Nova Scotia Archives

Built Heritage Resource Guide

Building Materials - Wood, Brick and Stone

On Sunday 5 April 1891, census enumerators spread out across Nova Scotia to collect the data needed to compile the federal census for that year. The specific moment in time that they captured that early spring day included valuable insight into the province's building stock.

The population for the province in 1891 totalled 450,396 individuals; they occupied 78,433 houses; and the majority of those structures were wood-framed:

  • 77,955 (99.4%) wood-frame
  • 257 (0.3%) brick
  • 154 (0.2%) stone
  • 67 (0.1%) building material not identified.

The statistical details printed in the Census of Canada 1890-91 provided additional information on the province’s homes by identifying the total number of rooms in each house:

  • 785 (1.0%) 1 room
  • 4,204 (5.4%) 2 rooms
  • 6,622 (8.4%) 3 rooms
  • 12,041 (15.4%) 4 rooms
  • 10,159 (12.9%) 5 rooms
  • 39,349 (50.2%) 6-10 rooms
  • 4,446 (5.8%) 11-15 rooms
  • 657 (0.9%) 16 or more rooms

Of the total number of dwelling-houses, 3,144(4.0%) were currently uninhabited and 1,225 (1.6%) were under construction. The majority of homes had 6-10 rooms, with smaller houses of 1-5 rooms following close behind.


"Very Old Log House"

Date: 1935

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives Photo Collection: Places: Bedford: Ternan Property, #4

Topic: Building Materials - Wood, Brick and Stone / Log


Front View of "Very Old Log House"

Date: 1935

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives Photo Collection: Places: Bedford: Ternan Property, #3

Topic: Building Materials - Wood, Brick and Stone / Log


"The Early Scotch Settlers"

Date: May 30, 1896

Reference: Morrison PapersNova Scotia Archives MG 1 vol. 706 no. 40

Topic: Building Materials - Wood, Brick and Stone / Log


Petition of W.K. Reynolds and Others, Owners of Stone and Brick Buildings in Halifax

Date: 4 March 1820

Reference: Legislative Assembly of Nova ScotiaNova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series P vol. 1 no. 70

Topic: Building Materials - Wood, Brick and Stone / Stone


"The Almon House, at the S.W. [South West] Corner of Argyle & Prince Streets, Halifax, NS"

Date: 10 May 1928

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives Photo Collection: Places: Halifax: Houses: Almon

Topic: Building Materials - Wood, Brick and Stone / Stone




"Quarry Wallace"

Date: 1930s

Photographer: Clara Dennis

Reference: Clara DennisNova Scotia Archives accession no. 1983-468 no. 155

Topic: Building Materials - Wood, Brick and Stone / Stone


"Quarry, Wallace, NS"

Date: 1930s

Photographer: Clara Dennis

Reference: Clara DennisNova Scotia Archives accession no. 1983-468 no. 158

Topic: Building Materials - Wood, Brick and Stone / Stone


"Quarry at Wallace"

Date: 1930s

Photographer: Clara Dennis

Reference: Clara DennisNova Scotia Archives accession no. 1983-468 no. 159

Topic: Building Materials - Wood, Brick and Stone / Stone


"Stone House at Middle River"

Date: 1930s

Photographer: Clara Dennis

Reference: Clara DennisNova Scotia Archives accession no. 1981-541 no. 662

Topic: Building Materials - Wood, Brick and Stone / Stone


"Old Stone House, Avondale, NS"

Date: ca. 1963

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives Photo Collection: Places: Avondale Road: Houses: Old Stone

Topic: Building Materials - Wood, Brick and Stone / Stone


"House of Beach Stones at Pembroke Intervale, Yarmouth, NS, near Chegoggin"

Date: 1930s

Photographer: Clara Dennis

Reference: Clara DennisNova Scotia Archives accession no. 1981-541 no. 456

Topic: Building Materials - Wood, Brick and Stone / Stone


"Old Smyth House, Port Hood, Cape Breton"

Date: 1930s

Photographer: Clara Dennis

Reference: Clara DennisNova Scotia Archives accession no. 1981-541 no. 10

Topic: Building Materials - Wood, Brick and Stone / Stone


Sperry Gyroscope Company of Canada, 1684 Lower Water Street, Halifax, NS

Date: ca. 1967

Photographer: M.E.B. Martin

Reference: Heritage Trust of Nova ScotiaNova Scotia Archives accession no. 1982-560 no. 35

Topic: Building Materials - Wood, Brick and Stone / Stone


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