Archelaus Smith Historical Society and Museum

05/20/2026

Meeting tonight!
Archelaus Smith Historical Society
Wednesday, May 20th, at 6:30pm, at the Archelaus Smith Museum
Guests and new members welcome!

05/15/2026

On this date, May 15 in 1735, Elizabeth Nickerson was born in Chatham, Barnstable County, Massachusetts. On July 16, 1752, at the age of 17, she married Archelaus Smith. With her husband away fishing in the Barrington area, she moved the family from Chatham to Barrington to join him. But he was unaware of this, and when he finally reconnected with them, he found them settled and doing well. They eventually moved to Cape Sable Island, occupying a large portion of land there. Elizabeth and Archelaus had 8 children - Susanna, Hezekiah, Mercy, Eunice, James, Stephen, Archelaus Jr, and Hannah. Elizabeth died on April 24, 1827 on Cape Sable Island at the age of 91.

05/13/2026

The Archelaus Smith Museum in Centreville, Cape Sable Island is hiring an attendant for the summer of 2026.

Employment is from June 30th to August 29th. Pay scale is minimum wage plus vacation pay, with a pay period every two weeks (70 hours).

The successful candidate will be an active student with an interest in local history as well as computer and social media skills. First aid course required.

Send resume by June 12th to Archelaus Smith Museum, 915 Highway 330, McGray Post Office, NS B0W 2G0. Or by email to [email protected] or [email protected]

05/12/2026

We’re having a meeting of the Archelaus Smith Historical Society on Wednesday evening, May 20th, at 6:30pm, at the Archelaus Smith Museum. We welcome guests and new members as we meet to plan our new season.

05/01/2026

Have you heard of the South Side Sea Monster? Listen to our museum friend, Linda Symonds, as she shares a tale of what people couldn't explain back in July 1976. Thanks, Linda, for sharing this and other interesting mysteries with our community.

15 likes, 3 comments. ""I Would Have Died a Horrible Death" - Cape Sable Sea Monster"

04/26/2026

Teachers and educators, we warmly invite you to book a class field trip to the Archelaus Smith Museum. Spring is here, and it’s the perfect time to start planning memorable learning experiences for your students!

Our museum offers students a glimpse into island life from years ago, featuring a wide variety of nautical artifacts, household items, and everyday objects that tell the story of our community’s past. It’s a hands-on way to connect classroom learning with real-world history.

To learn more or to book your visit, feel free to reach out. We look forward to welcoming you and your students!

04/23/2026

On this date, April 23, in 1734, Archelaus Smith was born in Chatham, Massachusetts. Deciding to move his family to the Barrington area, Smith spent the summer of 1760 fishing in Barrington. Unaware that her husband had decided Barrington might not be a good fit due to the threat of indigenous people, his wife Elizabeth travelled to Barrington with their family and settled in. When he finally reached her, he found them well cared for by the same people he had feared. They originally settled in Barrington Head in the fall of 1760, but in 1773, the Smith family moved to Cape Sable Island. Smith owned land from Northeast Point to West Head, as well as land in Lower Clark's Harbour, The Hawk, and a meadow in the centre of the island. The family home was built a little north of where the Centreville Baptist Church now stands. Smith was educated and highly respected by other settlers. He was known as a "good, quiet, easy, patient man", and often served the community as a magistrate and a minister for community services, marriages and funerals. His trade was tanning and shoemaking, and he would cure leather with lime made from local mussel shells. Archelaus Smith died April 3, 1821, in Centreville, Cape Sable Island.

04/22/2026

A huge thanks to Wilson's for the donation of a water cooler for the museum. We truly appreciate the support!