top of page
DSC_9912.JPG

Historic Buildings

Fitzgerald House
Former Saint Thomas Anglican Church
Former Southville Church of Christ
Payson House
Riverside Baptist Church
Stephen Payson Homestead
Weymouth North post office / Little Library
Bayside Farm
Saint Peter's Church

Fitzgerald House

74 Fort Point Road, Weymouth, Nova Scotia, B0W, Canada

Fitzgerald House

Construction
1830/01/01 to 1835/01/01

Formally Recognized: 2001/04/02
Listed on the Canadian Register: 2004/07/29

The Fitzgerald House is a half-cape Greek Revival home situated next to the original Campbell family home in Weymouth North. The building and surrounding property are included in the designation.

The Fitzgerald House at Weymouth is valued for its age, relatively unaltered condition, and association with the Campbell and Fitzgerald families. The house was built in the early 1830s on land owned by the Hon. Colin Campbell. Sr. Campbell was a Loyalist lawyer who served as Collector of Customs, Judge of Probate, and represented Shelburne Township in the provincial legislature. The first resident of the house was Mary Killigrew, who probably was Campbell's nurse and maid and became owner of the home following Campbell's death in 1836. Upon Killigrew's death circa 1852 the house passed to Campbell's son, Colin Campbell who used it as a guest house and residence for his employees. Campbell Jr. was a successful merchant, shipbuilder and like his father, a Member of the Legislative Assembly. Campbell also founded a store at Weymouth, which continues today to serve as a store. Following his death in 1881 the house was sold to a locally well-known ship's captain Charles H. Fitzgerald.

The exterior character-defining elements of the Fitzgerald House include:
- sidelights around front door;
- six-over-six windows;
- cornice returns;
- form and massing.
The interior character-defining elements of the Fitzgerald House include:
- service window from kitchen to dining area;
- large planked floors.

Former Saint Thomas Anglican Church

4668 Main Street, Weymouth, Nova Scotia, B0W, Canada

Former Saint Thomas Anglican Church

Construction
1864/01/01 to 1864/12/31

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2004/08/04

Saint Thomas Anglican Church is a one and one-half storey wooden church with a projecting tower centred on the façade and pointed arch Gothic windows with hood decorative moldings. The church building stands on the main street of Weymouth, Nova Scotia. Both the church and the surrounding property are included in the heritage designation.

The heritage value of Saint Thomas Church is its historical role in the community. Built in phases, the nave of the church was constructed in 1864. It was built as a sister parish to Saint Peters Church in Weymouth North. Members in the Weymouth Bridge area could travel to Saint Thomas Church much easier than the long trek to Weymouth North. Much of the money raised to build the church came from local sea captains and ship owners. The church’s first minister was Reverend James Philip Filleul whose ministry in this region extended forty years (1852-1892). The church was deconsecrated in 1977 and currently functions as a community museum (see The Electric City).

The exterior character-defining elements of the former Saint Thomas church include:
- Gothic windows;
- detailed corner trim and cornice returns;
- balcony at the top of the steeple;
- Gothic design and tiny imitation windows in the spire;
- wooden double-doors with a Gothic flair;
- universal hood molds over all windows.

Former Southville Church of Christ

807 Langford Road, Southville, Nova Scotia, B0W, Canada

Former Southville Church of Christ

Construction
1889/01/01 to 1889/12/31

Formally Recognized: 1999/11/29
Listed on the Canadian Register: 2004/08/06

The former Southville Church of Christ, also known as Disciples of Christ Church, was constructed in 1889 on Langford Road in Southville. It is a one and one-half storey, wooden church with Greek elements. The heritage designation refers to the building and the building footprint only.

The former Southville Church of Christ, built in 1889, served as a place of worship for the Disciples of Christ and is valued for its history and ties to the local community. Reverend Donald Crawford began this movement in Digby in the winter of 1852 when he visited Southville and preached to small groups. This lead to the establishment of the first organized Church of Christ congregation in Digby County. Meetings were first held in private homes and as the congregation grew, so did the need for a Church of Christ building in Southville. Today it houses a museum.

The exterior character-defining elements of the former Southville Church of Christ include:
- corner trim with prominent entablature showing the protruding architrave, frieze board and heavy cornice return;
- nine over nine windows along the side
- four-over-four windows in the façade;
- heavy caps over the doors and windows.

The interior character-defining elements of the former Southville Church of Christ include:
- tin ceilings.

Payson House

4458 No. 1 Highway, Weymouth, Nova Scotia, B0W, Canada

Payson House

Constructed 1840

Formally Recognized: 1999/07/23
Listed on the Canadian Register: 2007/01/29

This New England Colonial style house is situated on a gentle slope overlooking the road leading from Weymouth to Yarmouth. The house, barn and property are included in the municipal designation.

Payson House is valued for its association with the first settlers in the Weymouth Bridge area and as a fine example of the homes that were constructed during the early development in the Weymouth Bridge area. William Payson built this house and barn in 1840 shortly after the construction of the Weymouth Bridge itself. The Payson family was one of the first families to settle in the area on the south side of the Sissiboo River.

Payson was the son of Loyalist Nathaniel Payson, and he and his brothers owned significant amounts of land in the area. This property is one of at least four remaining homes that were owned by Payson and his brothers, and like their other homes, it reflects the wealth of the family.

Payson House is also valued for its New England Colonial style architecture. The gables are trimmed with a distinctive bargeboard and an elaborate fan window is situated above the main doorway.

Character-Defining Elements
Character-defining elements of Payson House relating to its New England Colonial style include:
- symmetrical façade with gable roof and central entranceway;
- gables trimmed with a distinctive bargeboard;
- 4/4 windows;
- fan window situated above main doorway;
- location on a slope, near the main route from Weymouth to Yarmouth.

Riverside Baptist Church

242 Fort Point Road, Weymouth, N.S.

Riverside Baptist Church

Constructed 1873

?

The first congregation and structure on this site formed in 1799 when it was then known as the Weymouth Baptist Church. It is presumed that the first church on this site burned or was too small from the growth of the congregation, as the current church was built in 1827.
A close examination revealed a rubble stone foundation under the bell tower, while the rest of the building is on concrete, probably replacing the stone foundation sometime prior to the 1960s.
Still clad in its original wood shiplap siding, the building has all rectangular openings with heavy wood lintels. The corners all have wide board trim with double capitals under returned eaves. The front entrance is treated similarly, with small pilasters each side, each with a small capital. Above is a small flat pediment, slightly heavier than the lintels over the windows and belfry vents.
The bell tower, set about half its depth into the nave, serves as the entrance and has vents all around. It has no spire whatsoever. It's very unlikely to have been built "sans spire", meaning that it has lost the spire, whether through weather or microbial action (it rotted and either fell down or was taken down). Losing its spire to a gale is a common phenomenon in the Maritimes.

Stephen Payson Homestead

4471 Highway Number one, Weymouth, Nova Scotia, B0W, Canada

Stephen Payson Homestead

Construction
1840/01/01 to 1845/01/01

Formally Recognized: 2000/01/24
Listed on the Canadian Register: 2004/08/09

Built in Weymouth by Stephen Payson, the home is an ornate Greek Revival home. It is a well-maintained wooden home with a flared roof. Both the house and the surrounding property are included in the heritage designation.

Built in the early 1840’s the heritage value of this property lies in its well-maintained condition, architecture, and association with its original owner Stephen Payson. Payson was the son of Loyalist Nathaniel Payson, was appointed Justice of the Peace, and he and his brothers owned significant amounts of land in the area. This property is one of at least four remaining homes that were owned by Payson and his brothers, and like their other homes it reflects the wealth of the family.

The Stephen Payson Homestead is an ornate home built in the Greek Revival style, with a pediment above the porch, prominent cornice returns and belcast roof.

The exterior character-defining elements of the Stephen Payson Homestead include:
- pediment on the porch;
- fan window in pediment;
- side lights around the front door;
- flared roof;
- large six-over-six windows.

The Goodwin Hotel

Registry link

4616 Main street, Weymouth

The Goodwin Hotel

Constructed 1890

Not formally recognized

Since 1890 the Goodwin Hotel has provided comfortable lodging and fine dining. Original furniture reflects the charming ambiance of a bygone eras.

Weymouth North post office / Little Library

3 Fort Point Road, Weymouth

Weymouth North post office / Little Library

Constructed Circa 1908

Digby Municipality Registered 2022

The Weymouth North post office was constructed in 1908 as a service to the residents of the bustling community of Weymouth North. The post office was a daily hub for news and conversation for young and old. The post office was the harbor for many memories. Christmas was a special time with cards and letters and gifts anticipated for the Holidays.

Mail could be deposited during after hours by a mail slot opening in the door and a safe box inside that still exists. The office had several postmistresses over the years but Miss Jessie Falvay, known simply as Miss Jessie, is remembered very fondly. She was a fixture in the community and shortly after her retirement in 1965 the Post Office closed. The following year the Post Office was given to the Weymouth Garden Club and they made it into a community library and it remained a library until 1978.

In 2007 the Weymouth Waterfront Development Association became custodians of the building. They plan on opening the building as an interpretive center, focused on the special wetland environment that surrounds the property and the history of this special place

 Bayside Farm

580 Fort Point Road, Weymouth North, Nova Scotia, Canada

 Bayside Farm

Construction 1850/01/01 to 1860/01/01

Formally Recognized: 1999/07/19
Listed on the Canadian Register: 2004/07/09

Built in the 1850s, Bayside Farm is valued for its contribution to the growth of Weymouth’s tourism industry during the first half of the 20th century. The farm was operated as an inn in the early 1900s and was a popular summer resort offering five rooms upstairs for tourists.
A fine example of the Gothic Revival Style with Greek elements. It is a one and one half storey wooden building with a two storey extension on the side and sits on a large acreage in Weymouth North. Heritage designation is limited to the building and building footprint only.
Character-defining elements of Bayside Farm include the building form and massing with a rear ell and cross gable roof;
- heavy capping over the doors and windows and broad corner trim and cornice returns;
- window details that are character-defining include a front door equipped with transom window and sidelights, generally a 6 over 6 window pane arrangement for the main building and a triangular attic window on the side gable.

 Saint Peter's Church

5 Fort Point Branch, Weymouth North, Nova Scotia

 Saint Peter's Church

Construction 1879/01/01 to 1879/12/31

Formally Recognized: 2000/06/26
Listed on the Canadian Register: 2004/08/06

Located in Weymouth North, Saint Peter’s Anglican Church has steeply pitched rooflines, large decorative Gothic windows and many Gothic Revival elements. It is situated on a hill overlooking the Sissiboo River. Both the church and surrounding property are included in the municipal designation.

The heritage value of Saint Peter’s Church is associated with its age, history and ties to the community. It is also valued for its association with Rev. James Phillip Filleul, during whose rectorship it was constructed. Rev. Filleul was a key figure in the Anglican faith of this area. Four Anglican churches were built in the Weymouth area during his forty year rectorship (1852-1892).

The church stands on the site of the original Saint Peter’s Anglican Church that was built in 1792 on lands donated by of the Loyalist, and notorious, Colonel James Moody, who fought in the American Revolution. Col. Moody’s remains are buried in the cemetery that surrounds the church. The original church became too small and the present structure was built in 1879.

The exterior character-defining elements of Saint Peter's Anglican Church include: The exterior character-defining elements of Saint Peter's Anglican Church include:
- original form and massing;
- steeply pitched rooflines;
- large triangular hood adorned by a cross above the door;
- Gothic windows;
- cemetery consisting of a variety of headstones.

bottom of page