Provincially Registered Property
The Esker
Sable River, Nova Scotia
Front and south-east side of The Esker, Sable River, NS, 2004.
Photo: Heritage Division, NS. Dept. of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, 2004.
- Recognized
- 1988
- By
- Province of Nova Scotia
The register’s text, word for word
Description
The Esker is located on a hill overlooking the west side of Sable River, Shelburne County. This Cape Cod Style house was built by Stephen Harrington, a master shipbuilder, around 1825. The building and property are included in the provincial designation.
Heritage value
The Esker is valued for being one of the few "full Cape" colonial style houses remaining in Nova Scotia, appearing much the same as it did when it was originally built.
The Esker is closely connected with the history of Sable River, a community settled by New England Planters from the Liverpool area. Among these settlers was Stephen Harrington, a master shipbuilder, who established a shipyard on his lot where it fronted the river and launched his first schooner from there in 1828. The house, built around 1825, was built further back on his lot and remained in the possession of his decendants until 1963.
The touch of a master shipbuilder is evident in the superb craftmanship of the parlour mantel and minister's cupboard which have remained intact. The stairs and keeping room hutch, exposed ceiling beams and much of the wainscoting are all original.
The Esker was so named as Harrington had built the house on an esker (a long, winding ridge of stratified sand and gravel occuring in glaciated and formerly glaciated regions of Europe and North America). The Esker is a landmark in the Sable River area.
SourceProvincial Heritage Property files, no. 65, Heritage Division, 1747 Summer Street, Halifax, NS.
Character‑defining elements
Character-defining elements of The Esker relating to its Cape Cod style include:
- steeply pitched gable roof;
- large central chimney;
- five bay symmetrical facade with a central Bible door and transom;
- four 6/6 windows;
- stone fireplace;
- interior decorative elements such as the still intact, handcrafted parlour mantel and minister's cupboard;
- interior structural elements such as the original stairs, keeping-room hutch and exposed ceiling beams;
- landmark location on an esker hill with river access.
End of the register’s text
Location
296 No. 3 Highway, Sable River, Nova Scotia, B0T, Canada
43.83240° N, 65.05720° W
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From the Canadian Register of Historic Places, as last updated on December 12, 2025. The register’s text is shown word for word.