DesBrisay Museum
130 Jubilee Road B4V 3X9 Bridgewater, NS, Canada

In celebration of International Women's Day (and Women's History Month) and in recognition of the significant women of Nova Scotia, the DesBrisay Museum would like to call attention to our collection of material relating to the amazing life of Dr. Victoria Sarah Ernst. Victoria Ernst was born in Bridgewater in 1856 and worked as a teacher for 15 years before deciding to attend Dalhousie Medical School, graduating in 1900. Due to women not being allowed to practice in hospital...s at the time (and therefore not permitting her to serve an internship), Victoria returned to Bridgewater and became the town's first female doctor, specializing in women's health. Not only that, but Victoria also had a notable skill for real estate. She went on to own the largest number of residential properties in Bridgewater. Victoria adopted three children, and died on October 4, 1940 at the age of 85. Upon her death, her last will and testament was published (in its entirety) in the Bridgewater Bulletin, and openly stated that she bequeathed her properties to their appropriate renters, as well as to her children, extended family, the Dawson Memorial Hospital, and many other charitable organizations. Her philanthropy, talent, intelligence, kindness, and incredible spirit are recognized to this day, as, in 2008, the Town of Bridgewater named a street after Victoria Ernst in the Glen Allan subdivision. Item 2014.19.3 is the book "Anatomy: Descriptive and Surgical" by Henry Gray, which was used by Victoria Ernst in 1896 as she was studying at medical school.

Picturing Recreation South Shore poster update! Apparently it is March, who knew!? The exhibit is up from March 4-27 (NOT February )

Tuma Young shows us that science and medicine have been a part of Mi'kmaq heritage for thousands of years. Thank you Mi'kmaq History Month for creating these videos, and sharing Mi'kmaq plant knowledge!

Our exhibit Picturing Recreation South Shore is now on until March 27! Picturing Recreation South Shore is an exhibition of the photographs & stories of 12 newcomers to Nova Scotia. **Poster dates should read, March 4-27, 2021**... See the DesBrisay Museum's Facebook page for an updated poster! See more

ARCHITECTURAL TUESDAYS 164 Pleasant Street This house, built in 1879, is a combination of the original house and a later addition, with the original structure being the section with the gable roof and triangular Gothic dormer and the addition being the section with the gambrel roofed. Each window on this building comes complete with hood moulding.... Soloman Bent was a millwright and in 1879 he purchased the lot for $410. Then in 1886, Bent sold the lot for considerably more than what he purchased it for, indicating that the house was likely built while the lot was owned by Bent. In 1913, the house was sold to Coffill Family and stayed within the family for over 70 years. Under Joseph H. Coffill, a store, located on King Street, was opened in 1908. The J. H. Coffill shop dealt in bicycles in its early years and eventually branched out into selling marine engines and even radios. Brought to you by the Bridgewater Heritage Advisory Committee

DesBrisay Museum, Bridgewater

THROWBACK THURSDAY. This picture was taken in Spring of 1949 at the corner of King and Dufferin Streets for the annual Kiwanis street parade for Memorial Ball Park. Town of Bridgewater Patrick Hirtle - Bridgewater Communications Manager Bridgewater Area Chamber of Commerce South Shore Genealogical Society

Are you teaching or learning about Black history for African Nova Scotian Heritage Month? We have resources to help! Our website features photographs, documents..., newspapers and other records to support all levels of learning. Our most recent addition, Looking Back, Moving Forward: Documenting the Heritage of African Nova Scotians, is a great place to start. https://archives.novascotia.ca/african-heritage/ See more

STORM DAY! The museum will be closed to the public today, Tuesday, February 2, because of the inclement weather. Stay safe out there!

ARCHITECTURAL TUESDAYS 26 Elm St. This home at 26 Elm Street was built in 1915 in the Greek Revival architectural style. The home features a central, open pedimented dormer with dentils. The central dormer is flanked by smaller dormers with segmental pediments. The main door is Adamesque style, which is an 18th-century neoclassical style of interior design and architecture, inside a stately portico with classical columns. Two large open verandas stand on both sides of the ho...use. Early windows and trim are present on this home. The residence of E.D. Davison Sr. (the lumber baron) once stood on this property and was called 'Oak Hill'. His son Fred Davison built this home in 1915. Brought to you by the Bridgewater Heritage Advisory Committee

Alice Hagen was a Nova Scotian artist born in Halifax who lived, taught, and sold her art in Mahone Bay from 1931 to 1972. This video features over 90 photograp...hs of Alice's artwork from various organizations and private collections. Thank you to everyone who contributed photographs to this project, including the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, MSVU Art Gallery, DesBrisay Museum, and Nova Scotia Museum. See more

THROWBACK THURSDAY. This photograph was taken circa 1930 of the Bridgewater High School's Women's Basketball team. The Women have been identified as (Left to Right) Barbara Trites, Laura Pamenter, Helen Reeves, Sylvia Mulock, Lenore Archibald, Ruth Mcdormand, Helen Corkum, and Eileen Joudrey.(98.2.3) Town of Bridgewater Patrick Hirtle - Bridgewater Communications Manager Bridgewater Area Chamber of Commerce South Shore Genealogical Society

ARCHITECTURAL TUESDAYS 613-616 King Street The federal style building on 613-616 King Street was designed by David Ewart and was built in 1909 by builders Faulkner and MacDonald. The buildings bold architecture resulted in it becoming a significant landmark in Bridgewater. This building was built in the federal style, with the ground level windows featuring a round headed shape with stone arches. The foundation of the building is made from local granite and the face of the bu...ilding features red sandstone, which was likely quarried from Annapolis Valley. There structure also has a Dentilled Cornice, which is the small tooth like decorative block design that crowns the building. There was once a clock tower on this building, but it was removed in the 1950’s. This municipally registered heritage property originally served as a Post Office and continued to until 2010. The building now has commercial space, utilized by business’ such as Digital Fusion, and has some apartment spaces as well. Brought to you by the Bridgewater Heritage Advisory Committee

Time to write your letter to Santa! Drop it in our beautiful Santa mail box and check out our Christmas display featuring Judge DesBrisay beautiful sleigh! Santa letter deadline is December 10... Address your letter to: Santa Claus North Pole H0H 0H0 Canada Make sure to add your return address! We have a letter writing spot set up if you need supplies! We also had fun filming a holiday greeting from the DesBrisay Museum family this morning with Eastlink TV! It will be airing through the month of December