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The Blair
House Museum
On May 29, 1981, during the
celebration of the 50th Apple
Blossom Festival, the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers'
Association
opened the Blair House museum to the public. The museum
was created
to preserve and display the history of the apple
growing industry and of the
Research Station. The Blair
House Museum, located on the Kentville Agricultural C
entre grounds, offers both an interesting and educational
look at the history
of the apple industry in Nova Scotia,
as well as the modern research being
performed at the
Kentville Agricultural Centre.
The museum was named after the
station's first superintendent, Dr. William Saxby Blair. Constructed in 1911,
the house served as the superintendents' residence until 1979. The house was
built to accommodate more than a single family. In addition to the living
quarters, one room served as the station office, and there were a spare living
room, extra bedroom and bathroom for visitors from Ottawa.
The NSFGA
wing of the museum tells the history of the apple industry in Nova Scotia
through numerous pictures, stories and artifacts. Apple barrel making tools,
apple baskets, apple peelers and even an old sprayer, show how things were done
over a half-century ago. The collection includes an original Scotian Gold Cider
jug, a pictorial demonstration of apple barrel making, and a peek inside a
turn-of-the-century apple evaporating plant.
Featuring informative photos and
scientific instruments, the Agriculture Canada wing offers a look at both past
and present research performed at the station. One room delves into the history
of the scientific research at the station by means of photos and original
equipment from each area of study. Enjoy the history of an old camera, balance
scales, and microscopes. A second room boasts new and colourful pictures that
show the current research being done on the grounds. All these rooms complement
each other in a way that offers visitors a well-rounded look at the apple
industry - past and present.