News Release Archive
NS MUSEUM--ROSS FARM MUSEUM CELEBRATES NEW ROSS ANNIVERSARY
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New Ross is celebrating its 180th anniversary as a settlement on
Wednesday, Aug. 7, and Ross Farm Museum, an essential part of old
New Ross, is celebrating with an old-fashioned tea party and an
historic re-enactment starting at 2 p.m.
The cast of characters includes Mary Ross, her sons George,
William and Edward, her daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Andrew
Keins and neighbour, Mrs. Ann Wells.
Captain William Ross and his family came to New Ross, then called
Sherbrooke, in 1816. He was granted 800 acres of land and brought
with him 172 soldiers to settle the area.
The family was a true military family travelling all over the
world before settling in New Ross. William and Mary Ross' six
children were born in Ireland, Surinam, England, Quebec, and New
Ross. Mary Ross was pregnant with their last child when her
husband died. She was left to raise her children and work the
farm alone.
Mary and William's son, Edward, kept a diary, starting in 1835.
The reenactment will be historically accurate thanks to the
details from the diary and letters belonging to the Ross family.
Imagine the year 1841 ... it is Wednesday, Aug. 7 and a visitor
from Dalhousie arrives by horse and wagon to take tea with Mary
Ross. The diary tells how important visiting was in the early
days. Neighbours often walked from Dalhousie, about 24 kilometres
away, to visit the Ross family.
During the reenactment, Mary Ross will read a letter by her son
Lawson who has recently returned to North America from Ireland.
In the same package he sent letters from relatives in Ireland
which Mary Ross will read aloud to her visitors. You can find out
how the crops were doing exactly 155 years ago, what the weather
was like and what happened during a grasshopper infestation. A
narrator will explain the proper, complicated tea custom of the
period and introduce the cast of characters Visitors are invited
to arrive dressed in period costume to lend an even more historic
air to the day.
After tea, the guests from Dalhousie will shop in Edward's store
and load up the wagon before heading home.
In addition to the re-enactment, the farm's daily activities will
continue. In the morning visitors can see the staff doing the
daily chores. All day the cooper will make barrels and the
woodworker and blacksmith will also be hard at work. Visitors can
see the oxen team working, tour the vegetable gardens, and watch
someone milking a cow and separating the cream.
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Contacts: Joan Waldron 902-424-7398
Sandra Creighton 902-689-2210
trp August 01, 1996 - 12:25 p.m.
