Historic Inn
Questionnaire
Year erected: 1798
What is the history of the property?
Politician and sea captain Joseph Barss Sr. built his family home in 1798. With three-storeys, four rooms per floor, and a fireplace in every room, the Barss home was one of the largest in Liverpool. It still stands today and is part of Lane’s Privateer Inn, with original wooden beams found in front desk reception, the gourmet shop, and the corridor leading to the restaurant/pub.
Inheriting the family home from his father, Captain Joseph Barss Jr. lived in the Barss mansion with his wife Olivia and nine children until after the War of 1812. Often considered one of the most successful and well-known privateers, Barss captained the Liverpool Packet, capturing at least 50 enemy vessels. In 1813, following battle with an American ship that far out-sized and out-gunned them, Barss surrendered the Packet. After several months of harsh imprisonment, Barss was released on the condition he never command another privateer vessel. After the war, Barss settled in Kentville, NS. He passed away August 3, 1824, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery (Kentville).
A fantastic exhibit on Barss, Privateering, and a replica of the Liverpool Packet are on display at the Queens County Museum here in Liverpool. You can climb aboard the Packet and learn all there is to know about Privateering in Liverpool.
Are there any important guests or previous owners worth mentioning?
In 1947 Edgar and Helen Lane purchased a neglected rooming house with an eight hole outhouse in the backyard. This building was the former Barss mansion on Bristol Avenue.
The building was renovated to include a family apartment and the largest furniture store on the South Shore, which was located on the first floor. Folks crowded Bristol Ave. to catch a glimpse of I Love Lucy or Ed Sullivan on the snowy television in the front windows while Ed and son Ron wrestled with the giant antennae on the roof.
The Lanes have always been a family of entrepreneurs and also opened a beauty salon, jewellery store, gift shop and apartments in the old Barss Mansion.
In 1962, the Lanes decided to shift business models. They closed the furniture store and expanded the existing structure, adding hotel rooms, a restaurant, banquet room, and coffee shop.
Son, Ron Lane and his growing family relocated from Whitehorse to help with the ever-increasing family business. For many years, Ron ran the business while raising nine children with his beloved wife Carol. He also involved himself in local politics; Ron was mayor of Liverpool from 1985-96. Ron was a founder of Privateer Days which takes place every June in Liverpool.
The third generation, Ron and Carol's children Susan and Terry worked together to manage Lane’s Privateer Inn. Snug Harbour Books opened in 1994 and Snug Harbour Gourmet Shop in 1998.
