Ross Farm Museum is celebrating its 50th anniversary next week, marking a rich history as a living museum.
In October 1968 the New Ross District Museum Society and the provincial government announced that they would restore the Captain William Ross house and farm buildings to establish the Ross Farm Museum; Nova Scotia’s living farm museum. In 1970 the property was transferred to the Province of Nova Scotia through the New Ross District Museum Society and the Nova Scotia Museum by the widow of a Ross descendant.
The museum is a working farm and gives visitors a look at agricultural life in the 1800s. On site are many old buildings including the original cottage where the Ross family lived, a blacksmith shop, school house, working stave mill and cooperage that produces barrels. Visitors to the farm will find a wealth of activities to keep them busy including wagon rides, interacting with costumed interpreters and getting to know a variety of farm animals.
Marketing and Communications Officer Matthew Gates says the pandemic has made it necessary to make some changes to the planned public celebration which was to be held July 11.
“We don’t know what our limitations will be yet so over the next couple of weeks I will be posting pictures and memories online about the history of the farm over the years and also encourage other people to share their memories of the museum,” he said.
Gates says that many staff members have worked at the farm for their entire career-some for 30 or 40 years- and the farm means a great deal to them so as soon as it is possible to do so holding a public event is in the books.
“The 50th anniversary is obviously a big deal for them and for our visitors too so it was kind of disheartening to not be able to host this event this year.”
Visit the Ross farm Museum Facebook page here.
