This project is made possible with funding from The National Trust for Canada, Ecclesiastical Insurance of Canada, and from The Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia.
Ce projet est rendu possible grâce au octroits de la Fiducie Nationale du Canada, les Assurances Ecclésiastiques du Canada, et le Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia.
The History
La Vieille Maison
La Vieille Maison is located in the village of Meteghan, in the Municipality of Clare, in the County of Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada.
It is located at 44°11'26.14"N 66° 9'26.38"W,
Civic 8312 Highway #1
PID 30071336
Bonaventure Robicheau
Bonaventure Robicheau's original re-settler homestead stood on this lot, an original concession of land from the British. The home was built circa 1790 and demolished in 1921 leaving only the stone foundation.
Archeologically speaking, everything under the current wooden structure is germaine to Bonaventure Robicheau's tenancy. Additionally, the parcel is located near to known pre-settler encampments in Meteghan.
Baromar Comeau
The original re-settler homestead of Baromar Comeau, built circa 1796*, as it stood derelict in Comeauville in 1958.
*Note: Some records indicate the age of the Baromar Comeau home to 1768. Accurate dendrochronology would have to be done to confirm the age of the structure.
Adolphe Robicheau
In 1958, acclaimed Boston dancer and Meteghan native Adolphe Robicheau purchased the empty Bonaventure lot from his sister. He then set out to find the oldest and most identical home in Clare, and purchased the Baromar Comeau home from Edouard Theriault. The house was dismantled and moved to Meteghan by truck before being reassembled like a huge jigsaw puzzle, on the historic Bonaventure foundation.
From 1959 to 1978, La Vieille Maison operated as a seasonal living-museum and repository of community antiquities, personally curated by Adolphe and his partner Arthur Vaillancourt.
Historical Society
In 1978, following Adolphe Robicheau's death, La Vieille Maison became the property of La Societe Historique Acadienne de la Baie Sainte Marie, which he had helped to create for this purpose several years earlier.
The museum operated as a seasonal attraction, repository of community antiquities and Tourist Information Bureau until 2001.
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Under this stewardship there have been two federally funded restorations. The first in 1983, which saw major repairs over a three month period, and again in 1991.
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The small group of aging volunteers faced organizational fallout in 2001. There were many factors. A clause on the Deed forced the group to return the Title to Adolphe Robicheau's respective heirs.
The 20 Year Enigma
After the Historical Society, ownership of the parcel defaulted to the respective heirs or issues of Adolphe Robicheau's biological sibblings. By 2002, this was already over a dozen people, dispersed all over the United States, octogenarians who did not necesarily know eachother, or even know they owned a stake in a historic property in Nova Scotia.
There had been previous attempts to revive the museum, but without the consent of the entire constortium, nothing could ever happen.
TODAY
In Clare, a small group of volunteers had been working to solve the legal issues. Through the magic of social media, two of the children of the previous owners found this initiative by complete chance. They became interested, and joined our mission to clear the legal obstacles save this house. By lobbying with us, they were able to purchase the property by a Special RFP issued by the Municipality of Clare in February of 2022. A condition of which was to work with a local group of conservationists. The property is now owned by Katherine Marsh and Chrisanne Craven, both of the USA and both respective issues eligible to hold the Title, ending the 22 years of legal gridlock preventing access.