Kings Historical Society

06/06/2026

Why visit a museum? This is why!

06/04/2026

Tonight! Hope to see you here at the Kings County Museum.

Send a message to learn more

06/03/2026

Did you know that Nova Scotia’s poor house system has roots stretching all the way back to the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century?

Before the Reformation, much of the care for poor, elderly, ill, and disabled people in Britain was provided by Catholic monasteries and religious institutions. When the country abruptly shifted to Protestantism, it shut down monasteries, friaries, and convents which eliminated the primary source of support for people in need. Local governments and communities suddenly had to find new ways to provide aid for vulnerable people. Over time, this led to the development of locally managed systems of "poor relief”, which included workhouses, almshouses, and eventually poor farms.

A shift in values was evident. These new institutions were shaped by the growing influence of the "Protestant work ethic", which emphasized hard work, discipline, and self-sufficiency as moral virtues. Work was inherently virtuous (the nature of the work was less important) whereas idleness or perceived laziness was viewed as being 'of the devil'. Poor houses and similar institutions were therefore designed around the belief that poverty should be managed through labour, discipline, and moral reform. Inmates (for they were typically referred to as “inmates” rather than “patients” or “residents”) were frequently expected to perform physical labour, and conditions were intentionally austere.

The poor farms in Kings County (Greenwich, Billtown, Aylesford, and Waterville) were part of this larger history. This early system of social welfare was shaped by changing ideas about individual vs. communal responsibility, religion, morality, the role of government, and the root cause of poverty.

If you're interested in the history of poor farms and/or early social welfare in Nova Scotia, make sure to attend our presentation, "Forgotten Voices: Nova Scotia's Poor Farms" at 2pm on June 13th.

Image 1: Hermann Freihold Plüddemann's 1864 painting, "Luther vor dem Reichstag zu Worms" or "Luther at the Diet of Worms"

Image 2: "Charity, Nuns Distribute Food To The Poor On The Street" painted by Francois Bonvin in 1851

06/02/2026

Join me this afternoon beginning at 1:00pm for a read-in at John Lohr’s office (347 Main Street, Kentville). Demonstrations against government actions don’t have to be loud to be effective, but they do require people. Bring a book, bring your chair and bring your outrage at the attack on culture in Nova Scotia.

06/01/2026

Our first kids programming day is coming up on July 18th! ☀️

This program is all about agriculture; we'll be learning about the land, the food it grows, and all the amazing benefits nature provides 🌱🌾 Activities will include planting seeds, a nature walk, and a visit from the awesome folks over at Valley Waste, who are going to teach us about composting-- and guess what? They're bringing worms 👀

Register now to secure your spot!
Email [email protected] or call 1-902-678-6237

Open to kids 5-10
Drop off 1:00pm, pick up 4:00pm

05/27/2026

📬 Join us on June 6th at 2 PM for a fascinating look at the history of the postal system in Kings County with independent researcher Hugh Rathburn! From pre-Confederation mail routes to the present day, this talk will explore how the postal system connected our communities through the centuries.

📍 Kings County Museum
37 Bridge St, Kentville

For more information:
902-678-6237
[email protected]

Admission is by donation

05/26/2026

https://niche-canada.org/2026/05/26/public-talk-not-just-apples-survival-strategies-of-annapolis-farmers-before-world-war-ii/

4 June 2026 - Kentville, Nova Scotia - Before the Second World War farmers in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley grew apples to feed hungry people in Britain. That much is well known, but historian Jamie Murton will talk about how farmers not only produced a global commodity -- the apple -- but also gre

05/26/2026

A reminder that your Kings Historical Society Annual General Meeting is tonight! Tuesday, May 26th, at 7:30pm. Members will be treated to a sneak-peak of our new Poor Farm Exhibit and accompanying website, as well as tea and cake!

Not a member or need to renew? We welcome you to join or renew this evening.
Hope to see you all here.

📢 Upcoming event!

Over the last several months, our curator Kaleigh has been working on a research project funded by the Provincial Archives Development Program. After many hours spent rooting through archives, sifting through historic documents, and traveling to local historic sites, "Forgotten Voices: Nova Scotia’s Poor Farms" is finally ready to open to the public.

For those unfamiliar, poor farms were institutions created to house people experiencing poverty, disability, illness, old age, or other forms of social marginalization. Though they once existed in many communities throughout Nova Scotia, their stories are often overlooked or forgotten today. This project aims to explore not only the history of these institutions, but also the lives of the people who lived and worked within them.

"Forgotten Voices" is a multifaceted project that includes the development and launch of a new public exhibition here at the Kings County Museum, the identification and publication of archival records related to poor farms on MemoryNS, and the installation of QR codes at grave sites linking visitors to a new informational webpage about the history of these institutions. Additionally, Kaleigh has created educational materials and digital content designed to help share this difficult but important history.

We are excited to announce that the exhibition will officially open at the Kings County Museum on Saturday, June 13th! To mark the opening, Kaleigh will be giving a public talk about the history of poor farms in Nova Scotia, the research process behind the project, and some of the stories uncovered along the way. Afterwards, guests are invited to stay for a social hour to mingle, share stories and memories, and explore the exhibition.

📍 Kings County Museum (37 Bridge St, Kentville)
📅 Saturday, June 13th
🕖 2:00–4:00 PM
🪙 Entry by donation

05/25/2026

The 92nd Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival starts this week! Our summer staff members, Elizabeth and Jackson, are gearing up to celebrate! What are your favourite festival traditions? Let us know below!

05/24/2026

We’ve got something fun coming up this summer! ☀️

Starting in July, we’ll be hosting fun, educational, low-cost children’s programming on three Saturday afternoons throughout the summer. Designed for kids aged 5-10, this drop-off program will include snacks, hands-on activities, and all supplies provided. We’ll also be joined by some great guests from local community organizations!

Registration is now open. Email [email protected] for more information or to request a registration form. Spaces limited!