boards. The legion will also be undergoing a name change, from Dr. C.B. Lumsden, Branch No. 74, Royal Canadian Legion to the Wolfville Legion Centre.Government grants, donations and funds from Branch 74, have made this renovation possible.Photos:The reno as of July, 2023Sketch of what the finished building will look likeAs The Tabernacle, circa 1903
Tim Horton's/DeWolfe family residence
Location: 370 Main St.Now, Tim Horton's, on this land used to stand one of Wolfville's most famous houses, the DeWolfe family residence.Built in 1817 by Judge Elisha DeWolf for his son, Thomas Andrew Strange DeWolf, this house featured a circular driveway, drawing room and parlour. It had a stable and carriage house, as well as, gardens and an orchard.The house was not only a family home, but it had been used as a school too. It later become Wolfville's museum, which was run by the Wolfville Historical Society, formed by Rosamond DeWolf Archibald. However, the Wolfville Fruit Company wanted the land and the house was moved (to what is now 10 Harbourside Dr., and the location of The Anvil Beverage Room), but when that land the house was moved to then became slated for development, the Historical Society could not afford to move the building again and so it was demolished. The Historical Society purchased Randall House and it became their museum and meeting spot, in 1949. As of today, the Historical Society and Randall House are both facing being lost, as the lack of community interest in sitting on the Historical Society board and lack of volunteerism at the museum, are proving to be too costly to maintain.This is an example of how important heritage buildings, even ones belonging to founders of a town, can be lost.Photos:The building, as of July 2023DeWolf house, at it’s original location
The Naked Crepe Bistro (temporary location)/The Rolled Oat Cafe
Location: 402 Main St.Most locals remember this building as The Rolled Oat Cafe, which closed in October 2002, after 12 years of serving the folks of Wolfville.Today, (2023) this building is the temporary home of The Naked Crepe Bistro. In fact, this is the location that The Naked Crepe Bistro started at, only to move back in last year. You’ll learn more about the cause of the move as you scooch over to the next building.Photos:The building, as of July 2023As The Rolled Oat Cafe
The Naked Crepe Bistro (previous location)/Babcock's Restaurant
This building has been home to several eateries over the years. In the 1950s and ‘60s, this building was Babcock’s restaurant. It would become one of the first places in Nova Scotia to serve Kentucky Fried Chicken.The Naked Crepe Bistro was the last restaurant to occupy this spot. When a fire broke out on August 22, 2022, it suffered extensive smoke and water damage to the interior and the restaurant moved to the building next door (the one you just stopped at).Time might be up for this building and the previous one you just saw. Rumour has it that the grocery store wants the property so they can expand. Maybe we can persuade Loblaws to do Main Street a favour and keep the facades of both buildings. While this isn’t ideal, it is better than completely losing more history and will assist in maintaining Main Street’s beautiful heritage and historical look. Let’s advocate for keeping Main Street looking like the Main Street that locals and tourists have loved and enjoyed for so many years.Photos:The building, as of 2023Exterior fire damageBabcock’s restaurant, serving KFC (the building on the far left hand side, with the two awnings and bay window)
Bank of Montreal
Location: 424 Main StreetOpening as the People's Bank of Halifax, in 1872, it later merged with the Bank of Montreal, in 1905. When the bank first opened, it was located in the home of its first manager, John W. Barss. The building you see here today, was build in 1922. If you look to the top of the building, you can see the Bank’s coat of arms is there today, along with the original pillars. Unfortunately, the lovely transom (the window above the doorway) was filled in with corporate identification, sometime in the 1990s. It also no longer features the original wooden doors.Photos:The building, as of July 2023Circa, 1990A postcard with BMO in it (far left-hand side) circa 1960Circa, 1922
Joe's Food Emporium/The Palms
Location: 434 Main St.Opening in 1920, The Palms was the premiere social spot and soda fountain for local residents and Acadia students. The Palms was owned by Cecil and Hannah Young. The location saw many physically changes, inside and out, and officially closed in 1972. Today, it is the home of Joe’s Food Emporium.Fun Fact: Hannah Young is the inventor of Grapenut ice-cream!Photos:1. The building, as of July 20232. Circa, 1960s
Just Us & Al Whittle Theatre/Acadia Theatre
Location: 450 Main St.Originally opened as Wolfville’s Opera House in 1911, the location changed into The Orpheum Theatre in 1923. The location showed silent films to Wolfville residents and Wolfville’s first “talkie” in 1930.The marquee, in Art Moderne style, would be added in 1947, when it was renamed the Acadia Theatre. The Acadia showed the newest Hollywood films to Wolfville for many years.In 2004, after the theatre had closed, the Acadia Cinema Cooperative purchased the building and completed a renovation. It reopened as the Al Whittle Theatre, in partnership with the local coffee shop, Just Us.Fun Fact: Al Whittle was the theatre manager from 1953 to when it closed in 2000.Photos:The front of the building, as of July 2023Entrance to the Al Whittle Theatre, as of July 2023Acadia, circa 1947As the Orpheum, circa 1923
Clock Park/Irving Gas Station
Location: 484 Main St.The first recorded building on this property, circa 1920, was the Grand Pre Seminary for girls. When it closed, it became the Acadia Hotel, the first of many hotels that would take occupancy in this building. Later, the name would change to the Royal Hotel. In 1896, a fire badly damaged the building, but it was saved and renovated around 1898. The building would be sold in 1912, and its name would change to the Evangeline Inn.Due to a housing shortage, Acadia University would end up leasing the building in 1945. This building would become one of the universities residences for male students. Many people were not happy about the Inn’s closure, as it was a popular destination.Sadly, in 1960, one of Wolfville’s most loved landmarks would be torn down to make way for a service station. In 1990, that service station, Iriving, would be demolished.Today is a lovely green space, know as Clock Park. Let’s hope it stays this way!Photos:The property, as of July 2023Dismantling of the Irving Service Station, circa 1990
Herbin Jewellers
Location: 453 Main St.John Frederic Herbin bought a building in 1885 to set-up his jewellery store (third photo).In 1893, he purchased the property you are currently standing at and moved his building here. In 1898, he outgrew that building and constructed the one you see here, today. In 1917, Herbin connected his building with the one next to it. This connected building saw many different businesses over the years, including a tea room, restaurant and a ladies' wear store.Still in the family today, Herbin Jewellers is a Wolfville staple.Fun Fact: John Frederic Herbin was instrumental in the creation of Evangeline Park, now the National Historic Site, and was also an Acadia University graduate.Photos:The jewellery store portion of the building, as of July 2023The full building, as of July 2023The “new” Herbin’s, circa 1898Herbin’s, circa 1890s
Post Office/The American House
Location: 497 Main St.Built in 1911, the Wolfville Post Office was a beautifully constructed building, which even had its own community garden club that maintained the lawn and gardens.The post office went through renovations in the early 1960s. The lovely sandstone was covered by grey-stone, to ‘update’ the facade. The building was then slated for demolition in 1971 and replaced with a modern and more standard looking post office. The residents of Wolfville were very upset with the replacement post office, as it clearly had none of the character or charm that the old post office had, even after the original facade had been refurbished.Photos:The building, as of July 2023The refurbished Post Office, circa 1960The building, circa 1920The American House, the building that stood at this location before the post office was built
Wild Lily/White Rose Service Station
Location: 385 Main St.Built in 1930 as a White Rose service station, it was once one of Wolfville’s ninegas stations. Today, there are none! The station closed in 1960, but this building as has seen many businesses come and go over the years.Art Moderne, is the style in which this building was built. Notice its flat roof, plain facade and round corners. The name of the builder is unrecorded.Fun Fact: Gasoline was considered a useless by-product in the process of producing kerosene.Photos:The building, as of July 2023Lion’s Day, circa 1956
The Church Brewing Co./United Church of St. Andrew's
Location: 329 Main StreetFormerly, the United Church of St. Andrew’s, this church was a gathering spot for Presbyterians and Methodists, two years before the United Church of Canada was founded.The old Presbyterian church, build of wood, was on Prospect Street, which is not far from here. It was moved to this location in 1885, but went up in flames in 1913. The building you see here today was built in 1914. It features false bell gables at each end that serve as chimneys, while the stone came from White Rock, which is near New Minas.In 2017, the church was purchased by The Church Brewing Co., and the restaurant opened its doors in January of 2019.Photos:The building, as of July 2023The building, circa 1920
Willow Park/Duck Pond
Location: 11 Willow AvenueThis is the site of the former Inner Harbour circa 1950. Hope you know how to swim, because if you were standing in this spot two hundred years ago, you would be in the water!Originally this was the inner harbour where ships would load and unload at high tide. The area was cut off from the rest of the harbour in the 1860s, when the first railway was placed across the mouth of the harbour.After many years as a garbage pit, the 1920s saw the area developed into a duck pond. As a part of Canada’s Centennial (1967 was the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation) many communities were given federal government funding for beatification and community projects, and it was transformed to its current state that you see today.All of the lovely gardens were developed by students from the NSCC (Nova Scotia Community College) Horticulture program, in Kentville.Since he railway was added so early, there are no known pictures of the inner harbour, so seeing this park and referring to the photos that were later taken, is the best way to conceptualize it. Photos:The property, as of July 2023When it was more commonly known as, the duck pond
