July 17 - 20, 2008, Historic Shelburne was the site of a Grand Reenactment of the Loyalist Landing which occurred in Port Roseway (now Shelburne) in 1783 - 225 years ago..

...and I was there!!!

The warm sun of late afternoon danced on Shelburne Harbour as, in awe I arrived amid the setting of historical buildings. (Below - my view at dinner) 

I drove straight into Historical Shelburne, stopping at the corner of Dock Street and Mason's Lane, right in front a B&B that, was coincidentally 225 years old. 'Cooper's Inn' was originally the home of George Gracie, a founding Loyalist in Shelburne. Even though it was beyond my budget, I of course had to stay!!  Gracie, 'a man of note', elected and sat on the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, drowned 1807 making passage from Shelburne to Halifax for a sitting of the legislature. 

The Gracie Room (below) - mine for the evening!!

10,000 Loyalists landed in Shelburne after the American Revolution, among whom I was surprised to learn were over 3000 Black Loyalists. Nova Scotia is rich with the history and culture of Black Canadians, who originally settled in Birchville near Shelburne.    

Preparing for the Re-enactment

Bellringer Competiitors

There's a tale that tells of the natives (Nova Scotians) capturing travellers and plying them with famous Nova Scotia Beer. I wasn't sure if there was any weight to the tale - until it happened to me! At the pub where I had a dinner of mussels and beer, these locals, (below) among whom is an Irishman and some Connecticutt folk, invited me to their Trivia tournament (they're a great team!!) and kept the 'Alexander Keith's' coming!!! 

 That's the Irishman on the left - and below is his arm...

They then walked me to my room, which was the topping on a totally charmed day!

(... couldn't resist that!!!!!) 

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." -- Albert Einstein

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Deborah Pearce is a Kelowna Business Woman & webmaster established with locals and internationals in various aspects of Interiors, Art, and Business for over 20 years. LIVING SPACES features over 140 ARTICLES on Staging, Art and Interiors.

Deborah's blog frequently features interior design, real estate, community, environmental, internet, travel, art and human interests.  

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