Historic Dock Street and Water Street Loop Preview

1

Dripps House - 40 Dock Street

This Georgian style house was built in 1804 for Rev. Matthew Dripps, first Presbyterian minister in Shelburne. Note the 'six over six' windows. 'Side lights' on each side of the front door plus the 'transom' light over the door provide natural light to the interior central hall.

2

Cooper's Inn - 36 Dock Street

George Gracie, a blind Loyalist and provincial legislator started the first whaling company in Shelburne. He was also the primary shareholder of The Nelson, Shelburne's only privateer vessel. The original vertical log structure, was sailed up from Boston and reassembled in 1785 and is still found within the walls of the present day Inn.

3

Barrel Factory - 35 Dock Street

J. Chandley Smith, a one-time owner of The Cooper’s Inn, relocated the Barrel Factory to the current location in 1917. Prior to 1917 the orginal was located in what is now the annex to The Cooper's Inn. Most original tools from 1917 are still in use. For 41 years, co-owner Donna Rhuland was the only female cooper in Canada. Current owners, George and Beerta van der Meer welcome visitors to join them as they generously share their timeless journey. The current structure is a reimagination of a Salem, Mass. building and erected as a movie prop to film 'A,The Scarlet Letter' in 1994. The earlier structure was closed, torn down and back in operation in a period of 30 days.

4

Joseph McGill Building - 10 John Street

The Joseph McGill Shipbuilding and Transportation Company is one of the last surviving buildings from the Golden Age of Sail and has remained mainly unaltered since its construction in 1857.

5

MacDonough-McLean House - 28 Dock Street

This Georgian-style home and tavern was built in 1785 by Patrick MacDonough. Later, Master Mariner William McLean remodeled it to a Victorian style, and in 1970 its was restored to its original design.

6

Guyon House - 10 Charlotte Lane

A Port Roseway Associate and Loyalist merchant, Peter Guyon, built this Georgian style home in 1785. In later times it also served as a grocery store on the north side. Noteable is the unseen, a wharf belonging to the property with a deeded water lot once existed. Not a common thing, though there are others along Dock Street.

7

Coyle House - 24 Dock Street

Georgian-style house built c1784 by Loyalist merchant Patrick Coyle with the original stone rubble foundation. Coyle House houses Tottie's Crafts and is part of Shelburne's Museums by the Sea.

8

Ross-Thomson House and Store Museum - 9 Charlotte Lane

Ross-Thomson House and Store Museum, a Nova Scotia Museum site, is the last Colonial-era store in Nova Scotia. It was established as a business in 1785 by the Ross brothers who were merchants and slave traders. The store was operated until 1880 by the Thomson family. Open for tours in season.

9

Dory Shop Museum - 11 Dock Street

Originally constructed as a warehouse in 1865, John C. Williams acquired in 1887 and produced wooden dories until his death in 1939. The building continued to operate as a dory factory until the 1970s. The Dory Shop Museum, a Nova Scotia Museum site, was officially opened in 1983 by Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Dories are built to order to this day.

10

Shelburne County Museum - 20 Dock Street

The Nairn House was built in 1787 for David Nairn, a cooper from Scotland. It was extensively renovated in 1979 and converted into the Shelburne County Museum, a community museum facility showcasing Shelburne County's culture and history.

11

Cox Warehouse - 10 Ann Street

The Cox Warehouse was built in 1902 by local merchant George A. Cox. The building forms part of Shelburne’s Museums by the Sea complex. The steeple was added in1994 for filming of A, The Scarlet Letter.

12

Ann Street Well

The Ann Street well is the last remaining communal well that was constructed when Shelburne was first settled in 1783. The small building down the hill is home to 3rd Battalion of the New Jersey Volunteers, a Loyalist Re-enactment Group.

13

The Muir-Cox Shipyard - 7 George Street

The Muir-Cox Shipyard, which now houses the Shelburne Sailing Academy, was in continuous ship production 1826 -1924. It was a multi-yard site, meaning it could build two ships at once – usually a large one and a small one.

14

Shipyard Mill - 13 George Street

The George Street Shipyard Mill, a steam-powered through mill built in 1903, was part of the Muir-Cox Shipyard complex. The architecture and tools are original to the building.

15

Georgian Corner - Water @ George Streets

This intersection is unique in North America as all four buildings on this corner are original wooden structures built between 1783 and 1785.

16

Cox House - 16 Rodney Lane

This house was built by William Cox Jr. in 1889 and occupied by Cox descendants until 2021. The last owner, Bill Cox, at 105 years, was a well-known 5th generation shipbuilder who also served two terms as Mayor of Shelburne.

17

Marshall House - 119 Water Street

This property was built in 1784 by Samuel Marshall, a Loyalist potter and brickmaker. In 1791, the property became one of the holdings of the Gideon White family for over 100 years. Mr. White was a prominent citizen who is best remembered for his detailed journals of Loyalist Shelburne.

18

Fit Folks - 128 Water Street

This property started as a church in the 1800s, became a dry-cleaning business in the 1950s and is now a popular fitness centre.

19

Shelburne Dental Center - 130 Water Street

This striking 1780s property was once a home for the Minshull family who also rented out rooms. One of their renters tried to skip town without paying his bill, and turned out to be an impostor who passed himself off as a French knight.

20

McGowan's Store - 138 Water Street

This property has functioned as a home and commercial storefront since its construction in 1875. It was owned by shoemaker John A. McGowan Sr., and passed it on to his son John A. McGowan Jr., who operated a dry goods business.

21

McGowan House - 140 Water Street

This two-storey dwelling in the Second Empire style was built in 1876 for local merchant John McGowan Jr. It remained in his family until 1918. The house still has the original hardwood floors, high ceilings, and U-shaped windows with wide windowsills.

22

Charlotte Lane Café - 13 Charlotte Lane

This long, narrow building in the Greek Revival style was constructed c1850 and is typical of the stores and shops seen on Charlotte Lane during that time period. Over the centuries, the building has housed a Chinese laundry, a bowling alley, restaurant, law office, butcher shop, pool hall, place of worship and a food co-op! It is now well known as a fine dining establishment.

23

Shelburne Post Office - 143 Water Street

This Municipal Heritage Building deserves special mention. It was built in 1908 from Scotia Grey granite quarried right here in Shelburne and served as Shelburne's Post Office until 1964. At the start of WWII, an 18-foot / 5.4 metre extension was added to the west side of the building to accommodate an increase in mail from the arrival of over 5,000 service members to HMCS Shelburne.

24

Kelley Block - 147 Water Street

This property is commonly referred to as the Kelley Block, constructed around 1872 by William T. Kelley, a former master mariner originally from Yarmouth. It was opened in 1928 as one of the largest retail outlets on the south shore.

25

Atlantic House Park - Corner of Water Street & Mason Lane

The original building on this lot dated back to the arrival of the Loyalists in 1783. It operated as the Atlantic House, described as one of the finest hotels in the province in the early 20th century. It was demolished in 1979 and developed into the Atlantic House Park.

26

Albert Lodge - 156 Water Street

The initial building was destroyed by the great fire of 1885. This three-storey Second Empire style structure was rebuilt in 1911. Albert Lodge, a local Masonic Hall has occupied the top two floors of the building ever since.

27

Loyalist Inn - 160 Water Street

The original 1780s structure was destroyed by the fire of 1885 which destroyed many buildings along the east side of Water Street. It was subsequently rebuilt and operated as the Loyalist Inn. Recent owners have updated and upgraded the Inn to its current glory.