Description Impressive List of Cottages Still to Be Found In Pictou County

ONE OF SEVERAL FAMOUS old stone cottages in the town of Pictou , is well kept, strongly built in the 1800's. Still faintly discernible over the doorways are the ords, " Bank," " Saloon," and " Sadder" business carried on here in Pictou's younger days.

Impressive List of Stone Cottages Still to be found in Pictou county.

By Roland H Sherwood 

It is claimed that Pictou Co. has more old stone cottages than any other county in the province , and in a survey of these quaint and substantially built homes, erected in the 1800's the list is really impressive.

Within the town limits of Pictou stands the famous Norway House , now the Maritime Home for oddfellows. The orignal part of this home, is built from sandstone, brought out from Scotland as ballast in Pictou ships that took lumber out of the spot for the overseas market . While the home is not a cottage in the true sense of the word, such as many others scattered about the county its construction is such to warrant a place in this survey.
About a quarter of a mile away from the Norway house , and still within the town limits, is Sherbrooke cottage, now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Murdock MacCuish. This cottage has the arhitecture of the early days and is like the other stone cottages of Pictou, in good condition and shows the careful workmanship of those artists in stone, who built solidly *** over 150 years ago.

Along Pictou's Water St, two long stone cottages stand side by side , catching the tourist eye for their quaintness in the busy business section. These stone cottages look like a bit of the doorways, reveals waht business were housed within in the earlier days, such as " Bank" "Saloon" and " Saddler."

On Pictou's Front St., the second business street of the town another old stone cottage is now the City club ,and on Coleraine St., the old stone cottage that was formerly the Salvation Army Citadel, is now the Shire gift Shop of Mr. and Mrs Clarke.
Long, and still retains its old World Charm.

On george St., next to the Canadian Legion Hall, is yet another cottage of the same design. In the early days of Pictou , this spot was the site of George's Tavern. On Church St."Second Street" to Pictonians and almost across from each otherr, are two more of these stone houses . Both of these are larger than the stone cottages in the rural sections for they were used in the days of stage soaching as inns. One is the residence of Henry MacArthur, and the other the home of Micheal MacDonald. One of these was Linsay's Tavern in earlier times.

Passing out of town along the Haliburton road to New Glasgow , the Clarke home is another of this type. It stands on a high hill overlooking the fertile farmland, and is covered with a wealth of English vine. Three Miles further along, at Lyo *** Paragraph Cut off .

House on the Daniel Sutherland property , It stands in a pleasant delll between low hills. Visitors to this spot wonder how the stone for this cottage was transported so far in the old days, but in the case of this cottage there was no transportation problem, as the stone was found on the property in the great seam of sand stone that extends the length of tthe property. In a beautiful spot at West Branch another old stone cottage , built in 1834, from stone that came from a quarry on the land . This quaint little cottage is also vinecovered and presents a pleasing picture above the rustic bridge that spans the small stream that cut the property .

At Pictou Landing , on the Gratto property , is another of Pictou's Famous stone cottages in a senic spot that slopes down to the waters. In New Glasgow , the " Eastern Chronicle " Building is another fanhioned of sand stone .

These are a few of many stone cottages in Pictou County and one wonders why Pictou County has so many . Did all the stone masons settle in Pictou County? Or was it because stone of this type was more readily available? In some cases as noted , the stone was found on the property, but in the case of the Town of Pictou , Which has the greater number of these stone cottages , the stone was imported from Scotland , or brought in from the stone quarry at Lyons Brook.

The real reason for these stone cottages seems to be that the Scotch who settled this part of the province brought to their new " homes" the love of things they knew in Scotland. As Scotland has many stone cottages of such design as in Pictou Co., these early settlers first building their cabins , then prospering with the years, built the stone cottages they knew and loved in the homeland they had left.

They Built wisely and well, and their handiwork of the early years are still places of worth and beauty . They are cherished and kept in good condition by the owners who know the value of these famous stone cottages , and of their historical tie in with the hardy race that settled the County of Pictou.