Website makes researching older homes easier

Nova Scotians interested in researching the history of their homes and properties now have a new Internet resource on their side.

The Built Heritage Resource Guide, created by Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management, will help Nova Scotians explore the history behind the province's older homes and buildings. From the French Colonial to the Tudor Revival, this online resource showcases four centuries of Nova Scotia's architectural heritage.

The guide introduces Internet visitors to the standard archival resources used in tracing the history of older homes, buildings and properties. Hundreds of digitized photographs and maps explore building materials, architectural styles and demonstrate how homes and communities are shaped by the passage of time, disaster, or the renovation of older buildings for reuse.

"Nova Scotia is a province that is moving forward while remaining committed to its rich heritage," said provincial archivist Brian Speirs. "Nova Scotians have invested heavily in their historical architectural heritage, whether it's a community church, a family home, or a long-standing business. These structures reflect our past, and through the Built Heritage Resource Guide, may reveal new chapters in the stories of our forbears."

The guide was created with a variety of researchers in mind. Students will find easy-to-access information and photographs. Community historians will discover new resources for local history, archeology, or genealogy. Developers and architects will draw on the guide for land development and reuse of existing structures.

The Built Heritage Resource Guide is available on the Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management website at www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual /builtheritage/.

The guide also links to related websites such as the Nova Scotia Historic Places Initiative at www.ns historicplaces.ca. This site includes the Nova Scotia Register of Historic Places, celebrating almost 800 designated locations throughout the province and providing useful information about maintaining heritage properties.

Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management acquires, preserves and makes available the province's documentary heritage. - Submitted