March 2006 Volume 31, No.1 ISSN 0384 7335 The Griffin A PUBLICATION OF HERITAGE TRUST OF HERITAGE TRUST OF NOVA SCOTIA is a charitable organization. All donations are tax creditable.

Nova Scotia’s Provincial Normal College: Truro’s architectural jewel by Jan Zann

appointed the first Superintendent of Education for Nova Scotia. It was he who Provincial Normal College educated the populace as to the need for a province-wide system of teacher training, to be modelled after the Normal Schools of New England. The title ‘normal’ suggested that a ‘norm’ or ‘standard’ be set for anyone wanting to become a public school teacher. After much discussion, a rural setting for such an institution was decided upon rather than a city environment that, it was argued, might expose teacher trainees to undesirable elements which could affect their moral stan- dards. Truro was therefore chosen, helped along by local politicians Provincial Secretary Samuel Creelman and Adams G. Archibald. After helping to oversee construction of the Normal School built in 1855 (later to become the first Colchester East Hants Regional Library), Dawson left Truro to become Principal of McGill University in A momentous event took place on November 14, 1855, Montreal. He recommended the Reverend Dr. when the Provincial Normal School (later College) Alexander Forrester, born and educated in Scotland, as opened its doors and ensured the future of education the next Superintendent of Education and first Principal for Nova Scotia’s children. On November 15, 2005, of the Normal School. When the school opened, 64 stu- Truro celebrated the 150th Anniversary of its opening dents were in attendance. and to commemorate the day, a bronze plaque was By 1857, a building known as the Model School was unveiled by Mayor Bill Mills. The large crowd in atten- erected. This was used as a demonstration school for dance then viewed an exhibition depicting the early student teachers to model the various skills they would history of schooling set up in the Colchester Historical require in the classroom. This building was later divid- Museum – the former Beaux-Arts style Science build- ed into two sections, each of which was moved to ing of the Normal School. become homes in the Arthur Street residential area. In 1854 the Nova Scotia Legislature passed a Bill to In 1874, the School Commissioners decided that it establish a Normal School. It was J. William Dawson, was time to replace the Normal School building with a educated at Academy and Edinburgh, who was larger one. Designed by Henry Busch of Halifax, the instrumental in achieving this goal. In 1850, he was Continued on page 3 January Lecture: The Historic Places Initiative The Heritage Trust’s January had been registered provincially lecture was given by Meghan and included in the national regis- Hallett, whose article on the ter, as well as some examples Historic Places Initiative appeared from other parts of . in the last issue of The Griffin, Registration made them eligible backed by Bruce Nunn, aka Mr. for assistance in redevelopment, Nova Scotia Know-it-all. in partnership with municipal The evening began with a planners and other bodies. video prepared on behalf of the The HPI provides standards The Griffin federal Historic Places Initiative, and guidelines for redevelopment, showing some of Canada’s his- funding to assist in this process, A quarterly newsletter toric places which had been regis- and registration of eligible proper- published by tered under the HPI. It encour- ties. Registration can take place at HERITAGE TRU S T OF aged the preservation of proper- the municipal, provincial and fed- NOVA SCOTIA ties as “legacy choices” by sup- eral levels. Unless otherwise indicated, port from all levels of government Questions followed, and some the opinions expressed in for their rehabilitation for com- interesting points were raised, these pages are those of the mercial use. particularly regarding the require- contributors and do not Meghan then spoke of the ment that the registered places be necessarily reflect the Nova Scotia HPI, which comes put to commercial use. JD views of under the wing of the Department For more information, see Meghan’s HERITAGE TRU ST OF of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. article in the last Griffin, and the NOVA SCOTIA. She showed pictures of a variety NSHPI website: Editorial Committee: of properties in Nova Scotia that www.NShistoricplaces.ca.w Anthony Lamplugh, Janet Morris, Nancy O’Brien, Sandra Sackett. Rockingham Heritage Society Contributers to this issue: Joan Dawson Heritage Day Annual Dinner and Talk Janet Morris Nancy O’Brien On the bitterly cold Saturday many of which showed the special Sandra Sackett evening of February 18, about 250 charm of the Rockingham setting Garry Shutlak people gathered at St. Peter’s (enhanced with gardens created Molly Titus Jan Zann Anglican Church at Dakin Drive by bringing in mammoth amounts and Kearney Lake Road for the of topsoil). As well, he showed Submissions are welcomed. annual Heritage Dinner and Talk, some really magical photos of Deadline for the next issue: an eventcelebrating Rockingham’s people in this setting. He told the May 1, 2006 heritage, now in its seventeenth story of the foundation of the Please send your year. Sisters in response to a dire need submissions to HE RITAGE TRUST O F Mr. John Wilkie, President of for teachers in Halifax and their NOVA SCO TIA, P.O. Box 36111, the organization, welcomed eventual home in Rockingham. Spring Garden RPO, guests and, after dinner, intro- This home, overlooking the shores Halifax, N.S. B3J 3S9 duced Dr. Wayne Ingalls, of the Bedford Basin, has become Professor Emeritus of Mount St. the head office of a world-wide Tel: 902 423-4807 Vincent University, and long-time organization, which, at one time, E-mail material to [email protected] resident of the Prince’s Lodge was a major employer in the www3.ns.sympatico.ca/heritage/trust area, to speak about the Sisters of region. Charity, founded in Halifax in Dr. Ingalls’s story moved right ef 1849. up to the present when, in 2004, Dr. Ingalls’s presentation was the Sisters’ Motherhouse and replete with historical photos, Continued on page 13

Page 2 The Griffin - HERITAGE TRUST OF NOVA SCOTIA College: continued from page 1 recognised as America’s authority women were not permitted to new Provincial Normal College, on Adult Education, and was the study medicine in Canada, she with its mansard roof, symmetry, inspiration for the formation of attended Women’s Medical corbelled eave details, and dorm- the Coady International Institute College in New York and graduat- ers, became an elegant Second which opened in Antigonish in ed as a doctor in 1881. Famous Empire landmark in the town’s 1959. Canadian writer Margaret historic downtown. The attractive Another notable student was Atwood’s mother attended the patterns and motifs in the mason- Madeline (Frances) Symonds who, Normal College, and Margaret ry are a Busch trademark. The in 1928, was the first person from herself toured the building in building was completed in 1878 the Black community to graduate. 2003. She publicly expressed her and used for teacher training until Another was Professor Ralph dismay that the elegant staircase, 1961, when the modern Nova Hartley Wetmore, who graduated down which her spirited mother Scotia Teachers College was erect- from Acadia University in 1921 had slid, was no longer there! ed on Arthur Street. It then served and went on to become Chair of Many important events have as the YMCA building for several the Biology Department at occurred within this grand old years and as the temporary Civic Harvard University from 1946-47, building. One, of great value to building while the Thomas Fuller- and an editor and contributor to Nova Scotia’s teachers, was the designed 1884 Post Office was the Encyclopedia Britannica in meeting in 1896 at which the being revamped to become the 1967. Nova Scotia Teachers Union was new Civic building following the Professor H.W. Smith, a organized. At that time, it was to demolition of the original Civic building in 2003. Currently, the Normal College is vacant and in need of repair, particularly to the external mason- ry. Mayor Mills is committed to restoring and finding an appropri- ate use for it. The Alumni of the Teachers College would like to see their archival materials housed in one part of it. As of yet, the build- ing’s new function has not been decided. Town Council has com- mitted funding towards its restoration and has hired McFawn and Rogers for the preliminary lecturer in Natural Science at the be largely “devoted to protecting engineering study. However, Normal School in 1888, was teachers from being defrauded by much more funding will be responsible for an experimental their employers.” required to do the complete work. farm in Bible Hill which led to the Over the years, thousands of establishment of the Nova Scotia teachers were educated and Normal College Graduates Agricultural College in 1905. trained at the Nova Scotia Normal Many famous graduates of the Professor Joyce Hemlow, after College and the Nova Scotia Normal College went on to attending the Normal School, Teachers College. The latter was greater achievements, including earned a BA and MA from Queens closed in 1997, to the dismay of the great educator and writer University in 1942 and a PhD many school administrators. Loran Arthur de Wolfe (1892- from Radcliffe in 1948. She The original building is 1959) and the Right Reverend became Chair of the English revered by its former students and Moses Coady (1882-1959). Coady Department of McGill University faculty. Its importance for educa- was also a graduate of Saint and was the first Nova Scotian tion in this province cannot be Francis Xavier University in 1905 woman to be elected a Fellow of underestimated, as Truro was the and Academi de D. Thomas in the Royal Society of Canada. centre of teacher education for 143 Rome in 1907. He taught at Mary Louise Angevin (1848- years. When eventually restored Margaree Forks School from 1901- 1898) attended the Normal to its former glory, the building 1903 and then became Professor of College in 1873, then taught for will again be the spectacular Education at SFX. He was five years in Dartmouth. Since Continued on page 10

March 2006 Page 3 Towers threaten Citadel views and Historic District

As we go to press, the HRM requires Council to make every HRM Councillors, to be presented Council is, for the first time, to effort to preserve or restore views by Alan Parish upon resumption vote as a whole with respect to a from Citadel Hill that impart to of the hearing, he states, “Your proposed downtown develop- Halifax a sense of its history. They decision will be about vision. It ment, the United Gulf proposed further require that new buildings will proclaim council’s vision for development for Granville, should reinforce the proportions the future of downtown Halifax. Sackville & Hollis Streets, Halifax, of adjacent heritage buildings. In If the proposal is approved, coun- on the former TexPark site. this instance, there are registered cil will be voting in favour of a This proposal for two 27-storey heritage buildings directly across fractured, inconsistent downtown towers would be higher than the the street on Granville Street that much like that of many other Citadel and would block a large- are not respected by these towers. cities in North America. These portion of the view towards the The Barrington Street Historic large 27-storey buildings will be central harbour and George’s District incorporates 26 registered cheek-by-jowl with older, historic, Island. It would make a mockery heritage buildings which are human-scale buildings. On the of the Barrington Street Historic about one-eighth the height of the other hand, if council refuses this District, which has been more proposed towers. The two towers proposal it will demonstrate to than twenty years in the making would overpower the low-scale, the populace that this council has and has finally been placed before heritage ambience of the district. a vision to make Halifax an even Council. The proposed towers would more special city on the eastern The relationship of new devel- cast long, dark shadows on the coast of our continent.” opment to historic buildings and popular pedestrian Sackville The public hearing began on harbour views is not subjective; it Landing and other locations on the evening of February 28 and is governed by the Municipal the waterfront, also contrary to continued March 7. Comment on Planning Strategy (the ‘MPS’) and the Policies. The towers, unless the proposed development in the by legal precedents. The policies modified, would create unaccept- form of letters or e-mail will be in our Municipal Planning able wind effects as they rise 285 accepted by the clerk’s office until Strategy require that the munici- feet straight up from a decision is rendered, likely on pality not act in a manner incon- the sidewalk of Sackville Street, March 21. E-mail [email protected] sistent with the Strategy, yet this actuallly lurching over the street- or write to Office of the Municipal proposal seems to entirely disre- line. Clerk, 1841 Argyle Street, PO Box gard portions of it. The MPS In the Heritage Trust brief to 1749, Halifax, NS B3J 3A5. w

Page 4 The Griffin - HERITAGE TRUST OF NOVA SCOTIA February Lecture: All Saints Cathedral in Halifax

The speaker for our February lec- ent, governed by its own synod. cause of the new cathedral, but in ture was Bill Naftel, whose topic Binney, under the influence of the a new location. The proposed site was “An American in Halifax; the Oxford Movement, felt that was on Tower Road, where a skat- Design and Construction of All Anglican worship should be cen- ing rink and exhibition building Saints Cathedral”. tred on a cathedral. stood. The idea was to incorporate Bill started with an account of Temporarily based at St. the cathedral, Dalhousie the development of the diocese of Luke’s Church at Morris and University, the Victoria General Nova Scotia, which was originally Church Streets, the bishop first Hospital and other public build- based at St. Paul’s Church as part selected a site for his proposed ings into a planned urban vista. of the Anglican establishment in cathedral at the corner of Robie At this point William C. the eighteenth century, and rein- Street and Spring Garden Road, Harris, designer of a number of forced by the arrival of the where St. Stephen’s, known as the gothic-style churches in the Loyalists. The early bishops were “Bishop’s chapel,” was construct- Maritimes, came forward with a administrators, and no need was ed. Plans for the cathedral were plan for the new building. But he felt for a cathedral building. It drawn up by an English architect found himself in competition with was not until the later 19th centu- and the cornerstone was laid in the American firm of Cram, ry, under the episcopate of Bishop 1887, but with Binney’s death Goodhue and Ferguson, repre- Binney, that the Anglican church enthusiasm for the scheme dwin- sented by Bertram Grosvenor became disestablished so that it dled. Goodhue. Goodhue came to was no longer the “official” In 1905, St. Luke’s burned Halifax and enthusiastically drew church of the province. The dio- down, leaving the diocese without up sketches for a cathedral, cese also became more independ- a base. Bishop Worrell took up the Continued on page 6

The Cathedral Church of All Saints- the view from Tower Road, Halifax.

March 2006 Page 5 Cathedral: continued from page 5 completed and the foundation from various sources enabled the stone from Spring Garden Road completion of the west front, and cloister and associated buildings. was relaid. the problem of water seepage may Goodhue claimed the cathedral Goodhue was not happy with have been solved. itself could be built at the budget- his relations with Worrell and Despite the problems encoun- ed price, while Harris’s plans Harris and their attempts to save tered both in his dealings with the would be more expensive. money. He visited Halifax once bishop and in the need to modify Goodhue won the contract, and more in 1909 to see what progress his plans to save money, Good- Harris, despite the rejection of his had been made on his cathedral. hue’s ambition to design a good plans, was appointed resident Originally, funds had only been cathedral building at a moderate architect to oversee the actual con- available for a building with a price was carried through Worrell, struction. three-bay nave, but Brookfield who was responsible for fund- Goodhue, although he was an had managed to obtain sufficient raising, remained committed to agnostic, was excited at the credit to construct three extra the design, and did his best with prospect of building his first bays, only one short of the origi- the resources available, with help cathedral. He had apprenticed in nal plan. Goodhue modified some provided by the Diocesan Women. New York and then joined Cram’s of the interior details in the inter- The cathedral is serving its firm, which he left in 1913 to work est of economy, then departed, intended purpose. JD w on his own. He designed a num- leaving Harris in charge, and ber of churches, including the Worrell with the huge task of rais- chapels at West Point Military ing funds. By 1909 only $16,000 Academy and Princeton had been raised from the public, University. Bill showed other and by 1913 funding still stood at examples of Goodhue’s work, only $75,000. Great support was Notice including the West Point chapel given by the Diocesan Women’s which resembles our cathedral in Cathedral League, who provided Heritage Trust design. His style evolved over the the organ and many other interior years, however, and before his features. of Nova Scotia’s death in 1924 it had moved into Largely due to cost-cutting as a art deco. result of lack of funds, not only 2006 Annual The last section of the lecture was the cathedral built without its General Meeting dealt with the construction of the planned tower and west front, but cathedral building. Because of the also structural details were modi- The Annual General Meeting difficulty of fundraising, it was fied. Copper flashing was omitted of the Heritage Trust of Nova determined at an early stage that to save money, the composition of Scotia will be held on only part of the original plan the mortar was changed and Thursday, June 15, 2006, 7:00 could be carried out. The bishop unfortunately bonded poorly with p.m., at the Museum of was not pleased, but had to settle the stone, and other flaws became Natural History, Summer for the modified plan with a evident as time went on. Street, Halifax. shorter nave and no tower. Nevertheless, the construction Working drawings were available work was sufficiently finished in The meeting will be followed by 1907, and the contract was put 1910 for the opening ceremonies at 8:00 p.m. by a presentation out to tender. It was awarded to to take place. by W. Bruce Stewart of the the Brookfield Company, who The building was further Culture Resource quoted an over-budget price of weakened by the Halifax Management Group on an $155,000. To shave this down, it Explosion of 1917. Bill traced the archeological history of was proposed to substitute rein- structural problems, particularly Halifax as discovered at the forced concrete for stone in some leakage, that dogged the building Halifax Wastewater places, and cast concrete for throughout the 20th century. An Treatment property. carved stone decorations. Other attempt to deal with these prob- suggestions for cost-cutting were lems in 1929 fell victim to the put forward, and the contract was Great Depression. The problems ef eventually signed for $125,000. culminated in the damage caused Work began in 1907, and the fol- by Hurricane Juan in 2003. But on lowing year the foundation was a more positive note, funding

Page 6 The Griffin - HERITAGE TRUST OF NOVA SCOTIA December Lecture Restoration or Rehabilitation: the Befores and Afters

Restoration, renovation, or reha- bilitation? Those were the ques- tions with which Hal Forbes launched his interesting lecture about the houses he has worked on over the years in Halifax’s Creighton Street neighbourhood. He continued with an account of his background in textiles and costume design and his experi- ence in the theatre, which, he said, enabled him to apply the same disciplines to his approach to giv- ing new life to unpromising old houses. Starting with hands-on experience in carpentry and roof- shingling, he brought all these Before (rear view) After (rear view) skills to bear on the houses that he tion, if carried to its literal the structure rather than trying to has worked on over the years. extremes, would involve subject- recreate what was no longer a Hal’s first house was acquired ing the inhabitants to the same practical way of life. in a desperate need for some- inconveniences that the Victorian Hal suggested that the greatest where to live, after having con- householders endured and that hindrance to effective rehabilita- vinced his bank manager that he they would have changed as soon tion was the lack of a pool of had in view what was in fact a as they were able. It is “too pure”. information from which people non-existent house – which he Renovation without sensitivity to could draw. He spoke of the diffi- then had hastily to find! This was the building goes too far the other culty people experience in finding the first of many that he was to way. What he wanted to achieve skilled craftsmen, suitable materi- purchase and enhance in what was a balance between people’s als, and plans to guide their choic- had been a rather run-down area needs and period correctness. So es. He was anxious that people north of Cogswell Street. he preferred the term “rehabilita- should be able to share their expe- Hal’s philosophical approach tion” though he felt this was still riences so that knowledge should to working on houses is both open to discussion. The important not be lost and research not be visionary and practical. Restora- thing was to retain the spirit of Continued on page 10

After Before

March 2006 Page 7 Nova Scotia’s rural schools and the impact of their architects, W.R. Mulholland and H.E.Gates by Garry D. Shutlak

For those of you interested in the detailed history of school design in Canada before 1930, we suggest you read Historic Schools in Canada. What becomes clear upon reading it is the profound effect two Nova Scotian architects had on the rural communities of Nova Scotia, the first, W.R. Mulholland, and the second, H.E. Gates.

W.R. Mullholland With the introduction of pub- lic education in Nova Scotia in 1864, education authorities hired W.R. Mulholland to design a series of one-room, two-room and four-room schools that the local Plan: Rural School No.3. school boards could construct in their districts. These designs British North America. appear to borrow from Henry Irish-born William Ringland Barnard’s School Architecture Mulholland (ca 1826-1892) was (1842), one of the most influential both a mathematics teacher and and popular books on the topic in an architect who taught at the

Pictou Academy and the Normal College in Truro. Perhaps because of his unique talents, the Superintendent of Education, with the approval of the Council of Public Education, hired him to produce plans, elevations and interior finishes for wooden one- room, two-room and four-room schools. In 1874 alone, 66 schools were completed and another 46 were under construction in the province of Nova Scotia. Mulholland became the Principal of the Normal College in 1879 but continued to dabble in architec- ture, designing two Truro church- es we know of, and other build- ings not yet identified. Mr Mulholland retired from the Normal College and left Truro to live with his son Luther in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1882. Ten years later, his son returned his father’s body to Truro to be

Page 8 The Griffin - HERITAGE TRUST OF NOVA SCOTIA Nova Scotia’s rural schools and the impact of their architects, W.R. Mulholland and H.E.Gates by Garry D. Shutlak

tions and elevations for one-room and two-room schools for rural school districts. The two-room schools were also designed to have a library and work room on the second floor. Examples of the earlier schools include MacDonald Garden School and Bible Hill, and of the latter, Liscomb and Barss Corner. Dartmouth-born Herbert Elliot Gates (1874-1944) was trained by Edward Elliot, and between 1899- 1903 dabbled in education as an instructor in architecture at the Victoria College of Art and School, Brunswick Street, Halifax, Design. Perhaps his best-known 1917. educational building is the Nova If you travel around Nova Scotia Technical College Building, Scotia, you will see examples of Spring Garden Road, Halifax these designs the length and (1908). Among other schools he breadth of the province. If you designed were Chester, 1901; don’t drive, we suggest you Bridgetown, 1902; Quinpool Road peruse the collection of books School, Halifax, 1902; Agricultural published by Nimbus in their College, College Road, Bible Hill, series “Images of Our Past”, avail- 1903 and 1908; New Glasgow, able in local book stores and pub- 1910; and Saint Patrick’s Boys’ lic libraries across the province. w buried with his family. The school house plans were completed in 1864 and were sent to school districts when they wanted to build a school. The plans, with modifications and alterations, were used up to the 1890s. Common schools were found in small communities such as , Bear River, Fort Lawrence, CrossRoads, Rogers Hill; the larger schools, referred to as academies, were found in such diverse communities as Guysborough, Chester, Shelburne and Sherbrooke. The Mulholland- designed Sherbrooke Academy has been restored and looks much as it did when first used by the town’s scholars and teachers.

H.E. Gates In 1901, and again in 1921, the province turned to architect, H.E. Gates to furnish plans, specifica-

March 2006 Page 9 Heritage Canada Foundation Annual Conference 2006: “Heritage in an Electronic Age” Ottawa, Ontario,October 12-14, 2006 promoting conservation through itage conservation. web and internet communica- The sessions will be organized The electronic age is having a tions, and developing new ways around four streams: advocacy profound affect on heritage con- of working with broadcast media. change in an electronic age, urban servation. Some of the key uses of The 2006 annual conference planning and heritage protection the new technology in heritage will examine heritage conserva- in an electronic age, media, and include creating and managing tion in an electronic environment, heritage in an electronic age inventories and registries of prop- featuring presentations on cur- For more information, contact: erty and artifacts, rehabilitation rents trends, demonstrations of Heritage Canada Foundation, and restoration project manage- tools now being developed, and 5 Blackburn Avenue, Ottawa ON, ment, developing multi-dimen- workshops on how to take advan- K1N 8A2, e-mail: heritagecanada@ sional models of heritage sites, tage of technology to advance her- heritagecanada.org w Nominations for Heritage Canada Foundation Awards Nominations are now being outstanding stewardship of its All nominations must be received on accepted for the Heritage Canada built heritage. or before March 31, 2006. For infor- Foundation 2006 Awards and Achievement Award mation on nomination procedures, Prizes program. Given jointly by Heritage Canada contact the Heritage Canada The Prince of Wales Prize and a partner organization, this Foundation at: 5 Blackburn Avenue, Under the generous patronage of award honours individuals for Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8A2. Tel. 613- His Royal Highness The Prince of excellence in their province or 237-1066 Fax 613-237-5987 E-mail Wales, this prize is awarded to a territory. [email protected] municipal government, large or small, rural or urban, which has Restoration: Continued from page 7 pleasing exterior and interior shown an exemplary commitment duplicated. Some kind of aspects. His use of colour and tex- to heritage conservation. resource centre would be helpful, ture to make a plain, neglected The Gabrielle Léger Award perhaps with government assis- building into a small gem was demonstrated in the slides. What Named after the wife of former tance in documentation. Develop- came across very clearly was Hal Canadian Governor General, Jules ers should have access to and Forbes’s capacity to visualise and Léger, this award recognizes indi- make use of information, and develop the possibilities of a viduals who have contributed spend time on design and research building without altering its basic nationally to heritage conserva- in order to achieve a sympathetic lines. tion. result that is pleasing to the public. Discussion followed the slide Lieutenant Governor’s Award With these ideas in mind, Hal show as members of the audience This award recognizes outstand- showed as examples “before and asked questions and shared expe- ing achievement by an individual after” pictures of the many build- riences. JDw or group in the province in which ings he had worked on, from the Heritage Canada Foundation’s College: continued from page 3 small single-family dwellings to Annual Conference is held. This apartments, incorporating modern architectural gem in the Town of upcoming year, the conference conveniences and often skilfully Truro’s Civic block. Its image was will be held in Ottawa, Ontario. increasing their capacity without featured on the Canada Post $2 Journalism Award destroying their integrity. He stamp in 1994, and it was provin- Awarded to a journalist whose replaced obtrusive alterations cially designated in 1999. The coverage of heritage issues is such as picture windows and Town is presently applying for fed- judged to be outstanding. inappropriate doorways with eral heritage designation of this Corporate Prize items more in keeping with the beautiful and historic building. It Recognizes a business, large or period, achieving a balance of would, indeed, be a most worthy small, which has demonstrated windows and doors and creating recipient of such honour. w Page 10 The Griffin - HERITAGE TRUST OF NOVA SCOTIA Heritage for Sale: Circa 1752, it’s one of Liverpool’s oldest homes 71 MAIN STREET, LIVERPOOL Location, location, location! Built in 1752, this home is believed to be one of the oldest homes in Liverpool. Recent renovations to the main house include re-wiring with 200-amp service, insulation, gyprock, front deck replaced, new front door and casing. New kitchen with wonderful copper accents, new window in upstairs bath. There are stainless steel appliances, a cozy propane fire- place in the living room, 6-over-9 windows, and a small detached barn for storage. Attached area in the back of the house, with its own separate entrance and break- er panel. Shared driveway agree- Walt MacDonald Real Estate Ltd., 128 Main Street, P.O. Box 1769, Liverpool, NS ment in place. $169,000.00 B0T 1K0; 902-354-5775; email: [email protected] Canadian. w web: www.macdonaldrealestate.ns.ca Message from the President from Yarmouth, Port Medway, chair of the communities commit- Kentville,Truro and Guysborough. tee and Jan Zann, who continues Over the past four years we have to keep us informed of the status held our May meeeting in Chester, of built heritage in Truro. Mem- Pictou, Grand Pré and Baddeck. bership in the Trust is available to This year we will be in Yarmouth. both individuals and organiza- We typically invite representatives tions. We would like to encourage from the local heritage and/or those groups around the province historical groups to join us for the who are involved in the heritage last part of the meeting and then of their communities to join the for lunch. Trust and keep us informed of Any local members of the your organization and its activi- Trust who wish to attend are also ties and events. w welcome. If you are from that part of the province and wish to attend, please let our secretary, Community Grant Alan Parish, president of the Heritage Janet Morris, know. Janet can be Trust of Nova Scotia contacted by phone through the Program Trust’s office at 902 423-4807 or Halifax Regional Municipality has Once a year, usually in May, the by emailat [email protected]. their Community Grant Program board of the Trust holds its board On another front, as you read in place again. For more informa- meeting outside Halifax. this issue of The Griffin, you will tion and details, go to www.hali- Although many of the activities of note we continue to be involved fax.ca/boardscom/bccgrants/Commun the Trust are centred in Halifax, it in supporting built heritage both ity GrantsProgram.html. The dead- is a province-wide organization. in HRM and around the province. line for applying is March 31, We currently have board members We have reports from Molly Titus, 2006. w March 2006 Page 11 Communities Committee Report: Hazel Hill, Guysborough County and Cape Breton by Molly Titus

Hazel Hill, Guysborough County Fox Island and Little Dover, and for the semi-annual meeting of the It’s hard to restrain one’s they could become members of Iona Connection on Saturday. This enthusiasm after visiting Hazel the “Eastern Anglers Club”, also group comprises all the heritage Hill in October under the guid- founded by the Commercial Cable organizations in Cape Breton, and ance of Scott Conrod (see March Company. Life was good. that’s a huge number. In these 2005 issue of The Griffin for an If you go to Hazel Hill today, wanderings of mine as article on Hazel Hill by Graeme the streetscape viewed from the Communities Committee chair, I Duffus). old cable building is intact. The am bowled over by the number of A small group of committed houses, once lived in by interna- people involved in heritage people, members of the tional employees of the company, around the province, and by their Commercial Cable Rehabilitation are now lived in by local inhabi- commitment and enthusiasm. Society, like Scott and Heritage tants. The singles quarters have This was true at the Iona Trust board member Stephen recently been bought by people Connection. Townsend, are working very hard from Chicago. I began by taking notes, and to restore the main Cable Building The houses were originally then gave up when I simply and to keep alive the fascinating built from kits manufactured in couldn’t keep up with all the story of a signal step in the evolu- Ontario. This Ontario company reports and information which tion of communications technolo- had one shipment bound for the poured in every minute from each gy. The building still features the Azores, and one shipment bound of the speakers. for Hazel Hill. The story is that original mosaic tile floors and the MacAskill Museum. But I did the two got mixed up and Hazel tin ceilings, and you can see note that the reports included one Hill received flat roofed buildings, where the cable, once laid across from the MacAskill Museum – more suitable for the snowless the floor of the Atlantic and then aha, I thought…Giant climate of the Azores. Rather than the floor of a lake nearby, finally MacAskill…but no, it’s a museum send them all back again, the reached the room where the teleg- celebrating the photographer engineers set to constructing suit- raphers decoded the messages. MacAskill. Situated in St Peter’s, able peaks to put over the flat But it’s the human history that it boasts the fact that two of the roofs, and all was well. Scott retailed which I found most best summer employees ever were I have a DVD Scott sent me intriguing. there this past summer, and, no, entitled “SOS MESSAGE from the On a day like this, in the late they will NOT give out the names COMMERCIAL CABLE REHABILITATION nineteenth century, an employee of these two, because other muse- SOCIETY” for “personal viewing of the Commercial Cable um organizers are not above only”. One of the features of the Company in Hazel Hill, “sheep stealing”! The MacAskill DVD is a recording of Bill Guysborough County, might have museum this year was lent the Windeler, Senior, who, as telegra- sent a cable, via London, England, Minot MacAskill sailing cup to pher at the time, received the first to the employees of Western add to its inventory because, it message to the mainland about Union in next-door Canso, invit- turns out, MacAskill won this cup the sinking of the Titanic. ing them to a tennis tournament a total of nine times. that afternoon. Fascinating stuff. Sydney. From the group in The social life of the If you visit the area, you can Sydney we heard that the north Commercial Cable Company was travel along the Transatlantic end of the city is going to become to be envied. Their employees Communications Heritage Trail a Heritage Conservation District. were part of a fortunate number between Sherbrooke Village and Glace Bay’s museum is in the Old who actually received bonuses, Canso, and at each landmark of Town Hall. They had FIVE stu- and who could go to their own historical significance, you can dents working for them all sum- company hospital when medical read interpretive panels, the mer. AND they have discovered aid was needed. Their houses had sources of whose information are seaweed insulation between floors electricity, running water, and noted. There are two panels in of the old building. were centrally heated before many each of Tor Bay, Fox Island, Little others of that era. There were Dover and Hazel Hill. Lake Ainslie. The group at Lake houses for the married employees Ainslie raised $45,000 with events and singles quarters for those who Cape Breton such as a memorial hymn sing, weren’t. They had their own asso- Iona Connection. After the visit with candlelight and a tolling bell to Hazel Hill on Friday, I contin- ciation, their own clubhouse, boat- Continued on page 13 house and cottages available at ued to Orangedale, Cape Breton, Page 12 The Griffin - HERITAGE TRUST OF NOVA SCOTIA Hazel Hill: continued from page 12 Peter Saulnier uses his knowledge adding to the atmosphere. They also sponsored a book launch of a to re-create old Spryfield book by Janice MacLean. Highland Village. The Highland Village this year boasted a huge Clydesdale horse on site, and the Church there had a special concert during the Celtic Colours. From Cheticamp we heard that museum visits went up by 16% this year over the year before, while Port Hastings benefited from the 50th anniversary of the completion of the causeway and also persuaded the Federal Government to issue a special stamp for the occasion. These are just a sampling of the things that have been going on in Cape Breton. I was given time also to talk about the Heritage Trust – its expertise in architecture, engineer- ing, advocacy and research; its hope that buildings will continue to be registered; and that regis- Peter Saulnier at work on one of his fine models. tered heritage buildings will con- tinue to be entered into the HPI. I Peter Saulnier has a detailed petual care of the Mainland South stressed the importance of attend- knowledge of the houses of old Heritage Society. You can say you ing the Voluntary Task Force hear- Spryfield – he builds models of helped rebuild “Old Spryfield”. ings, and found that the afternoon old houses, mostly houses in the Usually the models sit atop the programme was being devoted to area that have been demolished. shelves in the library at the preparing briefs to present to that By “rebuilding” these landmark Captain Spry Centre, but at very body. It’s hard to get ahead replicas, he gives the people of Christmas time, they are set out in of Cape Bretoners! Spryfield the opportunity to see a Christmas Village, with lights, I gave out old copies of The the heritage they have lost. For Christmas trees, wreaths, sleighs Griffin, which were very well example, how often have you and reindeer added to create a received, and membership appli- wondered what used to stand showcase for the historic models. cation forms. I have had a request where a Tim Horton’s Drive-Thru A visit to the Spryfield Library is a from one person who had mislaid sits today? In Spryfield, the recommended stop for heritage hers for another membership form answer is the Pinegrove Hotel, enthusiasts. JM w as she particularly wants to and you can see what the receive The Griffin. So that’s a Pinegrove Hotel looked like by Rockingham: continued from page 2 promising sign. checking out a model built by Peter. 75-acre Halifax property was sold Molly Titus is chair of the To sustain and expand on his to United Gulf Developments Communities Committee and devotes hobby, Mr. Saulnier created the Limited for redevelopment. The much of her valuable time maintain- “Adopt-a-House” program. For a ing contact with many of heritage $50 (or more) donation, you can project includes reuse of the land- and historical groups around the designate a building you would mark Motherhouse building. The province. To contact Molly, email like to resurrect, and you can have savvy Sisters will no doubt see [email protected] w your name placed on a model of that the “Village Park” plan car- the building. Peter Saulnier will ries out the intended creative build it, and the model will be reuse of the existing building, as kept on display at the Spryfield well as their goals of respect for Library for the community to the environment and for their enjoy. The models are in the per- neighbours. JM w

March 2006 Page 13 Couple wins Truro Heritage Award Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia Illustrated Public Lectures Spring 2006

Thursday, April 20, 7:30 p.m. “The Classical Architecture of Greece and its Influence in Nova Scotia” SPEAKER: Peter Delefes, past- president of the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia, Heritage Canada NS Governor

Above, Charlotte MacQuarrie, Chairperson of the Heritage Advisory Committee Thursday, May 18, 7:30 p.m. (left), is presenting the Award on behalf of the Town of Truro to Judy and John “Looking at our Nova Scotia Wheelock. Below, No.43 Queen Street, Truro. House Heritage” SPEAKER: Stephen Archibald and Sheila Stevenson, authors of Heritage Houses of Nova Scotia (Formac, 2003)

Thursday, June 15, 8:00 p.m. (after the Annual General Meeting) “Location, Location, Location!“ The history of Halifax as discovered in the Halifax Wastewater Treatment property – an archeological dig SPEAKER: W. Bruce Stewart, Culture Resource Management Group pppp Requests for speakers and sub- The Truro Heritage Advisory Such a restoration preserves the Committee presented John and domestic achievement of T. G. jects welcome. Please call Nancy Judy Wheelock with the 2006 McMullen, the distinguished lum- O’Brien at 902 422-1709. The Heritage Award for their restora- ber king of Nova Scotia who built public lectures, part of an ongo- tion of 43 Queen Street on the home for his family of 10 chil- ing program, sponsored by the February 23rd, Heritage Night at dren. The Town recognizes that Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia, the Colchester Museum. The the cost of restoration of historic are held on the 3rd Thursday of physical improvements, especially homes is high and requires special the month at 7:30 p.m., September the reconstruction of the original knowledge and appreciation of to June, in the auditorium of the verandah and the attractive paint their value. The Town acknowl- Museum of Natural History, colours, help to restore the home edges this restoration as a preser- 1749 Summer Street, Halifax. to its former glory. The house is vation of the town’s heritage and Parking in the two museum park- one of the grandest examples of as a fine example for others to ing lots ("Pay and Display"). our town’s Queen Anne style of follow.w Everyone welcome. Victorian period architecture.

Page 14 The Griffin - HERITAGE TRUST OF NOVA SCOTIA Programs sponsored by other societies

Acadian Museum and Celebration of 25th anniversary of Genealogical Association museum opening in 1981. Descendants Archives of former owners of Grove Cottage of Nova Scotia West Pubnico, NS. Contact: Diane invited to return. View improvements Eventsin Akins Room, Public Archives Poirier, 902-224-2170 to the heritage gardens and dedica- of Nova Scotia. Contact: 454-0322 tion of trees by donors and digni- Tues., March 28, 7:30 pm Amherst Township taries; 2 pm: unveiling of sculpture of “Adoption disclosure”, speaker: Paula Robert Barry Dickey, Father of Murin, NS Dept. of Community Historical Society Confederation. Demonstrations, chil- Services. c/o Cumberland County Museum, dren’s activities, heritage entertain- Sat., May 13, 1:00 pm 150 Church Street, Amherst. Contact: ment, afternoon garden tea party and “The Gene in Genealogy: What is Barb Thompson, 902-667-2561. Meets exhibit of Museum’s progress over 25 DNA and how is it used in genealogi- six times year, last Tuesday of the years of community service. cal research,” speaker: Dr. John month at 7.30 pm. Archibald, Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie Cole Harbour Heritage Dartmouth Heritage University. Society and Farm Museum Museum Society 471 Poplar Drive, Dartmouth. Evergreen House, 26 Newcastle Street, The Nova Scotia Historic Contact: Elizabeth Corser, 434-0222 Dartmouth (former home of Dr. Helen Places Initiative Fri., May 12 Creighton). Hours, events: 464-2300. Check the online register of Nova Roast beef dinner and auction hosted Scotia’s historic buildings and places: by the Cole Harbour Heritage Society, www.NShistoricplaces.ca Brightwood Golf Course, $35/person. Federation of Nova Heritage Farm fundraiser. Auction Local Council of Women donations needed. Scotian Heritage 989 Young Avenue, Halifax. At the Heritage Farm: 1113 Marginal Road, Halifax NS B3H Information: 423-5300. Fri., April 21 4P7. Information: 423-4677/1-800-355- Notice: George Wright’s 1904 house An evening with Heather Dale spon- 6873 or visit http://www.fnsh.ns.ca. available to rent for special occasions. sored by the Harbour Folk Society. Heritage Contacts & Connections - elec- Admittance by donation tronic information hub promoting Sun., April 30, 1:30 pm links within the heritage community Lunenburg County Storytelling in the Giles House and awareness of heritage resources. Adults, $4; 8-12 yrs, $2. To find expert advice, relevant non- Historical Society Sun., May 14, 1 pm-3:30 pm profit resources, useful web sites, edu- LaHave Fire Hall, LaHave, NS. Mothers’ Day Tea - Adults $7/ cational opportunities and funding Regular meetings, third Tuesday of children $5. information, visit www.fnsh.ns.ca/hcc. the month, 7 pm. Contact: Jane Mon., May 15 To share your helpful Contacts Houser, 902-634-3489. MUSEUM AND TEAROOM OPEN & Connections, email us at Sat., May 20, beginning at 11 am [email protected]. Sheep shearing Mainland South Heritage Sat., May 27, 10 am Society Dartmouth Horticultural Society Fisheries Museum of the Captain William Spry Community annual plant sale Atlantic Centre, 10 Kidston Road, Spryfield, Sun., May 28, 1:30 pm Lunenburg, NS Halifax. Meets last Thursday of the Storytelling in the Giles House, Fun at Fisheries, Wednesdays, month, 7:00 pm. Contact: Iris Shea, Adults, $4; 8-12 yrs, $2. 9:30am-4pm 479-3505; [email protected] Sat., June 3, beginning at 11 am Watch the fish have their morning Tues., March 21, 9am-3:30pm Sheep shearing “mug-up” of special feed every Participation in Memory Project Road Sat., June 17, 4:30-6:30 pm Wednesday; 10 am, film show from Show, Lord Nelson Hotel; photo- Rhubarb Rhapsody, Adults, museum collection, Ice House graphs and information on war $8/children, $6. Theatre. Special $4 admission rate veterans in Mainland South. through April. Thurs., March 30, 7 pm DVD of the interviews by Sambro Cumberland County school children, recording oral histo- Museum Friends of McNabs Island ries for their 2005 History Alive proj- 150 Church Street, Amherst, NS. Society ect. Host: Allan Marryatt Contact Barb Thompson, Amherst Annual meeting and spring clean-up Thur., May 25, 7 pm Township Historical Society, 902-667- tba. Contact: 434-2254 “Polar Bears and Ptarmigans: Downs’ 2561 Zoological Gardens, 1847-1872”; Sat., June 10 (Museum Day) March 2006 Page 15 speaker: Local historian Heather Watts. and Fred Schwarz, Black Spruce Annual General Meeting. “Organizing Heather has acquired more interesting Heritage Services Generosity in Halifax: from photos since addressing the Heritage Tues., April 25, 7:30 pm Community Chest to Red Feather”; Trust Annual Dinner meeting in 2005. “Thirty Years of Archaeology in speaker: Shirley Tillotson. Halifax Regional Municipality”. Medway Area Heritage Speakers: Stephen A. Davis, Saint Mary’s University, & April D. Urban Farm Museum Society MacIntyre, Memorial University. Society of Spryfield Contact: Chris Georghiou, 902-543- Meets the second Monday of the 4204, P.O. Box 153, Port Medway, NS month, Captain William Spry Com- B0J 2T0; e-mail: [email protected] Nova Scotia Lighthouse munity Centre, 7:30 pm. Information: patico.ca. Preservation Society 10 Kidston Road, Halifax, NS B3R Readers Festival 2006; tickets - 7 pm Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, 1M8; Patricia MacLean, President Saturdays: $12 (incl. reception), 2 pm 1679 Lower Water Street, Halifax. 477-6087/e-mail: [email protected] Sundays: $8: Contact: 424-7490. All programs held or Donna Foley, Vice President, Sat., July 1 - Margaret Atwood at the MMA. 477-1772 Sun., July 2 - Graeme Gibson Sat., March 18, 10:00 AM - 12:00 noon Sat., July 15 - William Kowalski March Break Children’s Workshop: Build Sun., July 16 - William Weintraub Wallace and Area Museum a Model Lighthouse. Children aged 6- Sat., August 5 - Howard Norman 13440 Hwy 6, Wallace; hours: 12 years. Fee: $4.00. Call 423-8034 to Proceeds for the 1832 Meeting House Monday-Friday 9-4:30/Saturday 1-4 register. Restoration Fund pm. Information: 902-257-2191; Wed., March 22, 7:00 pm e-mail: [email protected] Museum of Natural Meeting: Reports of NSLPS activities Current Exhibition: Museum Mi’kmaq Program: “Pictou Bar Lighthouse”. basket collection History Speaker: Fergie MacKay. Illustrated Fri., May 5 1747 Summer St., Halifax; informa- talk on the history of this wooden Opening of two additional artistic dis- tion: 424-6099 lighthouse destroyed by fire in plays: watercolour paintings by a Wed., March 22, 7:30 pm July 2004. local art group; hooked mats by the “The Geological and Cultural History Wed., April 26, 7:00 pm Remsheg Rug Hookers. To May 27. of Halifax Harbour”, illustrated; speak- AGM with Reports and Presentation Sat., June 10 ers: scientist, Gordon Fader, and film- of the Craig Harding Award. Opening of the Summer’s theme maker, Charles Doucet. Program: “Update on Cape Forchu”, exhibit, The United Empire Loyalists Wed., April 12, 7:30 pm 8:15 pm. Speaker: Nancy Knowles, and the “Remsheg Grant”. “Root Baskets of Atlantic Canada - President of the Friends of the Fri.-Sun., June 16-18 Acadian Black and Mi’kmaw”, illus- Yarmouth Light. Encampment of United Empire trated; speaker: Joleen Gordon, author. Loyalist Soldiers and Camp followers. Wed., April 26, 7:30 pm The 84th of Foot, Royal Highland “Maritime Gardeners and Gardens - Emigrants. regional heritage gardens”; speaker: botanist Alex Wilson. Food bank donations welcome Yarmouth County Museum/Historical Northwest Arm Heritage Rockingham Heritage Association Research Library Society 22 Collins Street, Yarmouth, NS; 1st Contact: Guy MacLean, 429-9412 Information: Carol Worrell, 443-7073 Friday of the month at 7.30pm: Wed., March 29, 7:30 pm Historical Society Meeting; 7.30pm “Samuel Cunard and the Northwest (no admission); 2nd Tuesday of the Arm”; speaker: John Langley, QC., at Royal Nova Scotia month, 7pm, Armchair Travel Series Bethany United Church Historical Society ($3/person)-programs tba. Meets third Wednesday of the month, Information: Adèle Hempel, Director, Nova Scotia Archaeology Public Archives of Nova Scotia, 7:30 902-742-5539, email: ycmuseum@east- Society pm; short business meeting, followed link.ca; website: http//yarmouthcounty- Meets at Auditorium of NS Museum by presentation. Information: RNSHS, museum.ednet.ns.ca of Natural History, Summer Street, P.O. Box 2622, Halifax, NS B3J 3P7; or Tues., March 17, 7:00 pm Halifax, 4th Tuesday of the month, email: Judith Fingard, President, at Launch of the exhibit, "The Marine September-May. Contact: Jeff Turner, [email protected]; website: History of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia": 835-5472; [email protected]. nsgna.ednet.ns.ca/rnshs "Real" exhibit of photographs and Open to the public. Wed., April 19, 6:00 for 6:30 pm ship portraits from the collections, Contact Craig Chandler at Annual Dinner Meeting at the also being launched simultaneously [email protected] or Wardroom, Stadacona. Tickets $35 as a "virtual" exhibit on the website. 420-0040. Winter 2006, “Underground from Janet Guildfordl, 454-5200. A Community Memories initiative of Halifax” - Illustrated Talk Series: “PoTlotek/Ile-de-la-Sainte- the VMC Investment Program Tues., March 28, 7:30 pm Famille/: a Documen- (CHIN). Tues-Sat., 2-5 pm. Admission “A Walk in the Park: Point Pleasant tary History. Speaker : John Johnston free. w after Hurricane Juan”. Speakers: Lynne and Sandy Balcom. Wed., May 17, 7:30 pm Page 16 The Griffin - HERITAGE TRUST OF NOVA SCOTIA