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Our
Organization
NSFGA
| NSTFRF
The
Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Association
Location
| Board of Directors | Meet our Growers
| Staff | Grower
Testing Association | Orchard
Tours | NSFGA Events | History
of the NSFGA | Blair
House Museum | Membership | Contact
Us
The
Blair House Museum
On May 29, 1981,
during the celebration of the 50th Apple Blossom Festival,
the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Association opened the Blair
House museum to the public. The museum was created to preserve
and display the history of the apple growing industry and
of the Research Station. The Blair House Museum, located
on the Kentville Agricultural Centre grounds, offers both
an interesting and educational look at the history of the
apple industry in Nova Scotia, as well as the modern research
being performed at the Kentville Agricultural Centre.
The museum was
named after the station's first superintendent, Dr. William
Saxby Blair. Constructed in 1911, the house served as the
superintendents' residence until 1979. The house was built
to accommodate more than a single family. In addition to
the living quarters, one room served as the station office,
and there were a spare living room, extra bedroom and bathroom
for visitors from Ottawa.
The NSFGA wing of the museum tells the history of the apple
industry in Nova Scotia through numerous pictures, stories
and artifacts. Apple barrel making tools, apple baskets,
apple peelers and even an old sprayer, show how things were
done over a half-century ago. The collection includes an
original Scotian Gold Cider jug, a pictorial demonstration
of apple barrel making, and a peek inside a turn-of-the-century
apple evaporating plant.
Featuring informative
photos and scientific instruments, the Agriculture Canada
wing offers a look at both past and present research performed
at the station. One room delves into the history of the
scientific research at the station by means of photos and
original equipment from each area of study. Enjoy the history
of an old camera, balance scales, and microscopes. A second
room boasts new and colourful pictures that show the current
research being done on the grounds. All these rooms complement
each other in a way that offers visitors a well-rounded
look at the apple industry - past and present.
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