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Birchtown, Black Loyalist Landing

  
 

The Society was formally incorporated in 1991, when a few concerned citizens gathered in the interest of preserving Birchtown's historical significance, which was being threatened by a proposed Land Fill. They formed the Shelburne County Cultural Awareness Society, which changed its name in 1999 to the current Black Loyalist Heritage Society. 

The Society is a national not-for-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors, elected annually from among the Membership.

Their offices are located at 104 Old Birchtown Road, in the center of a Site designated to honor our Black Loyalist ancestry. Also located on-site is the Black Burial Ground; St. Paul's Anglican Church; a Heritage Walking Trail and the Heritage Museum & gift shop.  

Birchtown is located

There are also the National Historic Monument, the Birchtown Old Schoolhouse Black Loyalist Museum and the St. Paul'sChurch located on the Old Birchtown Road.

 ACHIEVEMENTS
1992
  • Blocked proposed landfill on historic Black Loyalist Land Grant area.
  • 1992 to 2002 Site of the first Black Loyalist archaeological dig under direction of Archaeologist Laird Niven (Ongoing)
1994
  • Archaeology field school conducted by Dr. Steven Davis, St. Mary's
    University
1995
  • Society Member and Educator Ken Brown introduced first accredited
    Black History course
1996
  • Two Monuments placed on "Old Black Burial Ground" by Canadian
    Historical Sites & Monuments Board honoring the Black Loyalists
  • Acquisition of St. Paul's Anglican Church
1997
  • Acquisition of Old Birchtown Schoolhouse
  • Archaeology confirms Birchtown as a Historical Site
  • Birchtown Tourism Site plan developed
1998
  • Society President Elizabeth Cromwell receives the first Volunteer Nova Scotia Multiculturalism Award.
  • Partnership with Nova Scotia Museum's Project "Remembering
    Black Loyalists, Black Communities"
1999
  • Establishment of Marjorie Turner-Bailey and Alferetta Anderson Image Awards.
  • Black Loyalist Registry launched
2000
  • Four members of Black Loyalist Community are trained for genealogical record searches
2001
  • Youth Initiative Project piloted
  • Society receives Charitable Status
2002
  • Construction of on-site hiking trail, washroom facilities, gift shop and additional offices begins
  • Staff trained in Global Positioning (GPS) and Geographic Information (GIS) Systems Technologies
 


Birchtown Bay