Halifax 100

Halifax Public Libraries Resource Guide 100

Introduction

The morning of Tuesday, December 6, 1917 dawned clear and unseasonably warm in Halifax. The harbour was busier than usual, teeming with ships whose schedules were dictated by the commerce of World War One. Halifax served as a gathering point for ships being escorted by convoy to , and it was bustling with activity.

Shortly before nine a.m., two ships began their opposing journeys in the harbour’s confines. The Mont-Blanc, a munitions ship loaded with close to three thousand tons of material, was steaming into the harbour while the Belgian relief ship, Imo, was approaching the Narrows on its way out of Halifax. For reasons unknown, both ships headed for the same point in the crowded harbour and were unable to correct their positions in time to avert disaster. The Imo collided with the Mont-Blanc. The collision spilled a number of barrels of benzol, and the leaking fuel caught fire. As the fire intensified, black smoke billowed skyward.

Unable to control the blaze, and fully aware of the dangerous cargo, the Mont-Blanc crew abandoned ship, and the vessel drifted toward Richmond Pier on the Halifax side. Shortly after nine a.m., as hundreds watched from the shoreline and from windows, the Mont-Blanc exploded in a ball of fury, laying waste two and a half square miles of Halifax city, killing close to 2,000, wounding 6,000, and leaving 25,000 homeless. Dartmouth’s North end, including the Mi’kmaq community of Turtle Grove, was equally devastated.

Much has been written about the Explosion within the last 100 years, examining the circumstances before and after the collision. What follows is a select list of adult and youth materials currently in the collection of . In 2017, Halifax Regional Municipality will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion with a series of programs, cultural events and commemorations. For more details visit 100years100stories.ca. Resources Adult and Youth Catastrophe and Social Change, Devastated Halifax: Views of the Final Report of the - Based Upon a Sociological Study Greatest Disaster in the History of Halifax Health Commission with Non-Fiction (Y): of the Halifax Disaster, by Samuel the American Continent, Caused Appendices: October 1919 to Henry Prince. New York: n.p., 1920. by the Explosion that Followed the October 1929, by the Massachusetts- Aftershock: The Halifax Explosion Collision of the French Munition Halifax Health Commission. Halifax: and the Persecution of Pilot Francis Christ Church, Dartmouth, Nova Ship “Mont-Blanc” and the Belgian The Commission, 1932. Mackey, by Janet Maybee. Halifax: Scotia: 1817 to 1959, by Charles Relief Ship “Imo” in , Nimbus, 2015. Walter Bayer, 58-67. n.p.: 1960. December 6th, 1917, Halifax: G.E. Four Years Work of the Weir, 1917. Massachusetts-Halifax Health Amazing Medical Stories, by Christian Science War Time Commission: A Progress Report, George Burden & Dorothy Grant, Activities, by the Christian Science Dispensing Aid: Druggists and by Franklin Royer. Halifax: The 79-84. Fredericton, N.B.: Goose Lane War Relief Committee. : Christian the Halifax Explosion, by Mary Commission, 1923. Editions, 2003. Science Publishing Society, 19__. E. MacCara. Tantallon, N.S.: Glen Margaret Publishing, 2017 Gone But Not Forgotten: Victims Autobiography, by Benjamin Russell, Cinders and Saltwater: The Story of of the Halifax Explosion in Catholic 264-273. Halifax Royal Print and Atlantic Railways, by Shirly Relief Ship “Imo” in Halifax Harbour, Cemeteries, by Shelby Bailey. Halifax: Litho, 1932. E. Woods, 178-180. Halifax: Nimbus, December 6th, 1917. Halifax: G.E. Catholic Cemeteries of Halifax, 2017. 1992. Weir, 1917. Bearing Witness: Journalists, The Great Halifax Explosion, by John Record Keepers and the 1917 Halifax Crime Wave: Con Men, Rogues and Disaster Canada, by Janet Looker, U. Bacon. New York: HarperCollins Explosion, by Michael Dupuis. Scoundrels from ’s Past, 232-240. : Lynx Images, 2000. Publishers, 2017. Winnipeg: Fernwood, 2017. by Dean Jobb, 57-66. Porter’s Lake: Pottersfield Press, 1991. Disaster Citizenship: Survivors, The Great Halifax Explosion, Behind the Headlines! From Moose Solidarity, and Power in the December 6, 1917, by Joan Horwood. River to Shangri-la, by Ralph Kelly The Curse of the Narrows: The Progressive Era, by Jacob A.C. St. John’s: Avalon, 1976. Morton, 15-17. Halifax: Nimbus, 1986. Halifax Explosion, 1917, by Laura Remes. Urbana: University of Illinois MacDonald. New York: Walker & Press, 2016. Grim Visions: Arthur Lismer and the Betrayal of Trust: Commander Wyatt Company, 2005. Halifax Explosion, by Alan Ruffman. and the Halifax Explosion, by Joel Edwardian Halifax: Postcard Halifax: Mount Saint Vincent Zemel. Halifax: New World Publishing, Dartmouth’s Day of Anguish: Glimpses of an Era, 1900-1920, by University Art Gallery, 1990. 2017. The Explosion, December 6, 1917, Dan Soucoup, 78-81. Halifax: Nimbus, by Harry Chapman. Dartmouth: 1998. Ground Zero: A Reassessment of the The Bicentennial of the Halifax Fire Dartmouth Museum Society, 1992. 1917 in Halifax Harbour, Department: 1768-1968: 200 Years Enriched by Catastrophe: Social by Alan Ruffman and Colin D. Howell. of Firefighting, prepared by Pearl Dartmouth’s Day of Sorrow: Halifax Work and Social Conflict After the Halifax: Nimbus, 1994. Connelly, 22-26. Halifax: McCurdy Harbour Explosion – 1917, by Harry Halifax Explosion, by Michelle Hèbert Print, 1968. Chapman. Dartmouth: Dartmouth Boyd. Black Point, N.S.: Fernwood Halifax and its People 1749-1999, Historical Association, 2007. Pub., 2007. by Nova Scotia Archives and Record “Big Bang Theories: Remembering the Management, 54-56. Halifax: Nimbus, Halifax Explosion with Townhouses “Day of Disaster,” by H.B. Jefferson The Explosion – A Child’s Story, 1999. and a TV Movie,” by Robert Plowman, in the Atlantic Advocate. January by Darren Brackley. Shunpiking, The Coast. October 23, 2003, 11-12. 1958, 15-24. December 1997, 5. The Halifax Catastrophe: Forty views showing extent of damage in Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax “Death in Halifax”, By Edmund Explosion, Dec. 6, 1917: 75 Years: A Canada’s historic city as the result Explosion of 1917, by Sally M. Walker. Gilligan. (An excerpt from Reader’s Special Project of the Daily News. of a terrific explosion on Thursday, New York: Henry Holt, 2011. (Y) Digest, condensed from The Dartmouth: Daily News, 1992. December 6, 1917, which killed 1,500 American Mercury, February 1938). men, women, and children, injured Breaking Disaster: Newspaper Explosion in Halifax Harbour, 3,000 and rendered 6,000 homeless, Stories of the Halifax Explosion, by : Re-Visiting the December 6, 1917: The Salvation causing property damage of nearly Katie Ingram. Pottersfield Press, 2017. Halifax Explosion, by and Army’s Relief Operations, by Ralph $50,000,000. Halifax: Royal Print and Joan Payzant. Halifax: Nimbus, 2006. Pilgrim. Halifax: n.p., 1994. Litho, 1917. Broken Pieces, by Allison Lawlor. Halifax: Nimbus, 2017. (Y) December 6/The Halifax Solution: Explosion in Halifax Harbour, 1917, by Halifax, Cornerstone of Canada, by An Alternative to Nuclear War, by Dan Soucoup. Halifax: Nimbus, 2017. Joan M. Payzant, 136-138. Burlington, Canada and the Great War: Western Leslie Choyce. Porter’s Lake, NS: Ont.: Windsor Publications, 1985. Front Association Papers, edited Pottersfield Press, 1988. Explosion in Halifax Harbour: The by Briton C. Busch. 93-121. : Illustrated Account of a Disaster Halifax, December 6, 1917: A Photo- McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2003. That Shook the World, by David Documentation of the Halifax B. Flemming. Halifax: Formac Pub., Explosion, researched by Graham Canadian Disasters: 43 True Stories, 2004. Metson. West House Museum: by René Schmidt, 1-5. Toronto: Halifax, 1977. Scholastic Canada, 2013. The Halifax Disaster, December 6, The Halifax Explosion: Realities and “The ’s Heaven to Me,” The Medical Services, by Andrew 1917, by Ernest Fraser Robinson. St. Myths, by Alan Ruffman. Halifax: by Barbara Fuller. Halifax Magazine. MacPhail, 327-329. Ottawa: The Catherine’s Ont.: Vanwell, 1987. Geo-Marine Associates, 1987. Halifax: Jan. 1982, 44. Department, 1925.

The Halifax Explosion, by Kate Halifax in Ruins: Streets Littered In My Time: A Memoir, by Thomas H. “Memories from the Bells” by Carman. Ottawa: Canadian Library with Dead; French Munitions Boat Raddall, 30-41. Toronto: McClelland Alice Bardsley, Atlantic Advocate. Association, 1981. Collides in the Harbour with a and Stewart, 1976. December 1984, 41-43. Belgian Relief Ship and Blows Up; “The Halifax Explosion,” by Charles Two Spare Miles a Burning Ruin, in In the Face of Disaster: True Stories “Memories of a Day of Horrors,” by Bruce Fergusson. Journal of the Times Series (Times of Halifax). of Canadian Heroes from the Harry Chapman. The Beaver. Aug./ Education, (February, 1968), 25-31. Vol. 4, No.2 (2002). Archives of Macleans, ed. by Michael Sept., 1993, 35-39. Benedict, 242-253. Toronto: Penguin “Halifax Explosion,” by Thomas H. Halifax, Nova Scotia: The Great Books, 2000. “Mi’Kmaw at the Halifax Explosion,” Raddall. Atlantic Anthology, ed. Will Harbour, 14. Halifax: John Quinpool, by Kenny Prosper. Mi’kmaq-Maliseet R. Bird, 230-235. Toronto: McClelland 1941. In the Privy Council on Appeal Nation News, 20 December, 2002, 5. and Stewart, 1959. from the Halifax: Warden of the North, by between the ship “Imo” (Southern Miracles and Mysteries: The Halifax The Halifax Explosion, by Evelyn Thomas H. Raddall, 241-250. Halifax: Pacific Whaling Company, Limited, Explosion, December 6, 1917, by Mary Richardson. Nova Scotia Historical Nimbus, 2010. Owners), (Defendant), Appelant and Ann Monnon. Halifax: Nimbus, 2011. Quarterly, 1977, 305. La Compagnie Generale Trans- Halifax’s North End: An Atlantique, (Plaintiff), Respondent: More History with a Twist, by Bruce “Halifax Explosion-A Great Disaster- Anthropologist Looks at the City, by Record of Proceedings: Volume 1. Nunn, 116-119. Halifax: Nimbus, 2001. December 6, 1917.” More Tales Told Paul A. Erickson, 54-64. Hantsport: [n.p.], 1919. Under the Old Town Clock, by Lancelot, 1986. A Name for Himself: A Biography William C. Borrett. Halifax: Imperial, In the Wake of the Alderney: of , by Joyce 1943. Halifax’s Other Hill: Fort Needham Dartmouth 1750-2000, by Harry Barkhouse, 1-7. Toronto: Irwin, 1986. from Earliest Times, by Paul A. Chapman, 194-207. Dartmouth: “The Halifax Explosion and Going to Erickson, 26-34. Halifax: Dept. Dartmouth Historical Association, “Names of the Identified Dead in the Siberia,” Cape Breton’s Magazine, of Anthropology, Saint Mary’s 2000. Explosion at Halifax, 6 December Issue 34, 7-12. University, 1984. 1917,” by Leland H. Harvey, Nova “The Inquiry into the Halifax Scotia Genealogist, Summer, 1998, The Halifax Explosion and the Heart Throbs of the Halifax Horror, Explosion of December 6, 1917: Legal 94-112. : Inquiry and by Stanley K. Smith. Halifax: Weir, 1918. Aspects,” by Janet F. Kitz. Journal Intrigue, by John Griffith Armstrong. of the Royal Nova Scotia Historical The Naval Service of Canada: Its Vancouver: U.B.C. Press, 2002. Helen Creighton: A Life in Folklore, Society, 2002, 64-78. Official History, by Gilbert Norman by Helen Creighton, 24-28. Toronto: Tucker, 229-233. Ottawa: King’s “The Halifax Explosion and the McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1975. “Just One Big Mess” The Halifax Printer, 1952. Spread of Rumour Through Print Explosion, 1917 [video recording Media,” by Gayle Graham and Helen Creighton: Canada’s First Lady DVD]. National Film Board of Canada, 1917 Halifax Explosion and American Bertrum H. MacDonald. Royal Nova of Folklore, by Clary Croft, 18-21. 2006, c1991. Response, by Blair Beed. Halifax: Scotia Historical Society Journal, Halifax: Nimbus, 1999. Nimbus, 2010. Volume 17, 2014, 92-111. “A Kernel of Truth?” Joseph “Helping Unheeded: Newfoundland’s Champion and the Halifax Explosion, 1917 Halifax Explosion: 50th The Halifax Explosion: Canada’s Relief Effort and the Historiography by Miles Dillon. Nova Scotia Anniversary. Halifax: n.p., 1967. Worst Disaster, by Ken Cuthbertson. of the Halifax Explosion, 1917”, by Genealogist, Summer, 2017, 82-84. Toronto: HarperCollins Canada Ltd., Malcolm MacLeod in Nova Scotia “On the Frontlines of Disaster,” 2017. Historical Review 2, No. 2 (1982): “The Last Alarm,” by Janice Landry. by Joyce Glasner. The Beaver, 65-68. Halifax Magazine, November 2012, December ‘07/January ’08, 16-24. The Halifax Explosion: December 6, 34-38. 1917, compiled and edited by Graham Historic Halifax, by Elizabeth Pacey, “Portrait of a City,” by Hugh Metson. Toronto: McGraw-Hill, 150-151. Willowdale, Ont.: Hounslow, Like a Weaver’s Shuttle: A History MacLennan. 284-285. Atlantic Ryerson, 1978. 1988. of the Halifax-Dartmouth Ferries, Anthology, ed. by Will R. Bird, by Joan M. Payzant and Lewis J. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, The Halifax Explosion: Heroes and Historic Halifax in Tales Told Under Payzant, 144-147. Halifax: Nimbus, 1959. Survivors, by Joyce Glasner. Toronto: the Old Town Clock, by William 1979. J. Lorimer, 2011. (Y) Coates, 186-192. Borrett. Toronto: “Portraits of Survivors,” in Cities. Ryerson, 1948. The Little Dutch Village: December, 1988, 35-39. The Halifax Explosion: SS Stella and Fairview, by Devonna and Don Maris and the Cape Island History of Canadian Architecture, by Edwards, 43, 44, 81. Halifax: Nimbus, Pride of Home: The Working Class Connections, by Bruce Brannen. Harold Kalman, Vol 2. 660. Don Mills, 2003. Housing Tradition in Nova Scotia Ottawa: Bruce Brannen, 2017. Ontario: Oxford, 1994. 1749-1949, by Joann Latremouille, 67- “The Halifax Explosion” (ballad) in 74. Hantsport: Lancelot, 1986. The Halifax Explosion: Surviving Hugh MacLennan: A Writer’s Life, by Maritime Folk Songs, compiled by the Blast that Shook a Nation, by Elspeth Cameron. Toronto: University Helen Creighton, 208-209. Toronto: Purcell’s Cove: The Little Place That Joyce Glasner. Canmore AB: Altitude of Toronto Press, 1981. Ryerson, 1962. Helped Build Halifax City, by Elsie Publishing, 2003. (Y) Purcell Millington, 23-25. Victoria, B.C.: S. Millington, 2000. Reconstruction of the Richmond Chaulk, 127-128. East Lawrencetown, Adult Fiction Youth Fiction District in Halifax: A Canadian N.S.: Pottersfield Press, 2002. Episode in Public Housing and Town Planning, 1918-1921, by John T.N.T. by Allan Baddeley. Blackwood’s Barometer Rising, by Hugh Blinding Light, by Julie Lawson. C. Weaver. Ottawa, Ont.: Atlantic Magazine, 1931. MacLennan. New York: Doull, Sloan Halifax: Nimbus, 2017. Planners Institute, 2004. and Pearce, 1941. Too Many to Mourn: One Family’s Chaos in Halifax, by Cathy Beveridge. St. Paul’s in the Grand Parade: 1749- Tragedy in the Halifax Explosion, Black Snow: A Story of Love and Vancouver: Ronsdale Press, 2004. 1999, by Sarah Baxter Emsley, 12-13, by James G. Mahar. Halifax: Nimbus, Destruction, by Jon Tattrie. East 56-57. Halifax: Formac, 1999. 1998. Lawrencetown, N.S.: Pottersfield Explosion Newsie, by Jacqueline Press, 2009. Halsey. Halifax: Formac Publishing Scapegoat: The Extraordinary Legal The Town that Died: A Chronicle of Company Limited, 2015. Proceedings Following the 1917 Halifax the Halifax Explosion, by Michael J. Blue Tattoo: A Novel, by Steven Explosion, by Joel Zemel. Halifax: SVP Bird. Halifax: Nimbus, 2011. Laffoley. East Lawrencetown, N.S.: The Flying Squirrel Stowaways: From Productions Paperback, 2016. Pottersfield Press, 2014. Halifax to Boston, by Marijke Simons, “Tracing the Halifax Explosion”, by Halifax: Nimbus, 2017. 17 Minutes to Live, by Richard A. Tom Mason, Saltscapes, November Burden of Desire, by Robert MacNeil. Boning. Baldwin, N.Y.: Dexter & 2001-December 2001. 36-40. New York: Tales/Doubleday, 1992. Halifax Explodes!, by Frieda Westbrook, 1973. Wishinsky; Illustrated by Patricia Ann “Truth is the First Casualty,” by Katie Dark Clouds of the Morning: A Lewis-MacDougall. Toronto: Owlkids Shattered City: The Halifax Ingram. Halifax Magazine, December Historical Novel, by Janet C. Burrill. Books, 2011. Explosion and the Road to Recovery, 2015, 26-28. Winnipeg: Word Alive Press, 2011. by Janet Kitz. Halifax: Nimbus, 2004. Hope and Survival: A Story of the Views of the Halifax Disaster, Exploded Identity: A Saga of the Halifax Explosion, by Laurie Swim. “The Shea Family and the Halifax December 6, 1917. Halifax: n.p., 1917. Halifax Explosion, by Catherine M. Halifax: Art Quilt Publishing, 2017 Explosion,” by Douglas Cochrane. Mildon. Victoria: Trafford, 2005. Nova Scotia Genealogist, Summer, “A Vision of Regeneration”: Irish Chain, by Barbara Haworth- 2017, 67-81. Reconstruction after the Halifax Glass Voices, by Carol Bruneau. Attard. Toronto: Harper Trophy Explosion, 1917-1921. Halifax: Public Toronto: Cormorant Books, 2007. Canada, 2002. Shipwreck Treasures: Disaster and Archives of Nova Scotia, 1993. Discovery on Canada’s East Coast, Highlanders Without Kilts: One The Little Tree by the Sea, by John by Roger Marster, 94-99. Halifax: “Visit with Steve Whitty”, by Steve Canadian Family’s Loss on the DeMont; Illustrated by Belle DeMont. Formac, 2002. Whitty. Cape Breton’s Magazine, Slopes of Vimy Ridge and One Lunenburg, N.S.: MacIntyre Purcell issue 34. 64-72. Nation’s Altered Sense of Self, Publishing, 2017. 6/12/17, by John Boileau. Lunenburg, by Denis Dauphinee. Bradley, ME. N.S.: MacIntyre Purcell Publishing, We Harbor No Evil Design: Kicking Pig Press, 2015. Love from Katie, by Paddy Muir. 2017. Rehabilitation Efforts After the Dartmouth: James-Stonehouse, 1991. Halifax Explosion of 1917, edited by Lives of Courage, 1912-1932, by Bill The Smoke-Eaters: A History of David A. Sutherland. Toronto: The Smallwood. Ottawa: Borealis Press, No Safe Harbour: The Halifax Firefighting Nova Scotia: 1750-1950, Champlain Society, 2017. 2008. Explosion Diary of Charlotte by Mike Parker, 170-174. Halifax: Blackburn, by Julie Lawson. Nimbus, 2002. White Shirts with Blue Collars: A Romance of the Halifax Disaster, Markham, Ont.: Scholastic Canada, Industry in Dartmouth Nova Scotia by F. McKelvey Bell. Halifax: Royal 2006. The Story of Dartmouth, by John 1785-1995, 59-62. Dartmouth, N.S.: Print and Litho, 1918. Patrick Martin, 62-67; 71-72; 515-523; Dartmouth Historical Association, Penelope: Terror in the Harbour/ 527. Dartmouth: the Author, 1957. 1997. Shattered, by Jennie Marsland. Book One, by Sharon E. McKay. Christchurch, New Zealand: Toronto: Penguin, 2001. Survivors: Children of the Halifax Who was to Blame: The Halifax Bluewood. 2011. Explosion, by Janet Kitz. Halifax: Explosion Inquiry, by Owen Penelope: Terror in the Harbour/ Nimbus, 1992. McCarron. Halifax, N.S.: Chronicle- Tides of Honour: A Novel, by Book Two, by Sharon E. McKay. Herald, [n.d.]. Genevieve Graham. Toronto: Simon & Penguin, 2002. 30 Views of the Dartmouth Disaster: Schuster Canada, 2015. Showing Effects of Explosion World Disasters: Tragedies in the Who’s a Scaredy-Cat!: A Story of December 6th, 1917, compiled by Modern Age, 62-63. : Fitzroy “Winter’s Tale,” by Thomas H. the Halifax Explosion, by Joan M. A.W. Griswold. Dartmouth, N.S.: A.W. Dearborn, 2001. Raddall. Nearly An Island: A Nova Payzant.Halifax: Nimbus, 2005. Griswold, 1917. Scotian Anthology, ed. By Alice Worse Than War: The Halifax Hale and Sheila Brooks. St. John’s: Yesterday’s Children, by Joyce C. Time in a Bottle: Historic Halifax Explosion, by Mary Pauline Murphy Breakwater, 1979. Barkhouse. Hantsport, N.S.: Lancelot, Harbour from the Bottom Up, by Bob Sutow. Tantallon: Four East, 1992. 1992. Vertical Files Halifax Herald/Chronicle Herald: Reader’s Guide to Periodical July 1880 to present. Literature. 1890-2006. Indexes The Local History Room has vertical American and some Canadian files on the Halifax Explosion. These Evening Mail/Mail Star: magazines. City Council Minutes files contain newspaper articles, tour 1894-2004 The “Minutes of the City Council guides, brochures, maps, photocopies of primary sources and other Halifax North of the City of Halifax, Nova Scotia”, Daily News: 1981-2008 from 1917-1976 reported on the efforts interesting items. to rebuild Halifax. Each volume has For example: Memorial Book “Halifax an index in the front. Look for entries Periodical Indexes and under “Explosion, December 6, 1917” Halifax, N.S.-Explosion Databases Explosion, 1917” (1966): or “Halifax Relief Commission”. Canadian News Index. (1978-1992). The Halifax Relief Commission Halifax, N.S.-Explosion, 1917-Relief Indexes Canadian magazines and donated $100,000 towards building City Directories Commission newspapers. of the Halifax North branch as a memorial to the Explosion. The Check the McAlpine’s Halifax- Halifax, N.S.-Hydrostone District branch features a calligraphic listing Dartmouth City Directories for the Canadian Periodical Index. (1920- of all the known dead, circa 1966. year 1915-1925 to locate families 2002). Indexes Canadian magazines. or businesses before and after the Newspapers on Microfilm Eureka.cc. Features over 4000 full- Explosion. The 1918 City Directory Newspapers published hundreds of texted articles from local and world published an alphabetical list of articles after the explosion. Many newspapers. (Available only at the “Names of the Identified Dead survivors placed notices inquiring Halifax Central Library). Killed in the Explosion at Halifax, or identifying the whereabouts of December 6, 1917”, up-to-date at the families and friends. Articles on General Reference Centre. General time of printing, The “Halifax Street rescue efforts and relief measures interest articles, mostly U.S. based. Directory”, near the front, notes can also be found. Look for new afflicted regions as “Devastated research or survivor tales around the ProQuest. 1985-present. Online Area”. December anniversary. access to Canadian Newspapers.