North Hills Museum’s Loyalist roots are showing

The summer fun continues at North Hills Museum with a Community Picnic on Sunday, July 27 from 2 to 5 p.m. This event is a celebration of the 225th anniversary of the arrival of the United Empire Loyalists in this region. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy an afternoon of music, food and socializing. The public is invited to bring a salad, cold dish or dessert while hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks will be provided. While there is no charge for this event, the museum will be open for visits and donations are gratefully accepted.

In 1783 approximately 1600 refugees landed on the shores of the Annapolis Basin. These refugees were part of a group which would become known to history as the United Empire Loyalists. In Nova Scotia, what began as a trickle of people looking to remain loyal to the British Crown at the start of the American Revolution, had, by 1783, developed into a deluge which would greatly tax the resources of this province. Despite many early hardships, the Loyalists brought with them a culture and range of skills and that have greatly influenced the development of Nova Scotia.

Included among the people fleeing the newly formed United States of America, were the Amberman family of Jamaica, New York. The family, who arrived with three children, settled in Granville Ferry and either built or inhabited the building that has become North Hills Museum. The Amberman’s and their descendants lived in this house until it was purchased by Robert Patterson in 1964.

The barbecue and buffet will begin at 2 p.m. with musical entertainment provided throughout the afternoon by various local groups. These will include The Granville Ferals, a community based band that has developed to include numerous instruments and vocals, "Musique 400" group, a troop of 15-25 musicians, singers, and dancers dressed in period costume, and Jeanne Doucette-Currie and Wayne Currie, well known and award winning local performers.

Visitors are invited to wear their heritage costumes to the picnic. It is also recommended that visitors bring a chair or blanket so that they can enjoy the afternoon under the trees on the front lawn of the museum. For more information please call 902-532-2168. North Hills Museum is operated by the Annapolis Heritage Society on behalf of the Nova Scotia Museum.