Historic Halifax

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Franco401

That system would work a lot better than dumping a truck full of wood in someone's driveway and getting them to gather all their friends to hand it into the basement.

Indeed! I suppose wood pellets are the equivalent to coal these days.

[ILoveHalifax]

Well speaking for us OLD folks - I'm 72 - I remember the house we lived in in Sydney NS '51 and '52 had a coal bin and the house we moved to in Rockingham had a coal bin but that was the first thing dad had done was changing that furnace to oil - that would be '53

[OldDartmouthMark]

Great info, guys! You still see those trap doors outside older buildings from time to time, but there seems to be less these days.

The 1950s was the decade I figured would have been when people were switching to oil, paralleling the railroad industry, whether coincidental or not. It was a little before my time, though.

When we moved into our house in the late sixties, it had an oil furnace with a central grate for the heat in the downstairs hallway. You can imagine how frosty the upstairs rooms were in the wintertime. In the seventies my dad had the house converted to forced hot air, the upstairs rooms were still a little chilly, but better than before.

[Jstaleness]

Originally Posted by Franco401

That system would work a lot better than dumping a truck full of wood in someone's driveway and getting them to gather all their friends to hand it into the basement.

Thankfully we have these "wood chutes" now.

https://youtu.be/JnO4Wo-mG9s

[JET]

Originally Posted by Jstaleness

Thankfully we have these "wood chutes" now.

https://youtu.be/JnO4Wo-mG9s

We moved in to a house in 1970 that had a coal furnace and coal stove. It was a cold winter; the next winter there was a oil stove and oil furnace. Much better.

[someone123]

Not sure what thread the discussion was in but there was some talk about this vinyl-clad building on Inglis. Here's what it looks without the siding:





More here: https://halifaxbloggers.ca/noticedinnovascotia/2020/02/cornered/

There are so many historic buildings in Halifax that could look so much better than they do.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Yes, I read that blog yesterday. He says it was painted stucco in his photo, which has to mean that it was masonry underneath, I think. Definitely looks better than siding (anything looks better than siding IMHO).

Also of note is that the Halifax Municipal archives had recently uploaded pics of the Bollard House that he discusses.

And, of course, the Pentagon Building, which I think should be reconstructed, somewhere, in some form. I think it would be a nice addition to the reconfigured Cogswell area if it were to ever happen (which I have no delusions that it will) - it would be a cool nod to what used to be there.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by someone123

Not sure what thread the discussion was in but there was some talk about this vinyl-clad building on Inglis. Here's what it looks without the siding:


More here: https://halifaxbloggers.ca/noticedinnovascotia/2020/02/cornered/

There are so many historic buildings in Halifax that could look so much better than they do.

Found the thread: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=7780900&highlight=inglis#post7780900

[OldDartmouthMark]

Today is the 75th anniversary of the VE day riots in Halifax:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-ve-day-riots-75th-anniversary-1.5551158

I remember hearing the stories from my father, who was a 14-year-old kid at the time. Of course my father being who he was, would have been out in the thick of it, for the spectacle that it turned out to be. His stories pretty much were as described in the article, but from a perspective of a kid who basically had no fear. What I remember the most is that one of the soldiers who had been looting said to him something to the effect of... "Hey kid, here you go" - and tossed him a watch that he had just looted from somewhere. As a somewhat poor kid living in the rough areas of downtown Halifax at the time, it meant a lot to him that the soldier would do that for him, even though the circumstances were somewhat dubious.

FWIW, if you go through the Halifax Municipal Archives and NS archives sites, there are more photos of the 'action' of that day.

[Dartguard]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Today is the 75th anniversary of the VE day riots in Halifax:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-ve-day-riots-75th-anniversary-1.5551158

I remember hearing the stories from my father, who was a 14-year-old kid at the time. Of course my father being who he was, would have been out in the thick of it, for the spectacle that it turned out to be. His stories pretty much were as described in the article, but from a perspective of a kid who basically had no fear. What I remember the most is that one of the soldiers who had been looting said to him something to the effect of... "Hey kid, here you go" - and tossed him a watch that he had just looted from somewhere. As a somewhat poor kid living in the rough areas of downtown Halifax at the time, it meant a lot to him that the soldier would do that for him, even though the circumstances were somewhat dubious.

FWIW, if you go through the Halifax Municipal Archives and NS archives sites, there are more photos of the 'action' of that day.

I remember my Grandfather telling me about his Wartime experiences living on Liverpool street. My Grandfather was the eldest of seven siblings and ran a moving company during the war. He tried to volunteer for the forces but he was told that because he was the father of three young Kids ( my Dad being the middle kid) and a provider of a vital civilian service (trucking)he would sit out the War here in Halifax.

That's not to say my Grandparents did not do their part. Shortly after Canada declared War on Germany the RCMP showed up at their door on Liverpool street and confirmed that it was three bedroom house with three little kids. The RCMP then introduced two RCN officers to my grandparents and handed over some ration cards so my Grandmother could feed and cook for the new roommates.


My Grandmother was a Valley Baptist and did not take kindly to drink.
While serving dinner during the riots my Grandmother apparently interrogated her RCN roommates to be assured that "her boys" had nothing to do with the riots. "No Ma'am " was apparently their reply. Later that evening my Grandmother asked that her sewing machine be brought down so she could mend the Officers uniforms for the formal Victory Parade . My Grandfather almost wrenched his back when he went to pick up the sit down sewing machine. When he looked in the draws he found at least 6 bottles of liberated booze. He quickly told the boys to get it out of the house or they would wish they were back at Sea fighting Submarines. My Grandmother was not told until the seventies. She had a good laugh .

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Dartguard

I remember my Grandfather telling me about his Wartime experiences living on Liverpool street. My Grandfather was the eldest of seven siblings and ran a moving company during the war. He tried to volunteer for the forces but he was told that because he was the father of three young Kids ( my Dad being the middle kid) and a provider of a vital civilian service (trucking)he would sit out the War here in Halifax.

That's not to say my Grandparents did not do their part. Shortly after Canada declared War on Germany the RCMP showed up at their door on Liverpool street and confirmed that it was three bedroom house with three little kids. The RCMP then introduced two RCN officers to my grandparents and handed over some ration cards so my Grandmother could feed and cook for the new roommates.


My Grandmother was a Valley Baptist and did not take kindly to drink.
While serving dinner during the riots my Grandmother apparently interrogated her RCN roommates to be assured that "her boys" had nothing to do with the riots. "No Ma'am " was apparently their reply. Later that evening my Grandmother asked that her sewing machine be brought down so she could mend the Officers uniforms for the formal Victory Parade . My Grandfather almost wrenched his back when he went to pick up the sit down sewing machine. When he looked in the draws he found at least 6 bottles of liberated booze. He quickly told the boys to get it out of the house or they would wish they were back at Sea fighting Submarines. My Grandmother was not told until the seventies. She had a good laugh .

Ha! That's a great story! Thanks so much for sharing it!!

[someone123]

I found this shot interesting:


Source

Blowers Street below Barrington. Ralston Building visible in the background with a small stone building in front of it.

[Keith P.]

I had forgotten about that little stone-faced building. For some reason I have a sense it wasn't a masonry building itself but just stone on the front. I forget whether it was a law office or something else.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I had forgotten about that little stone-faced building. For some reason I have a sense it wasn't a masonry building itself but just stone on the front. I forget whether it was a law office or something else.

I don't remember it at all. I do have a vague memory of some buildings on the MetroPark site but I think they were on the Hollis side. I also have clear memories of the TexPark, including the gas station inside, which I thought was amazing for some reason when I was a little kid.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Here's a zoomable (from the archives website) aerial view of that area from the mid 1950s:

https://novascotia.ca/archives/NSIS/archives.asp?ID=1209

[OldDartmouthMark]

Here's an interesting link I stumbled upon, the history of CHNS radio station in Halifax.

https://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listing_and_histories/radio/chns-fm

I hadn't known that CHNS originally broadcasted from The Carleton Hotel in 1926. Neat stuff for a history geek like myself.

Also, other NS stations are covered on the site:
https://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listing_and_histories/nova-scotia-0

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I had forgotten about that little stone-faced building. For some reason I have a sense it wasn't a masonry building itself but just stone on the front. I forget whether it was a law office or something else.

Wasn't there an old book store along that stretch (where Metropark exists) as well? My memories are not so clear about that area.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

I am interested in the neighbourhood that was torn down to build Scotia Square. One area that I haven't been able to find pictures of is Barrington Street between Duke Street and Jacobs Street (part of which became the extension of Cogswell Street) on the west side, which is the Scotia Square side.

There is this picture from the Nova Scotia Archives which shows that area from a distance in 1960:

(source: http://novascotia.ca/archives/virtual/NSIS/archives.asp?ID=1750). The source image allows one to zoom in.


Does anyone know of any pictures of this area prior to Scotia Square being built?

PS: I was able to get this zoomed in screen-shot from the NS Archives picture above: (there appears to be a tavern and "Central"(?) Hotel

Found this ad online for the Peppermint Lounge circa 1962 and thought I'd post it alongside the pic posted by Fenwick16 (RIP) years ago.


Source

[someone123]

Those buildings weren't landmarks but it seems like this was a charming little stretch, with a nice medium scale, a little bend in Barrington, and lots of small storefront businesses with neon signs. It would be good if this feel could be recaptured a bit by bringing back some of those elements, like 4-6 storey masonry facades with towers above and some interesting signage (which is cheaper and more energy efficient these days with LEDs).

There was the Clayton factory and Pentagon building. Both have unique style elements that could be rebuilt, with a brick industrial style facade or mid-Victorian stonework.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by someone123

Those buildings weren't landmarks but it seems like this was a charming little stretch, with a nice medium scale, a little bend in Barrington, and lots of small storefront businesses with neon signs. It would be good if this feel could be recaptured a bit by bringing back some of those elements, like 4-6 storey masonry facades with towers above and some interesting signage (which is cheaper and more energy efficient these days with LEDs).

There was the Clayton factory and Pentagon building. Both have unique style elements that could be rebuilt, with a brick industrial style facade or mid-Victorian stonework.

Great ideas. If I was able to design the development of the downtown retroactively using 20/20 hindsight, I would like to have seen larger swaths of the older downtown kept and maintained, while encouraging more modern development north of Cogswell, to retain some character and historic elements that have been lost long ago. The interchange/Harbour Drive/Scotia Square projects would have been left on the drafting table, and some planning to incorporate transit with thoughtful development would have taken its place.

More to your idea, though, it would have been nice if the City could have scanned* old photos like these and planned some character elements like you are suggesting into Cogswell 2.0. Nice thoughts, but we know the deal. Somewhere between a cold day in July and hell freezing over…

* Scanned with their eyes, I meant. As in committed these old streetscapes to memory and attempted to identify the best of them to recreate in this blank page that is (was, actually) Cogswell.