Sherbrooke Village

Sherbrooke Village Sherbrooke Village Website The French were the first European visitors to Sherbrooke, as early as 1655. The settlement was known as Fort Sainte Marie. By 1815 the settlement which developed at the head of navigation became known as Sherbrooke, in honour of Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. For years the community prospered, supported by farming, fishing, and above all, by the timber trade. Busy mills produced deal, planks, laths, spars, ship’s knees and shingles for the British and West Indian markets. Then in 1861 the cry of “gold” was heard and the town became a lively, energetic mining camp. By 1869 nineteen companies had flocked to participate in the discovery; Sherbrooke boomed. What some call Sherbrooke’s Golden Age lasted about twenty years. Mining was reactivated in the early part of this century, but was never as successful as before. Lumbering continued as a major industry. Until the restoration of Sherbrooke Village, visitors to the area were chiefly sportsmen fishing for salmon in the pools of the St. Mary’s River. The Sherbrooke Village Restoration Area was established in 1969 to conserve a part of Sherbrooke and depict a typical Nova Scotian village in the 19th century. Sherbrooke Village is administered by the Sherbrooke Restoration Commission under the direction of the Nova Scotia Museum, Department of Tourism and Culture. Programming that is informative and entertaining! Things we do everyday! Snug along the banks of the St. Mary’s River, Sherbrooke Village is a restored boomtown from Nova Scotia’s golden age. A community built on fortunes made from timber, tall ships and gold. Animations occur daily.

Activities Wagon Rides Our team of heritage breed Canadian Horses make touring our site just a little bit easier! Kids’ Stuff Sherbrooke Village has acres of stuff to delight and keep youngsters busy. From our wagon rides, farm animals, working sawmill to our old school and jail there is always something for them to learn or explore. “Hands On History” Not Just For Kids Hands On History invites people young and old to participate in Village life by offering a “Hands On”, interactive, educational and fun experience. Programs It is our aim to offer maximum flexibility in the type and duration of programs we provide (minimum registration required), but programs generally fall into 3 categories: One-day (costumed) Programs - This program is available for families, groups or individuals during July and August. Full details are available by following the link to the 1 day program. Two-Day (costumed) Programs - This program is available for families, groups or individuals during July and August. Full details are available by following the link to the 2 day program. Two Night Program - June 1 to October 15 The weekday overnight program (Monday lunch time to Wednesday lunch time or Wednesday lunch time to Friday lunch time), runs the months of June, September and October until the 10th for schools and groups. Weekend groups (Friday afternoon arrival until Sunday at 1:00 pm) are able to book from June 1 to October 10 according to availability. A minimum of 10 participants is required for an overnight program. Whichever program you choose the children experience life as their counterparts would have lived, in the latter part of the 19th century. “With These Two Hands” Sherbrooke Village celebrates, preserves and protects local cultural knowledge, crafts and skills through a season-long series of animations, interpretations and hands-on programming. For centuries the commerce of Sherbrooke was dependent on hands. Weathered and worn, those hands were a witness to the life of a community that was tested, tough and true. Through mistakes made and lessons learned, they now tease into life a lump of clay, a shard of iron or a bolt of cloth.

Ambrotype Studio Really Rare! A working photo studio which uses a 1902 AGFA camera, a wet collodion process with the final result on a glass plate. Your portrait in the dress of the period will be a snap! McDonald Brothers’ Sawmill A treat for your senses! Smell the fresh pine and spruce. Feel the rhythms of the working mill in the plank floor. The spinning water wheel and whirling belts and gears make for a great memory of Sherbrooke Village. Courthouse Concerts Our popular series of Celtic, Folk, Gospel and traditional artists takes place in an acoustically excellent venue each Thursday evening in July and August, Friday evenings for September and back to Thursday in October. Concerts start at 7:30 pm, and advance tickets are available at the door. Learning Camps and Workshops Sherbrooke Village offers a series of music & culture related learning experiences. Sessions range from one day to week long and feature only highest calibre instructors offering instruction in songwriting, photography and painting. Visit sherbrookevillage.ca for more information and registration. The Company Store The Company Store specializes in Sherbrooke Village produced wares, clothing, gifts and period reproduced home decor. Sail to History Courtesy of St. Mary’s Boat Club and Sherbrooke Village, we offer docking facilities within the boundaries of the Village. The Group Outing Planning a group trip or event? Need special services or facilities? For a group outing or to use our docking facilities contact Jamie Anderson at 1-888-743-7845 toll free or email andersje@gov.ns.ca Witness these amazing transformations up close and in person. You can explore these activities virtually at the Canada Digital Collection Website at: http://museum.gov.ns.ca/sv/collections.html Phone: (902) 522-2400 Fax: (902) 522-2974 Email: haynelm@gov.ns.ca Season: June 1 to October 15 Hours: 9:30 am to 5:00 pm Admission: Adult $10.75 Child $4.75 Family $30.00 Senior $8.75 Adult Season Pass $18.75 Family Season Pass $39.00