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At The Sign Of The Whale: Download
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Not far from Downtown Yarmouth is an interesting sight that you’ll not want to miss on your next visit to Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia. Just a few minutes drive North on Main Street (which becomes Route 1) you’ll see sitting atop a little knoll on your left and overlooking Doctors Lake a set of whale bones. This may be a common sight to local residents, but few know the story behind the whale bones, the people who have lived there, or the history of the amazing building in whose front yard the bones appear.
The whale bones we are referring to are the jaw bones of a baleen whale, also called whalebone or great whales. Baleen whales belong to the whale sub-order form theMysticeti, the largest species of whales, one of two suborders of the Cetacea (which includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises). The scientific name derives from the Greek word mystax, which means “moustache”.
The bones which we are referring to are part of a road sign for “At the Sign of the Whale Nova Scotia Crafts and Art Gallery”. The current proprietors Michael and Frances Morris opened their shop in 1981; however, theirs is not the original “At the Sign of the Whale”!
You see, Michael’s grandfather, J. Malcolm (Mac) Horton, ran “At the Sign of the Whale Antiques” in the same location prior to 1975. He had moved the business there in 1970 from its original location in Milton Highlands, Yarmouth County.
However the whale bones may date back even earlier to a curiosity shop which operated in Arcadia, Yarmouth County, in the early 1900’s!
In more recent years Michael and Frances have added another set of jaw bones to the side of their building. The jaw bones outside and whale vertebrae on display inside the shop provide ongoing fascination to visitors.
A report from the Nova Scotia Fisheries Museum in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia states that it is good luck to have your picture taken beneath whale bones. Many have availed themselves of this opportunity at the Sign of the Whale.
The history of the building is as interesting as the story of the whale bones!
The building which houses “At the Sign of the Whale Nova Scotia Crafts and Art Gallery” is a Provincial and Municipal heritage property. In fact it was declared the first provincial heritage property in the Municipality of Yarmouth, N.S. in 1989.
The land for the house was first purchased in 1792 by Jacob Tedford Sr., a Loyalist shoemaker who had first arrived in Shelburne, Nova Scotia from New York with his recently widowed mother and four brothers and sisters. The construction of the house, which is post and beam using pegs instead of nails, was probably finished about 1795 making this New England Colonial style home one of the earliest in the area.
I, Brian Hurlburt, have a connection to this house because Jacob Tedford was my 5th Great Grandfather!
All but two of the owners of this house from the time it was built until 1898 were shoemakers!
The various owners of the house were Jacob Tedford, Sr. 1792-1841 shoemaker; Samuel Soames Bain 1841-1871 shoemaker; Jacob Israel Phillips 1871-1878 shoemaker; James Bond Weddleton 1878-1885 sail-maker; Jacob Israel Phillips 1885-1886 shoemaker; Isaac M. Mellish 1886-1890 Methodist Clergyman; Jacob Israel Phillips 1890-1890 shoemaker; J. Harvey Cann 1890-1898 shoemaker; Israel K. Trask 1898-1916 butcher/farmer; Maggie W. Pitman 1916-1934 wife of Clement Pitman – butcher; J. Herman Gillis 1934-1957 butcher/merchant; John W. MacLeod 1957-1958 trader/horse farmer; Jennie MacLeod 1958-N/A married woman; Dora Elliot / Ruth E. Boyd N/A-1967 heirs-at-law of Jennie MacLeod; John William Morris, et ux 1967-1982 teacher; and now Michael and Frances Morris from 1982 to present.
It is quite interesting that the vast majority of the home owners were entrepreneurs and that the home remains a source of inspiration to all who visit.
While the upstairs is Michael and Frances’ family residence, the first story of this building has been turned into “At the Sign of the Whale Nova Scotia Crafts and Art Gallery” with Morris Pottery in the back wing.
When Frances and Michael Morris opened “At the Sign of the Whale” in 1981 they took as their mandate to handle Nova Scotia crafts and art exclusively, a mandate which they continue to uphold. Presently they carry the work of 150 craftspeople and artists from around the province including pewter, folk art, hooking, quilts, wood turning, wind chimes, jewellery, window ornaments, weaving, knitting, jackets, bubble glass and Nova Scotia books. Since 1983 At the Sign of the Whale has mounted regular art and craft exhibitions from solo shows by artists like Lucy Jarvis, Helen Weld, Clive Roberts, DeniseComeau and Lio Lo to group shows of the provincial organizations Nova Scotia Printmakers Association, Atlantic Spinners and Handweavers , and Nova Scotia Potters Guild. Several book launchings and signings have been hosted there such as Bob Brooks’ highly successful photography book Yarmouth County and, most recently, artist Cecil Day and poet Artis Bernard’s art book In Tandem.
Morris Pottery has been produced by Frances and Michael since 1976. The Morrises take custom orders for their pottery as well as for the other crafts and art which they carry, and ship throughout North America.
Their interest in preserving our built heritage led them in 1996 to begin “Yarmouth, N.S. Landmarks”, a series of pewter replicas of Yarmouth Town and County landmarks which are available only at The Sign of the Whale. This highly successful series is a feature of At the Sign of the Whale’s website www.signofthewhaleonline.com.
In its 27 years in business At the Sign of the Whale has stood for excellence in Nova Scotia crafts and art; its historic building is an added attraction. The next time you are in Yarmouth County be sure to visit “At the Sign of the Whale Nova Scotia Crafts and Art Gallery”.
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For YarmouthCounty.com, this has been Brian Hurlburt, and I invite you to Make it a great day!
Sincerely,
Brian Hurlburt
customerservice@yarmouthcounty.com
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Helpful Links
www.signofthewhaleonline.com
At the Sign of the Whale Online - N.S. Landmark Series Pewter Ornaments
