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March 2006 Volume 31, No.1 ISSN 0384 7335 The Griffin A PUBLICATION OF HERITAGE TRUST OF NOVA SCOTIA 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 Pictou 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 Canada. 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).