MacPhee House facts for kids
The MacPhee House in Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia is a special old building with a rich history. It used to be a hotel, welcoming travelers to the area. Today, it serves as a helpful visitor information centre, where people can learn about Sheet Harbour and its surroundings. This historic house is officially recognized on the Canadian Register of Historic Places because of its important heritage value. Wendy MacKenzie, who is the president of the Sheet Harbour Heritage Society, currently looks after the house.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: Its History
The MacPhee House was built a long time ago, around 1875. It started as a one-and-a-half-story house located right in the middle of Sheet Harbour. It sat on a piece of land about half an acre in size.
Growing to Welcome Guests
In 1911, the house needed more space to welcome visitors. So, a two-story addition, called an "ell" (which means a wing shaped like the letter 'L'), was built onto the side. This made the building bigger and better suited for its new purpose as a hotel. It continued to operate as a hotel for many years, at least until 1964.
Architectural Style and Changes
The house has some interesting design features. For example, the front wall, which is shaped like a triangle (called a gable wall), has a special open design at the top. This style is part of what's known as Greek Revival architecture, which was popular a long time ago. Old photos of the hotel show that it once had a lovely open porch, or "verandah," with fancy decorative patterns.
Saving a Historic Building
Later, a fire damaged the hotel's extension. Instead of letting this important old building be torn down, the Government of Nova Scotia stepped in. They bought the house in 1985. To save it, they carefully moved it from its original spot to where it stands today. Its new home is near the West River Bridge, on land that used to belong to the Scott Paper Company.
MacPhee House Today
Today, the MacPhee House is a busy and welcoming place. It works as a Visitor Information Centre, helping tourists find out about local attractions and activities. It also has a special area that tells the story of the Sheet Harbour area's past, like a small museum. The house is located in a beautiful park area, which is connected to scenic nature trails. This makes it a great spot for both learning about history and enjoying the outdoors.
External links
- Sheet Harbour & Area Chamber of Commerce: Visitor information
- MacPhee House - information from Nova Scotia.com
