Two years after purchasing Janice's family homestead, the Durham couple had Thorbank Farm officially declared a heritage property by the two levels of government during a special ceremony.
"Janice's parents bought the property in 1959," said Ivan. "They raised their family here until 1999 and sold the property to another couple. Janice and I bought it in 2012."
The home was originally built in 1835 for James Ross, a Presbyterian minster, editor and educator. He graduated from Pictou Academy and went to a teaching position in Sackville before being ordained to the Presbyterian ministry at West River in 1835.
With Rev. William McCulloch, Ross worked on the founding of a Presbyterian theological seminary at West River for the training of local ministry. The seminary grew in size and eventually was transferred to Truro and later to Dalhousie College in Halifax. Ross retired in 1885 and died about a year later.
The Provincial Registry of Heritage Property is a list of properties that possess provincial heritage value. This includes any property or place that can be considered part of our built heritage.
Heritage value includes the architecture, setting, or historical associations that are important to Nova Scotia’s history.
Ivan said the house needed quite a bit of work when they purchased it in March 2012, but by July the couple was able to move into the home and continue working on it.
They kept as much of the traditional wood work as they could inside the home, including the crown mouldings and fireplaces. Provincial heritage properties are also required to keep the exterior of the building looking as original as possible including having the original windows in the home and footprint.
"The main concern is the exterior of the building," he said. "They don't want you to change the general character of the home."
Renovations to the three-bedroom home, which also has a kitchen, living room and dining room, are now complete with the exception of repair work to some of the crown mouldings.
"This house has character and we appreciate that," he said.
Representatives from the provincial and municipal governments were on hand during a brief ceremony Thursday to unveil the heritage plaques which adorn the side of the home.
"I want to thank Ivan and Janice for maintaining this historic property," County Coun. David Parker said. "I haven't been here in 14 years, but I am pleased to see property. I remember it fondly."
