316 years old, a National Historic site at last

The deGannes-Cosby House in Annapolis Royal was built in 1708. (Paul Palmeter/CBC)

Port-Royal National Historic Site and Fort Anne National Historic Site are both located a short distance from the deGannes-Cosby House.

The house, which borders on the town's historical gardens, had already been given heritage status by provincial and municipal governments. A plaque signifying its new federal status is now mounted on it’s front lawn.

Nobody currently lives in the home full time, and its future ownership is up in the air. How much public access there will be also has to be determined.

"I always tell people it's the oldest wooden house in Canada," said Alyn How, a son of the now-deceased owner Jim How, and his mother, Pauline, who now lives in a nursing home.

"We are taking our time to make sure we make the right decision with the house in concert with town officials, because it is such an important piece of the heritage story in this very historic town."

Official: deGannes-Cosby House National Historic Site plaque.

The names of every family that has lived in the house are written on the bottom side of the steps and can be clearly seen when going to the basement.

The federal designation was granted last week, but the process took nearly two years to complete. Fourteen letters of support were written, some by former homeowners.

"Because I was raised in the womb of history, my own sense of connection between past and present is very strong," wrote Gordon Wetmore, whose family acquired the house in 1911 and owned it for 72 years.

"It is time for the public to have guaranteed access to this connection between the first European settlers that started Canada and the nation that we are still building today."

Tenth generation Acadian and local historian Alan Melanson, left, and Alan Howe, whose parents purchased the house in 1984.

Text and photos by Paul Palmeter for CBC News, unless otherwise noted.