Historic Halifax for the Holidays
Tour Description
A collection of stories about past winters and Christmases in the greater Halifax area. Skating, sledding, sleigh rides, feasting, and concerts of choirs – this suite of stories will put you in the seasonal spirit. It's a perfect read while curled up by the fire or shared aloud with family and friends!
Locations for Tour
Rosina (Black) Uniacke (c. 1807-1858)
Rosina Jane Black was born to John Black (c. 1765-1823) and Catherine (Billop) Black (1777-1839) and baptized January 19th, 1808. Around 1819, John Black had a stately home built on Hollis Street, signifying his wealth and status. The house had ten…
Horse-Drawn Sleigh Drives in Nineteenth-Century Halifax
The beginning of horse-drawn sleigh drives can be traced back to the time of Prince Edward during the last years of the eighteenth century. They died out after he returned to England in 1800. However, sleigh drives were revived in 1821 with the…
The Controversy of Coasting on Citadel Hill
There is evidence that coasting, or tobogganing, was taking place on Halifax’s steep streets in the mid 1820s. The English name, “toboggan,” likely derives from the word for “sled” in one of the Eastern Algonquian languages – possibly the Mi’kmaq…
The Halifax Skating Rink
In 1862, the Halifax Skating Club was formed by a winter-hardy group of 'fancy skating' enthusiasts. They first took to the ice to perform the Lancers on Griffin's Pond in the Horticultural Society's Grounds, now commonly known as the Public Gardens.…
Starr Manufacturing Company
Starr Manufacturing was established in 1861 by Dartmouth businessman, John Starr. The steel manufacturing company was located on the west side of Prince Albert Road just north of Pleasant Street. Initially, the company produced nuts, bolts, and…
Halifax Public Gardens
The Halifax Public Gardens is surely one of the City of Halifax’s most recognizable historic places. The stunning sixteen acres bordered by Spring Garden Road, South Park Street, Summer Street and Sackville Street are right in the middle of city…
Simpson’s Halifax
The Mumford Road area of Halifax is one of the busiest shopping districts in the province. It is difficult to imagine a time when this area was considered the outskirts of town, and a lone building was surrounded by nothing but fields, trees, and an…
The Armdale Choir
For more than four decades, Halifax music lovers enjoyed the performances of the Armdale Chorus on radio, television, and live concerts. Starting as a Rhythm Band in 1934 under the direction of Mary Dee (later Mary Dee Girroir), the Armdale Glee Club…
"Dear Harold..."
During his service as a soldier in World War One, Private Harold Benjamin Watts wrote two postcards to his friend, Harold Homans, of Port Mouton, Nova Scotia. Together with his service record in Library Archives Canada, these wartime postcards offer…