It has been my privilege and pleasure to occasionally show visitors around the Harris-Black house. My favorite part of the tour is helping people realize what life was like for the families that lived in the house in the late 18th to early 20th century. If there is one artifact that makes that point most strongly it would have to be the yoke. The idea of having to carry water for everything that water is needed for makes a powerful impression. ~ BHS Docent, 1795 Harris-Black House Museum
1795 Harris-Black House
John Harris, a “seafaring man",” and wife Sarah paid five pounds eight shillings for three acres of woodland and built this sixteen foot square house. They had six children. To our knowledge, of the many small early houses believed to have existed throughout the Cape, only one has survived. First used as a homestead dwelling, as it passed down through generations it was later used as a cranberry storeroom and a small forge. The house was eventually moved to its present location and restored by John MacKenzie. The BHS maintains it as part of the Windmill Village.