Brier Island
Brier and Long Island, Nova Scotia, Canada
Brier Island is where Joshua Slocum lived from age 8-16. It is where he worked in a cobbler shop alongside his father and could see boat after boat arriving in the harbour. There are many Slocum sites throughout Brier Island.
Key places of interest
Slocum Boot Shop
The Slocum Boot Shop historic site is located at 118 Water Street in Westport, Nova Scotia on Brier Island. This is where Joshua Slocum worked with his father. It is widely noted that he did not enjoy the life of a cobbler and it was one of the reasons he ran away for a life at sea.
Slocum Monument
This important site is a cairn of remembrance in honour of Captain Joshua Slocum and his journey around the world. It is located at Southern Point and overlooking Peters Island lighthouse where his grandparents used to be lighthouse keepers.
Former Baptist Church
Joshua Slocum references “the little church on the hill” in Sailing Alone, and this building still stands today. No longer a place of worship, but still a provincially-registered historic site. This is where the Slocum family went to church on Brier Island.
Hilltop Cemetery
The main cemetery on the island is located just up the hill from the former Baptist church. This is where the grave of Sarah Jane Southern is, Joshua’s mother. It is also where John Southern, his grandfather, is laid to rest.
Pew #13
The Southern family Pew is Pew #13. Formerly located in the Baptist Church on the hill, it is now located in the current Baptist Vestry at 13 Wellington St.
Islands Museum & Archives
Located in Freeport on neighbouring Long Island, the Islands Museum & Archives has a Slocum room. Operated by the Islands Historical Society, the Joshua Slocum Exhibit provides a wonderful historical context for the region.