Doak Historic Site facts for kids
The Doak Historic Site is a special place in Doaktown, New Brunswick, Canada. It's like stepping back in time to a working farm from long ago. A family named Doak lived here from the 1820s until 1979. Today, you can visit and see how people lived and worked in the past. People in old-fashioned costumes give tours and show how things were done. It works with the Atlantic Salmon Museum, which is also in Doaktown.
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What You Can Do at the Site
The Doak Historic Site is open from late June to early September. During these months, you can join in many fun activities and classes. You might learn how to make butter or cheese. There are also classes for rug hooking, weaving, and spinning wool. You can even see how wool was processed by hand and how gardens were tended. Kids can enjoy special craft days too! You can visit the site by making a donation.
History of the Doak Family
A New Home in New Brunswick
Robert Doak was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on April 4, 1785. He and his wife, Jean Kirkland, had two young children. They planned to move to Kentucky. But a big storm on the Atlantic Ocean forced their ship into the harbor in Miramichi, New Brunswick. The family decided to stay in Miramichi and start their new life there.
Robert Doak and his older brother, James Doak, moved up the Miramichi River. They bought land from Ephraim Betts. This is where the Doak Historic Site is located today. At that time, Doaktown was called Betts Settlement.
Robert Doak's Businesses
Once settled, Robert Doak built several important businesses. He had a water-powered carding mill and a Gristmill (for grinding grain). He also built a Sawmill and an oat mill. The family also ran a successful Textile business. They were very good at Weaving and spinning yarn and fabrics.
Besides their businesses, the Doak family had a large working farm. They raised horses, chickens, sheep, oxen, and milking cows. They also grew crops to sell.
A Leader in the Community
Robert Doak was not just a farmer and businessman. He also held many important jobs in the community. He was the town clerk and the clerk of the market. He also served as a justice of the peace. Because of his great success in business and his many community roles, people called him "Squire Doak."
In 1852, a new highway was built connecting Fredericton to Newcastle. Because of Robert Doak's big influence in the area, Betts Settlement was renamed Doaktown.
The Farm Becomes a Heritage Site
The Doak house and farm stayed in the Doak family for four generations. The family lived there until 1979. That year, Robert Doak's great-great-granddaughter, Margaret Doak, passed away. She left the property to the New Brunswick Government. In the early 1980s, the property was opened to the public. It became a provincial heritage site, allowing everyone to learn about its history.
Buildings at the Site
The Doak House
The original Doak house is still on the site. It is special because of its simple, local style of building. It also reminds people of the farm cottages found in Scotland, where Robert Doak came from.
Here are some interesting things about the house:
- It is a rectangular house, about one and a half stories tall.
- It has narrow eaves (the part of the roof that hangs over the walls).
- The dormer windows are built into the roof.
- The outside walls are covered with wooden clapboards.
- It has corner boards and a central chimney.
- The windows are 6/6 double-hung windows (meaning each window has two panes of glass on the top and two on the bottom).
- Inside, there are shutters that pull out from the walls.
- The roof is made of wooden shingles.
- The foundation is made of Sandstone.
- All the items inside the house are original to the site.
Other Buildings
The original barn on the property was over 100 years old. Sadly, it was torn down in June 2016. An inspection in 2014 found that the building was unsafe. It was closed to visitors because of damage and rot. The Government of New Brunswick is now rebuilding the barn.
There is also a small milk house on the property. This building was used to keep dairy products cool. A tunnel was dug to bring cold water from a nearby stream into the milk house. This constant flow of cold water kept the milk and other products fresh.
A schoolhouse is also located on the property. This school dates back to 1822. It was originally a few miles away from the Doak Historic Site. It was moved to the property to protect this important old building.
