The James House Museum

Old 1917 Postcard Showing Queen Street in Bridgetown, NS

The James House Museum located in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia is a registered Provincial Heritage Building.

The museum is run by the Bridgetown and area Historical Society and includes several different displays showing the history of the house and the town.

Formerly called Hick's Ferry after the ferry that crossed the river here, this settlement became important because it sat at the head of the ocean going navigation on the Annapolis River. It was also the first area up-river where a bridge could be safely constructed across the river.

Thus bridges became very important to the settlement and the name was changed to Bridgetown. There have been five bridges across the river here with the first one constructed by 1805.

For awhile referred to as The Bridge, Bridgetown became a very important commercial site. Beamish Murdock records that upwards of sixty vessels were loaded at the bridge in 1822 and 100 cargoes were shipped the following year. Shipyards began popping up along the shores of the Annapolis River building many fine schooners, brigs and brigantines. With this prosperity in town several fine homes and buildings were built of which several are still standing and used.

Old Postcard Showing Queen Street in Bridgetown, NS

Richard James was born in Wollwich, England in 1796. He served in England and India with the British Army. He married Mary Lomax from London, England around 1829 and they had eight children.

Around 1834 Richard and his family moved to Bridgetown, Nova Scotia where his brother had moved to a few years before. He bought land on Queen Street from Thomas Quirk and built a house for his family.

Mary passed away in 1846 so Richard brought his sister, Eliza over from England to help him with his family. Eliza and Angeline, his youngest daughter, continued to live in the house after Richard's death. They converted the house into a two-family dwelling in the 1870's. Angelina passed away in 1922.

On the ground floor of the James House space had been made on the north side for a shop or office. On the second floor large doors opened up the front rooms to make a ballroom. The house features several bay windows and an outside balcony upstairs.

The house has been used as a home, apartment, tea room, doctor's office, an art gallery and a flower shop. It then stood vacant for a couple of years and was under threat of being torn down to make way for a parking area.

Mr. Clyde Everett bought the house and then donated it to the Bridgetown & Area Historical Society. It has been declared a registered Provincial Heritage Building and became a museum for the town.

Inside the building is one area set up as a military museum by the Royal Canadian Legion Br. #33. This museum is dedicated to the memory of local residents and their participation in the Canadian Forces during times of conflict. It includes uniforms, weaponry, a memorial album and awards & medals.

Another permanent display is that of the 150th anniversary Quilt that was created in 1985. The quilt displays different buildings and landmarks important to Bridgetown's history.

The James House Museum is located at 12 Queen Street in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia.

They are open from Monday to Saturday during the summer and by appointments from September until the end of May.

The society holds several events here during the year including a Victorian Christmas. For more information call them at (902) 665 4530 or visit the James House Museum website.

Leave The James House Museum and return to see other Annapolis Valley Museums