Pictou Advocate article from 28 December 1933 describing the Norway House and its significance to the town of Pictou.

Built by Mortimer Owned by Strathcona, by Hon. E. M. Macdonald, K.C., P.C.

On the forefront of what is now the Odd Fellows Home and looking out upon Pictou Harbor and upon the three rivers that enter into it, stands Norway House intact, just as it has stood for over one hundred and fifteen years

It was built by Edward Mortimer, a native of Banffshire, in Scotland who came to Pictou in 1788 when he was but twenty-one years old, in a trading schooner belonging to a firm of merchants in Halifax known at the Liddells.  He then commenced business as a partner with the but afterwards went on and continued on his own account and became the foremost merchant in Eastern Nova Scotia, concentrating at Pictou the trade of Northumberland Straits and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.  His first store which was also his home, was farther west than Norway House but as success came he moved his business to the point, where he had his stores close by the shore and where he build two long wharves out to the channel.  In 1796 a deed was given by William Gordon to Andrew Liddell and Edward Mortimer of the whole property containing one hundred and fifty acres and on April 7^th, 1798, Liddell released all his interest to Mortimer, who thus became the absolute owner, then years after he came to Pictou.  The cellar of the store can still be seen close to the Point, and out of it are growing trees which are gradually forming a small grove.  To his stores the people came in their boats down the West, Middle and East Rivers to bring along their lumber and to get their supplies.  He built ships to carry the lumber and other products to the Old Country and to bring out the Highlanders who spread over Eastern Nova Scotia and also the goods and supplies required for the settlers.  Some idea of the extent of his business may be gathered from the fact that in one year he is said to have used eighty vessels which he loaded at Pictou and other points with lumber for shipment abroad.

Dr. Patterson in his “History of Pictou County” gives details of the extent to which in a business way the genius and capacity of Mortimer dominated the whole.

Member of Legislature

In those days, well over a century ago, Pictou County formed part of what was known as the County of Halifax, and in 1799, at the age of thirty-two, Edward Mortimer was elected as one of the representatives of the County of Halifax in the Legislature and was continually re-elected until the time of his death twenty years afterwards.