The Sinclair Inn Museum Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
A Building is Saved
The Sinclair Inn building was saved from deterioration and probable demise in the 1980's when the Heritage Canada Foundation obtained it and provided a substantial amount of work to re-enforce the building. Realizing the important historical significance of this building it was designated a Provincial Heritage building about this time also.
The town of Annapolis Royal, which had once been a busy hub of activity had slowed down and was facing demise as it's once fine buildings were badly deteriorating from neglect. The town decided to take a look at its future and a major re-development of the downtown area was started in the early to mid 1980's.
It was about this time a new society had been formed, the Historic Restoration Society of Annapolis Royal, (now known as the Annapolis Heritage Society) which was playing a large part in trying to save the historical buildings in and around the town. They had already purchased some buildings and were restoring them when in 1984 the Heritage Canada Foundation transferred ownership of the Sinclair Inn building to them.
The building again sat in limbo as the society tried to decide what the best thing to do with this building was. It was not until the mid 1990's that a committee was formed to come to a decision. With the age of the building and all the different building techniques and materials used over the years they decided that it should become an important interpretive document for the history of building in Atlantic Canada. It represents three centuries of building materials, techniques and styles that have been used in the area.
Impressive History
Panels throughout the walls, ceilings and floor show the different building styles used over the years.
So why is this building so special?
The front section of the Sinclair Inn is the earliest surviving Acadian building in Canada. It was built by Jean Baptist Soullard for his new wife Francoise Louise Comeau after their marriage in February 1710. Jean Baptist Soullard was appointed the Kings Gunsmith at Port Royal. They happily lived in the house until after the fall of the Garrison to the British under Colonel Francis Nicholson in the fall of 1710. They sold the house to John Adams by 1714 and had moved to Quebec.
The house first became known as a "Public House" in 1747 when Rebecca Whitchurch was granted probably the first "strong drink" license in Canada.
In 1781 Frederick & Mary Sinclair purchased the Soullard House along with the Skene house next door. Frederick moved the Skene house, which was probably built before 1700 and attached it to the rear of the Soullard house and opened a tavern and hotel. During this time and into the 1800's it was also used for court-ordered property auctions by the High Sherriff of Annapolis County.
The Sinclair Inn can also boast as having the first Canadian Masonic Lodge meeting held in it in June of 1738 under Grand Master Major Erasmus James Philips.
Hotel Business
Pat, the Horse & Jack the Monkey pose for a picture with Bill Edwards at the Farmer's Hotel
The property continued to serve as a hotel for over 200 years under several owners. Some of the owners and or managers include:
Frederick & Mary Sinclair owned the hotel under the name The Sinclair Inn between 1781 - 1818.
Antonio Gavaza owned and leased the hotel under the name The Provincial House between 1818 - 1858. Simon Bishop listed as lessee until he bought it in 1858, but he could not afford to keep up the mortgage in 1959.
William & Mary Anderson owned and operated the Hotel under the name The Temperance House from 1863 - 1875.
Property was left to William's wife and son Eben after his death, who ran the hotel under the name The Anderson's Hotel until 1896.
In 1897 the property was bought by David Riordan, whose family was well known in the hotel business of Annapolis Royal. They owned or managed the Dominion Hotel, the Queen Hotel and the Clifton House. They sold the Sinclair Inn in 1910
William "Bill" Edwards owned and operated the hotel under the name The Farmer's Hotel from 1910 - 1922. Bill loved animals and had a pet monkey, Jack who always sat in the window of the hotel and his horse Pat who was said to be very smart and was featured on the calendars from the Farmer's Hotel. Pat died in May 1919 at the old age of 20 years and Jack died when he fell off the front of Bill's car and was run over on the way back from the Yarmouth Exhibition in October 1915. Jack was stuffed and again sat in the front window of the hotel.
James & Lalia Wallace owned and ran the hotel under the name The Annapolis Royal Hotel from 1922 - 1938.
Stewart & Jean Mills bought the hotel in 1938 and Jean ran the hotel which boasted several rooms and a large dining room. Much of her clientele at the Inn came from the crew of the large ships that came to port to load pulp wood. Stewart obtained the ford dealership for Annapolis County and ran the service station for Irving Oil located across the street from the Inn. From his office in the service station he also ran several other businesses including a mail transport, trucking operation, taxi stand and bus transportation. Stewart died in 1956 and the hotel was sold to Ruth Eisenhauer. This was the last of the building operating as a hotel.
The Museum Now
My nephew, Jason poses in front of old Farmer's Hotel sign
The Sinclair Inn Museum is a little different than your normal museum today. With the age of the two buildings that make up the Inn and the different building materials and techniques used over the years it was felt this would be the perfect place to demonstrate all this.
When you enter the museum you will notice that even though the building has been renovated and supported to withstand modern day traffic going through it, everywhere you look you will see fine examples of the original building materials that were used. There are glass windows in the walls and on the floors that show through to the original materials and building techniques used in the building.
Some of these materials or techniques date back to the early 1700 when the house was built by the Acadians. Through the years a second house was attached to the original one plus lots of changes and redecorating was done in the building. Examples of all of it are on display in the museum with interesting interpretive signs to explain how it was done.
You will be able to follow the evolution of the building from a very rustic Acadian cottage through the progressions and architectural refinements throughout into a fine first class hotel.
But that is not all there is to see in the Sinclair Inn museum. You will find a variety of interesting artifacts and information throughout the building. One thing I found very interesting is several panels showing steps in history and where the Sinclair Inn was involving throughout that history. You get not only a history of the building and the town, but also a bit of world history so you can put in perspective a time frame for the events.
The Ghost of The Sinclair Inn
An Example of the Windows Showing Old Building Materials and Techniques
One of the most interesting features of the Sinclair Inn Museum is the many ghost within the building! Yes there are real ghost in the museum, ten of them in fact! Plus you are guaranteed a chance to see them in person and hear their own personal story!
Because of a unique interpretive technique many of the ghosts of the building have been brought to half-life to tell their story. These are all people who used to either live or work at the Sinclair Inn since its construction in 1710 up until the 1950's. You will learn the history of the building and the town from the people who actually lived during that history.
Here is a sample of one of the ghost found at the museum:
So I hope when you plan your visit to the Annapolis Valley you will include time for a visit to the Sinclair Inn Museum, I think you will really enjoy it. This is one museum that you can take the kids to and they will also enjoy the experience.
