The Evergreen Story

Evergreen’s story arose from a tragedy. Lawyer Alexander James and his wife Harriet Hawthorn, after losing 8 children to disease, moved to the “country” to escape the unsanitary conditions of the downtown areas. James commissioned famed local architect Henry Elliot to design the new home, and Evergreen was completed in 1867. With their remaining three children, the couple began a new life where Alexander James became a Provincial Court Judge, the Schoolmaster of Dartmouth, the head of the Regatta Committee and the head of the Mechanics Institute (an early form of a trades school). Evergreen also was host to many a visit from the famous Joseph Howe as the Judge and Howe were known friends.

Evergreen House was later home to nationally acclaimed Nova Scotian folklorist, Dr. Helen Creighton. In 1928, Helen began collecting the folklore of the Maritime provinces and would enjoy a career that brought her international recognition and earned her the title, “Canada’s First Lady of Folklore”. With Evergreen as her base of operations and home office, Helen collected songs like “Farewell to Nova Scotia”, along with stories, beliefs, superstitions, cures, folk ways and history. She published this wealth of knowledge in numerous books. In an age when many rural homes lacked electricity, Helen also invited local singers to Evergreen to record their songs.

Helen Creighton’s folk song collection is legendary—approximately 16,000 songs and variants, but she is perhaps best known for her collection of tales of superstition. Her book, “Bluenose Ghosts”, continues to be a Canadian best seller. Local residents still remember coming to Evergreen on Halloween and being met by Helen dressed in a witch costume and telling ghost stories. It was also here in Evergreen that she had many paranormal experiences and heard three knocks, a “forerunner” of tragedy.

In 1978, Helen Creighton sold Evergreen to the City of Dartmouth, who purchased it with the support of the Nova Scotia Museum. The house is currently interpreted in its original Victorian style and is an impressive example of a mid-Victorian gentleman’s residence. The house is furnished with period antiques from the Museum’s collection and commands a fine view of Halifax Harbour.

Today, Evergreen is both a historic home open to the public as well as the headquarters of the Dartmouth Heritage Museum administration.

 

The Booth at Evergreen

Welcome to The Booth! Originally a servants hallway, we’ve repurposed this small closet into a recording studio for the public to use. Equipped with two microphones, recording software, and a soundboard to help you record! Special thanks to the Helen Creighton Folklore Society in helping us with the Booth.

Contact us for more info on how to book the booth!

DHM Locations Map

Location:

26 Newcastle Street
Dartmouth NS B2Y 3M5

Hours

Current Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 10am-5pm

Our gorgeous Helen’s Garden in the backyard is open for the public to visit!

If you have a tight schedule, please call ahead to book an appointment, and we can make sure we’re ready for you.

Regular Hours

Evergreen House is open year-round.

September to May
Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

July to August
Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Holidays

The Dartmouth Heritage Museum is closed on all public holidays.

Accessibility

Mobility: Evergreen House is unfortunately inaccessible for wheelchair users, and may be difficult for those with mobility issues, due to several staircases and changes in elevation. Helen’s Garden, the backyard, now features a staircase to help those with reduced mobility reach the lower garden.

Interpretation: Evergreen has spoken guided tours, and a written self-guided tour. These are in English. An audio tour is now available for the lower-level of the house, using QR codes which can be scanned with a smart phone. We do not currently have any sign language interpretation.

Low-Sensory Hour: Every Wednesday morning from 10am-12pm, we will dim the lights and quiet the museum to allow guests with sensory sensitivities to visit us without feeling overwhelmed. Self-guided tour booklets are available for those who prefer, or, if requested, a member of staff can offer a soft-spoken tour.

Admission & Gift Shop

Admission is Free for All – Donations Welcome!
We accept cash, debit and credit on-site for our Gift Shop. We do not currently accept Amex in the gift shop.