It Took a Nova Scotia Man 30 Years to Restore This Historic 300-Year-Old Home Once Owned by the King of England

Every now and then, you come across an expensive product that just doesn’t seem like it should be all that expensive. And every now and then, you come across something that looks like it’s worth every penny. We feel that the house we’re about to show you leans towards the latter.

Believed to be one of the oldest in Nova Scotia, this Avondale home is now on the market for the relatively low price of $2 million.

“As far as I can find in any research I have done, it is the oldest building east of Quebec City,” said owner Sherman Hines who bought the house in 1982 for $15,000 and has been restoring it ever since.

Hines’ home was built by French settlers as a mission and a fort against the British and is believed to date back as far as 1699, according to CBC News.

See a walk-through of the house [via CBC News]:

“We drove up and I crawled around in this basement, it was full of mud and debris. I was doing kind of a duck walk around, I couldn’t stand up, and I fell in love with it,” Hines said, referring to when he first bought the property, which comprises seven buildings.

After he bought the house, dubbed “The Mission,” Hines spent the next 25+ years restoring it to its original condition, which included hunting down period furniture.

“Part of my fun is saving the buildings, the other part is finding the materials to fix them up with,” Hines said.

The Daily Mail provides some historical background on “The Mission”:

The Mission is listed with Tradewinds Realty and according to the company’s website it was constructed at the request of Abbe Le Loutre, a few miles from Grand Pre, the famous site of the expulsion of the Acadians in 1755 – 1758.

In 1755, the Mission and land became property of the King George II of England and the Chancery.

By 1760 the Township of Newport was created and the home and land was granted to two young men from Rhode Island, named Aaron Butts and George Brightman.

If you’re interested in the house and you like the furniture, we have some good news: it’s all for sale. Everything. Why? Because now that their children are grown up and moved out, the Hines feel they don’t need all the property anymore.

“It was mainly a place for the children. It’s a wonderful place for children to grow up, and now there are just two of us, and seven buildings, and we use three rooms,” he said.

“Hines says his first hope is that the house could become a museum. But if not that, it could be a winery or somebody else’s home,” CBC reports.

Check out the interior of “The Mission” [all photo via Tradewinds Realty, captions via Daily Mail]:

"Bench space: A large island bench, pictured, provides optimal space for cooking"

"Living area: The home has lots of space for a big family"

"Fire: The owners keep warm in winter with raging wood fireplaces, pictured"

“Dining: The dining room, pictured, would be a splendid place to host dinner parties for friends”

“Historic: The $2 million home in Avondale, Nova Scotia, is believed to be one of the oldest in the province”

“Comfortable: There are many comfortable living areas, pictured in the three bedroom home”

“Period: Mr Hines used period furniture, pictured, to maintain the home's integrity”

“Warm: The bedrooms are plush and have open fires and exposed beams, pictured”

“Ornate: The property has beautiful period doors and barrel ceilings”

“Cellar: The home boasts an incredible cellar with barrel ceilings, pictured”

“Ancient: The home, pictured, has ornate features including stained glass widows, pictured”

“Large: The large home is on a 105.8 acre block in Poplar Grove, Nova Scotia”

“Moose: The property stretches over 3,800 square feet and has three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms and a study, pictured”

“Hunting: The property is decorated with owner Sherman Hines' trophies from big game hunting, pictured”

“Love: Mr Hines said he instantly fell in love with the picturesque property and surrounds, pictured”

“Cabin: The home is decked out with classic furniture that makes it feel cosy [sic]”

“Country style: Mr Hines and his wife are downsizing after their kids moved out”

“Apples: The property has fruit trees including apple trees, pictured”

“Winery: Mr Hines hopes his home, pictured, will become a gallery or winery”

“Heads: Animal lovers may want to removed the moose and deer mounted on the walls, pictured”

“Original: The 1699 property, pictured, has many features that Mr Hine lovingly restored”

“Dusk: The view from the house, pictured, is spectacular in the evening”

“Kitchen: The property has been fully restored and comprises a beautiful country kitchen, pictured”

Comments (32)

Mr Sanders
Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:44am
To further comment…. a 2AM note….

Mr. Hines and his family put their hearts into this project. Anyone can build a house… but they built a home.
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ThoreauHD
Posted on June 27, 2012 at 12:06am
This is where all your Louisiana Cajuns came from.
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ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 10:53pm
Great place and incredible work on this guys part. However, I don’t know if King Edward had access to Sub-Zero appliances back in the 1600s…:) Oh yeah… the other problem with it… It’s in Canada. Another suicidal socialistic country… like I’d want to live there…NOT (even if I could afford it….LOL)
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- Conservative-Atheist
  Posted on June 27, 2012 at 11:04am
  Nice ignorant comment. Last time I checked Canada has a conservative government and the USA has Obama……..need I say more?!
  Report Post »
anotheritalianpoet
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 7:21pm
Nova Scotia is my favored Canadian province, having spent more time there than in others that I have visited. As far as old stone houses go they can be as warm and cozy or as cold as any. I have lived, when newly married, in a stone cabin built on a Pennsylvania hillside in the 1720s while attending college. Today, a one room log cabin restored by my wife’s father, my sons, and myself, serves as a family gathering place next to the wood and stone family home – the warmth of a home is what you make it, and that proceeds first from the heart. The Nova Scotian owner of this house could ask double his price and easily get it. He should be commended on his efforts, his fair price, and for wishing someone else a happy time in it. The few who love to lob grenades into the crowded thoroughfares of these “public” spaces, ought to perfect their restorations cleaning outhouses.
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- Pro-Palin
  Posted on June 27, 2012 at 12:05am
  Nicely stated anotheritalianpoet, this is a fantastic project and looks wonderful. most people have accomplished little in 30 yrs of their life but this person not only preserved a historic building but did something that he can be proud of.
  Report Post »
9stuff
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 6:22pm
A much better use of your time than sitting on your ass and watching stick and ball events on TV
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Hickory
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 5:54pm
Fantastic house. I love Canada except for the winters. When I worked up there, I froze my @$$ off during the winter.
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alrunner58
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 5:09pm
Absolutely gorgeous.
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CactusJack48
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 4:52pm
I noticed that the Kanooks aren’t as thorough as the UN would like. The last privately held firearm in Canada is hanging over the fireplace in one of the pictures. Lovely country, great house, but the Castle Doctrine doesn’t reach up there to allow the owner to keep safe what is his.
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- Conservative-Atheist
  Posted on June 26, 2012 at 5:10pm
  The last privately held firearm in Canada is hanging over the fireplace in one of the pictures
  
  What are you talking about? The conservative government in Canada just abolished it’s national gun registry.
  Report Post »
- Conservative-Atheist
  Posted on June 26, 2012 at 5:21pm
  Number of Privately Owned Firearms
  The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in Canada is 9,950,000
  
  Number of Privately Owned Firearms – World Ranking
  In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Canada ranked at No. 12
  
  http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/canada
  Report Post »
- CactusJack48
  Posted on June 26, 2012 at 5:38pm
  This is not freedom:
  
  On April 5, 2012, Bill C-19, Ending the Long-Gun Registry Act, came into effect. The key changes are as follows:
  • Removal of the requirement to register non-restricted firearms
  • Destruction of the existing non-restricted firearms registration records
  • Allowing the transferor of a non-restricted firearm to obtain confirmation of a transferee’s firearms acquisition licence prior to the transfer being finalized
  Until further notice, due to a Court Order issued by the Quebec Superior Court, residents of Quebec are still required to register non-restricted firearms with the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program.
  It is important to note that the new law does not change the requirement for all individuals to hold a licence in order to possess a firearm. The licensing, safety training and safe storage requirements for anyone who uses or owns a firearm continue to be in force.
  The legislation also does not impact registration requirements for restricted or prohibited firearms.
  Changes to firearms licence fee waiver
  Restricted and prohibited licence holders required to pay prescribed fee as of September 18, 2012.
  
  The Government of Canada has announced changes to the firearms licence fee waiver.
  
  Licences with Restricted/Prohibited Privileges:
  
  A fee waiver for renewal of Possession Only Licences (POL) and Possession and Acquisition Licences (PAL) with restricted/prohibited firearm privileges is in effect until September 17, 2012.
  Report Post »
- Conservative-Atheist
  Posted on June 26, 2012 at 5:56pm
  Who said it was? I was just pointing out that what you said was wrong. Hey, at least they’re moving in the right direction. Takes time for the conservative government to undo all the damage that the liberal government did.
  Report Post »
pap pap
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 3:48pm
I love it but I bet the heating bills are outrageous with all of that stone.
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- Melika
  Posted on June 26, 2012 at 3:57pm
  You’ve never lived in a stone house and believe the propaganda about wood houses.
  Report Post »
blackyb
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 3:46pm
That is what happens when Union Thugs do work, they take their time.
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- fancynancy
  Posted on June 26, 2012 at 4:48pm
  Can you verify the owner is/was a union thug? Or are you just posting mean comments… just to be mean?
  Report Post »
- jhaydeng
  Posted on June 26, 2012 at 7:53pm
  Not all union workers are thugs!
  Report Post »
kickagrandma
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 3:43pm
Any body out there know how to re-enable seeing videos? My cute little computer has stopped allowing me to play anything. Help, please!
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roadhog
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 3:34pm
One more Dum Queen Lover.
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- fancynancy
  Posted on June 26, 2012 at 3:45pm
  Don’t be mean. No one wants to see mean comments
  Report Post »
KAS_Wolf
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 3:31pm
Wow! Would make a lovely Bed and Breakfast/retreat. Add some horses or such for activities – or no activities and start a business.
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 3:21pm
Wish I had the money for it.
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Mr Sanders
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 3:15pm
Very nice! Exquisitely restored. I‘m sure there was plenty of hmm’ng & hah’ing about what to do here and there, lots of space for sure. A gem like this would definately need a friend in the engineering and masonry trade. [that's when someone steps up and says, "I know a guy." - hahahaha ] I wonder how he dealt with drain tile & sealing the walls to control his mud & water issues in the basement? A risky affair to encroach upon a stone-stacked foundation.

Whomever desires to purchase this property will certainly benefit!!
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Master_and_Commander
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 2:53pm
I love old historic houses like this, its so cool to see it restored to something as beautiful as this
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travis
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 2:26pm
i love this. history is awesome. as long as he didn’t get any federal aid to restore it.
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- thenizzutz
  Posted on June 26, 2012 at 2:50pm
  Its in Canada, so why do you give a crap?
  Report Post »
LeadNotFollow
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 2:25pm
…
WOW ! Beautiful !
Worth every penny of the two million price tag.
If I win a lottery, this home is mine.
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- lukerw
  Posted on June 26, 2012 at 2:38pm
  Tory loyalism lives!
  Report Post »
- CatB
  Posted on June 26, 2012 at 3:11pm
  It is beautiful .. would love to see it in the winter .,. from a picture. ;-)
  Report Post »
- lukerw
  Posted on June 26, 2012 at 4:53pm
  @CATB
  Oh, well…. we cannot agree upon everything: I like the French Influence in Europe, not Canada… and the Grosse Pointe, pseudo English, style.
  Report Post »

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