J. C. Williams Dory Shop:

For almost one hundred years the dory was one of the most important small boats in the Atlantic Provinces and parts of New England.

When John Williams' dory shop was established in 1880, it was part of a dory-building industry which, at its peak, included at least seven shops along the Shelburne waterfront.
During the early part of this century the Williams Shop employed five to seven men and produced 350 dories per year.
Most of these dories were sold to Nova Scotian and American fishing captains who called at Shelburne to outfit their schooners before sailing to the offshore fishing grounds.

Visitors to the Dory Shop can see from start to finish how dories were built.
The museum is managed by the Shelburne Historical Society for the Nova Scotia Museum.

Dory Construction & Restoration:
Milford Buchanan, who possesses an official Wooden Boat Building Certificate, as well as his work at the Muir-Cox Shipyard is also a Master Dory Builder. The Dory shop is still making traditional Shelburne Dories and Milford Buchanan is available to build you your own Dory.
Contact the Society to make arrangements.

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Contact the Society to reproduce any content.

(902) 875-3219
Shelburne.Museum@ns.sympatico.ca