Gallery 23 - City of Dartmouth

1895

November 20, 2022April 22, 2016 by Dartmouth

From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin:

On January 3rd, 1895, Mayor Sterns and the Councilors attended the state funeral at Halifax of Sir John Thompson, Prime Minister of Canada, who had died at Windsor Castle in December.
In the spring, the “Atlantic Weekly” moved to the southern half of McDonald’s “skyscraper”. The man-power press was usually operated by Tommy Hyles. If he failed to appear for the Saturday morning run, we newsboys used to take turns at the big wheel until enough papers were rolled off to supply our needs. (I walked to South Woodside and back, and averaged 6 cents.)
According to this newspaper, local industries of that time included Starr Manufacturing Co., skates, bolts, nuts and electroplating; employed from 75 to 100 hands depending on orders. The skate business was then on the decline. Dartmouth Ropeworks, when running full time employed 300 hands; Oland’s Brewery 25 men; Torrens’ cornmeal and spice-mill, Windmill Road, six men; Crathorne’s gristmill, (formerly Dooley’s), five men; water-power came down from Albro Lake and entered a mill-race on Jamieson Street near Brodie Street.
Dartmouth Iron Foundry on former Symonds’ place, all styles of stoves, six men. Douglass’ Iron Foundry, Waddell’s wharf, nine men. John Power carriage factory, 85 Portland St., five or six hands. Garrett Kingston carriage factory (Dundas Theatre location) six men. Alexander Hutt carriage factory (Nick’s Restaurant location), eight men. John Ritchie, tinsmith and stove-store, six men employed steadily. N. Russell and Co., established 50 years previously, northwest corner Portland and Dundas, tinsmiths and stove-store, makers of fish and lobster cans; output half a million cans annually, nine men. J. P. Dunn, northern half Simmonds Hardware shop, three men.
Chebucto Marine Railway, slack in winter, but in spring and summer often 100 men employed as shipwrights, caulkers, painters, iron-workers. N. Evans and Sons, boilermakers, 10 or 15 men. John P. Mott and Co., slight falling off that year in shipments to Ontario and Quebec, owing to the depression. Woodside Refinery, output 650 barrels of sugar daily. Ice firms of Glendenning, Carter, Chittick, Hutchinson, Hunt and Otto, employed about 100 men in winter, and half that number in other seasons.
The summer of 1895 is to be particularly noted because in that year was held our first annual celebration— an attraction which has continued with few interruptions down to the present day. Dartmouth had for many years been accustomed to observe the Natal Day of Halifax on June 21st, when schools were closed all day, and most shops shut up at noon. Dominion Day was largely unrecognized, whereas June 21st was a great “out of town” holiday.
“But why not commemorate our own Natal Day” queried townsfolk of that time, “and have such a celebration coincide with the coming of the first train over the new branch railroad?”
As the branch was scheduled to be completed in August, preparations were made early in 1895 to put on some sort of a summer carnival. Railways were to be requested to issue special fares so that train-loads of visitors who had never seen Dartmouth would throng here to note our advantages as an industrial and residential centre, and also to survey the scenery around Dartmouth Lakes, then described as the “Killarney of Nova Scotia”.
By June it was quite evident that the branch would not get finished that year. The Dartmouth Committee, however, went right ahead with their plans for an August regatta and fireworks display at First Lake. All classes of citizens from the well-to-do merchant to the wage-earner were canvassed for cash or other contributions. Among the prizes donated were walking canes, cuff links, spoon oars and hand mirrors. The task of collecting and of arranging a program was largely undertaken by the Chebucto Club members.
At the request of ratepayers, a public holiday was declared for Wednesday, August 7th. For many, it was only a half-holiday because shop-keepers remained open until the dinner-hour to supply the needs of households. Truckmen like John Jones, Steve Williams and “Tinny” Lee, who often stood for hours by their flat-wagons near Sterns’ store waiting for work, were unusually active hauling sundry equipment and produce towards the tented booths mushrooming up at the lake-side.
Needless to say, the atmosphere that morning was very different from ordinary days. Downtown stores and streets were gaily decorated, as were many private residences all over Dartmouth. On Steamboat Hill, voluminous folds of colored bunting billowed in the light summer breeze. An Italian hurdy-gurdy man from Halifax, with a small monkey attached to a long slender chain, amused an ever-growing crowd of us youngsters at Lawlor’s corner by grinding out bits of Wagnerian opera, while the nimble animal scampered up water-spouts to second-storey windows where he politely doffed his hat on receipt of the proferred penny.
During the afternoon and evening, hackmen reaped a harvest as every trip of the ferryboat landed more and more visitors. All sizes of vehicles, from the single carriage to the four-horse team jammed to the aisles with 10-cent fares, were galloped along the Ochterloney Street level in such a madcap Gilpinian manner that rims of frothy foam fringed the harness of the steaming horses. Never before had so many people been in Dartmouth at the one time. Never might it happen again, speculated the cabbies.
At the lake, a full program of aquatic sports and illuminated boat-parade was carried out very successfully. Two oarsmen, who participated in that first regatta, are still alive at the time of writing. They are John A. Bauld now in his 96th year, who rowed with the four-oared whaler crew of the Mutual Club; and Albert Sawler, 86 years of age, a member of the Turtle Grove crew in the Labrador whaler race. The other men in the Turtle Grove whaler were “Sandy” Patterson, John Lahey and Thomas Lahey.
Members of the Chebucto Club who devoted time, energy and money to institute our annual celebration are here recorded so that their names may be preserved for posterity. They include President Arthur Pyke, W. H. Stevens, Colin McNab, Percy Simmonds, Hope Watt, H. D. Creighton, J. E. Sterns, J. L. Wilson, James Burchell, Dr. F. W. Stevens, W. B. Rankin, Frank Angwin, A. W. F. MacKay, G. A. Sterns, Emery Bishop and o’thers.
In 1895, for the first time in history we got a school holiday on July 1st. The change was brought about as the result of criticism made in the previous year by Councillor A. C. Johnston to the effect that Dartmouth was unpatriotic in keeping school on Dominion Day. For the first time in school history also, the vacation was extended from six to eight weeks. Schools closed that summer on July 5th. The day was Friday and a scorcher.
In that year the Dartmouth Coal and Supply Co., was started by George E. VanBuskirk. Richard Wambolt sold his Halifax-Dartmouth Express business to S. B. Wambolt. Edward Butler now had a boat-hiring service on the present MicMac, Club location. The first electric lights were installed at Christ Church. Sousa’s Band performed at the Exhibition Building, Tower Road, Halifax.
New structures in 1895 were the U.P.C. Hall built by Contractor A. G. Gates; and the residence of the Russell family, which had been gutted by fire in June. E. M. Walker bought the Jenkins property, demolished the old house which had luscious plum-trees in the yard, and erected the building now occupied by Dartmouth Free Press, but then used as a storehouse for provender. A new shop on the west was leased to druggist W. A. Dymond, predecessor of Parker Mott. Contractor J. A. Webber built two houses at the foot of Queen Street, near Pine Street.

This is the new Sterns’ corner store just before the opening date in October 1894. The main entrance is the same as now used by Dartmouth Furnishers, but the single plate-glass window and doorway to the left designate the small section then under lease to the local branch of the Union Bank of Halifax. The third storey of the building was also rented out for lodge rooms. Above the windows is the double-meaning circular date. Show rooms were on second floor.
The size of the panes of glass in John Allen’s shoe-store next north, was typical of Nova Scotia windows of the 19th century. “Putting up the shutters” on these windows was a regular chore of clerks at closing time. It was also the practice to put up shutters when the proprietor died, and they were sometimes half-put-up when any funeral of importance was about to pass the store.
At the extreme left is the first brick building of Dartmouth. (It was here that Joseph Howe used to call for his morning mail.) Note the display of dry goods atop a packing-case on the sidewalk, as was the custom of the time. In the doorway is J. Edwin Sterns who was then no doubt making final preparations to move back to the corner vacated by his father, and the family, exactly 30 years previously.

This is Portland Street looking east from the intersection of Prince Street on a Saturday in summer, about 1894. The owners of the wagons have come from Eastern Passage, Cole Harbor, Preston, Lawrencetown, Seaforth and the Chezzetcooks. In order to catch early ferries and thus secure the best positions on the sidewalk market at Halifax, many of these people had to leave home as early as 2 a.m. They used to barn their animals in the stables of their particular grocery merchants nearby, and then carry their produce to the City. Vehicles more heavily laden were hauled by man-power on and off the ferry to be parked on Bedford Row while their horses rested during the day at Dartmouth. These country wagons would often line up both sides of Portland Street, part of Prince Street, Water Street near Law-low’s, and Ochterloney Street near Walker’s and Gentles grocery stores. Sidewalks and gutters thereabouts were generally left with a varied accumulation of litter.
At the right of the photo, Owen McCarthy’s new millinery store is just behind the post, next east with the white awning is Frank Dares’ grocery, and then the grocery of John Wisdom & Son, (now Trider’s). At the extreme right is Ormon’s corner-grocery at Poplar Hill (now Woolworth Store). Opposite Trider’s was John Lawlor’s bakery.

1894

December 6, 2022April 22, 2016 by Dartmouth

From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin:

The bridge over the Canal at Portland Street was reconstructed under the direction of Street Superintendent Bishop, and the hollow filled in with material excavated from the water trenches. The sturdy stones on both sides which are now visible only on the northern side, are from the ruins of the Canal Locks, and bear the familiar 7-point etchings of stone-cutters of a bygone day. The stones were set in position by Messrs. Synott and Barry. Thus went the last of our downtown wooden bridges.
The railway bridge over the Narrows, which had been repaired in the previous year, collapsed on the night of July 23rd. The piles must have been very unstable because a large section extending from the Draw to the Halifax side simply floated away in the calm weather then prevailing. Many residents are still alive who had walked across a few hours before.
The old [Mi’kmaq] legend about the curse pronounced upon a crossing over the Narrows, was a well-known tradition in last century. The story goes back to the days before the settlement of Halifax. It seems that in the dim and distant past, a lovely [Mi’kmaq] girl was courted by two braves, one of whom was rich and more powerful than the other. The maiden’s heart, however, was inclined towards the poor one, who finally won her for his bride. They spent their happy honeymoon on the eastern side of Chebucto harbor, near the Narrows.
According to the legend, the Narrows was then bridged over by a [Mi’kmaq] construction of poles extended, and resting on canoes, to which they were fastened. These canoes were kept in place by heavy stones hung from ropes long enough to reach the deeper water. In the winter seasons, or in times of warfare, this primitive bridge was removed and the passage left open.
The unsuccessful lover disappeared, and was supposed to have gone on a hunting trip. But one night the bride was wakeful and uneasy. She rose, threw a blanket about her, and passed from the wigwam out into the cool midnight air, hoping that the quiet would bring back her repose. As she strolled towards the shore, a man sprang suddenly from behind a tree, and seized her in his arms. At once he bounded to the beach and on the bridge, while the young bride’s cries for help rang on the air, and wakened her husband and others of the tribe.
Grasping his hatchet, the husband rushed out, only to see his rival carrying away what was most precious to him. He also flew to the bridge, but by that time the rival was half-way across and, while firmly holding his prize, had plucked a hatchet from his belt and with rapid strokes, began cutting the bridge in twain.
A few slashes on the mooring ropes of the canoes, more blows on the poles connecting it with its neighbor, and the bridge parted. The severed ends were then rapidly swept downward by the swiftly flowing waters.
The western end on which stood the abductor and his now fainting prize soon touched the shore. He leaped on the beach with his burden, and was soon lost to sight in the pathless forest.
On the opposite side, the enraged and despairing husband, with bitter curses upon his foe and upon the severed bridge, threw himself into the rushing tide, and was swept down into the night.
Next morning he reappeared at the camp but his reason had fled. He spent the remainder of his days wandering about the shore, muttering over and over again the name of his bride, the villain who had betrayed him and repeating these words: “The first in storm, the second in darkness and the third in blood^“.
The collapsing of the railway bridge left stranded in Dartmouth about 35 freight cars whose contents were subsequently transported to Halifax by lighters. Telephone and telegraph wires strung along the bridge, also went out of commission and disrupted communication service for a time. At Dartmouth public meetings were held to discuss the advisability of reconstructing the bridge once more, but the majority of townsfolk favored the building of a railway from Windsor Junction to Dartmouth. This proposal was forwarded to authorities at Ottawa. Councillor A. C. Johnston and Benjamin Russell went thither to urge its adoption.
All the while the water project was going steadily forward. When Portland Street was being trenched in 1893, workmen unearthed a skull and some human bones. In sections of town where there were solid slate-rock formations, hand-drills were replaced by steam-drills. The latter method, which greatly expedited progress was under the supervision of A. A. Hayward, Manager of the American Hill gold mine at Waverley. Prince Street was one of the toughest. Almost the whole block had to be blasted. Similar formations were encountered on Dundas Street south of Queen, and in the stretches of Prince Albert Road and Portland Street bordering St. James Church.
In 1894 the first street signs were put up, and certain changes made in street names. The southern section of Prince Edward Street was changed to Prince Street, and the northern part changed to Edward Street. Colored Meeting Road was changed to Crichton Avenue. The present Prince Albert Road, hitherto called Portland Street, was changed to Canal Street and then ran from the shore to the Town limits. Portland Street was lined up as at present. Bishop Street, which extended from the Starr Factory to Burton’s Hill, was incorporated into Pleasant Street.
The new Post Office was opened in May. On the opposite corner the Sterns family built their second brick structure (present Dartmouth Furnishers), and in October returned to do business at the stand Luther Sterns had vacated 30 years previously. Rhodes Curry and Co., were the contractors. Edward Elliot was architect.
In June the stone-crusher went into operation, breaking up heavy rocks to macadamize the streets at a low cost. Daniel Brennan was Policeman No. 2. William Webber of Pine Street was engaged as a Watchman from 12 o’clock until eight in the morning. Up to that year, the Town was without police protection after midnight. A drinking fountain, donated by the local branch of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, with outlets for humans, horses and dogs, was erected on Steamboat Hill. Another drinking trough for horses, donated by J. Walter Allison, was set up on the north side of the road near 97 Pleasant Street.
John T. Walker erected St. Peter’s Hall on Ochterloney Street, and a two-roomed school at Woodside opposite 217 Pleasant Street. John N. McElmon raised the roof of Greenvale School and inserted a second storey with four additional rooms. The same contractor built a spacious Hall for the Turtle Grove Recreation Club (now apartments at 32 Dawson Street). At 51 Pleasant Street a double dwelling was completed for James Simmonds and A. E. Ellis. More bones were unearthed that summer when excavating for St. James’ new Manse. A commencement was made on the branch railway from Windsor Junction. A private telephone wire was strung on electric light poles, connecting Town Hall with the four schools.
Dartmouth oarsmen like Colin McNab and Charles Patterson were competing in the Lorne Club and other regattas at Halifax. The ‘Atlantic Weekly” suggested that similar programs be carried out at First Lake. In September, Woodside Refinery Club held a Saturday afternoon regatta over a course from the Sugar Refinery northward and return. Only Woodside employees participated.

This is what the old Inn of John Skerry looked like about 1892. The premises were then owned by John R. Graham, and the building divided to accommodate three families. In last century the sidewalk was much lower, and the Ochterloney Street entrance was reached by three layers of steps. The chimneys came up from three large fireplaces in the basement which evidently had served as a kitchen. Timbers twelve inches square support this building, and hand-hewn laths may still be seen in the walls. Note the clapboards on the sides, and the “Nova Scotia dormer windows” typical of 19th century houses throughout the Province. In the early 1890s Thomas Cushion kept a butcher shop at this corner. Man in white apron may be Albert Yetter. Lame “Johnnie” Wilson with his supporting stick and summer straw-hat, is leaning against the corner-board. The fence on the right is plastered with praises of patent medicines, and the low building adjoining is the old curiosity shop of Alec Pitts who used to display his second-hand furniture on the Water Street sidewalk in favorable weather.

This is the first St. Peter’s School erected about 1841, and regarded as one of the principal schools of Dartmouth until 1880. Boys and girls attended. This hall was built near St. Peter’s old church in the same manner as was the old parish school hall of Christ Church, because in the early days schools were usually of a denominational character and were fostered by the clergy. Of course any children were admitted upon payment of the tuition fee, until after the Free School Act when these institutions became public schools of the Town. Some teachers in old St. Peter’s included William Lawlor, John McDonald, David Walsh, Mr. Thorpe, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Hipp, John Cashen, Miss O’Toole, Miss Mary Holt, Miss Cassie Downey. St. Peter’s Temperance Society was organized here in 1885. The little building was removed from Ochterloney Street in 1894 to make room for the new St. Peter’s Hall.

This is the new Canal bridge and stone-crusher after it began to function in 1894. Both sides of the structure were made of heavy blocks of stone mostly from abandoned Canal Locks. Afterwards the middle part of the bridge was filled in with surplus slate-rock excavated from water-trenches, and also with material from the streets. The archway at the base is 12 feet high, built of bent iron rails and then covered with stone. In all, about 8 tons of iron rails, 775 tons of heavy stone and 3,258 cartloads of filling were used on this job. The total cost was $943.01. From about the year 1890, small stone was broken on a portable breaker which operated in different sections of Town to crush the surface pieces of whinstone then abundant everywhere. Previous to 1890, stone was broken with hand-hammers by unemployed men who were paid at the rate of three cents per bushel. In the 1880s they used the narrow level area on the east side of Prince Albert Road midway between the MicMac Club and Carter’s Corner. They had no protection from the weather.

See Also:

Annual Report 1894

1893

November 20, 2022April 22, 2016 by Dartmouth

From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin:

In January of 1893 a hockey league was formed consisting of the Chebuctos, Mutuals and the Turtle Grove Recreation Club who arranged a series of games to be played at Dartmouth Rink.
Dartmouth teachers were then gathering samples of the best school work to be sent along with the Nova Scotia educational exhibit to the World’s Fair in Chicago. In the collection were photographs of the five Dartmouth schools taken by George Craig for a $10 fee. (These pictures are still on display at Dartmouth High School.) The Starr Factory sent a pyramidical display of their world famous skates, and the Ropeworks forwarded a whole carload of rope and twine of various sizes. Henry Moseley shipped a beautifully finished pleasure boat 17 feet long, and his uncle Ebenezer sent several carved models of ships. Henry’s exhibit won a medal.
In the Legislature that winter, a bill was passed providing for the naming of streets and the numbering of houses in Dartmouth. John E. Lawlor, the baker, suggested that Colored Meeting House Road be named Crichton Avenue, and Windmill Road be Howe Avenue. Peter Douglass moved his iron foundry from Halifax to Waddell’s wharf at the foot of Ochterloney Street. Richard L. Wambolt commenced the Halifax and Dartmouth Express which enterprise in later years was greatly expanded by the Moir family.
On April 1st, 1893, a four-paged newspaper called the “Atlantic Weekly” was commenced by Harris S. Congdon.
By the end of 1893, nearly 350 houses and shops were enjoying water service. In addition 31 new hydrants were set up making a total of 55. These were manufactured by the Burrell Johnson Iron Company of Yarmouth at a cost of about $50 each.
The first of the old-time pumps, with their elevated wooden platforms, to be filled-in were the Stone Jug, Dr. Cunningham’s pump and another slightly out in the street in front of the present 65 King Street. Others remained in use until the pipes were extended to their particular section of the Town.
Besides the locations of pumps and wells already mentioned, a further list of locations of sources of water supply is herewith recorded:
There was a public pump in front of the present 43 Wentworth Street, another fronting 70 Wentworth; one at the eastern end of reservoir on Park Avenue; on the west side of Dundas Street just north of Christ Church driveway; at 11 Pine Street about five feet out from the curb; in front of 24 Dahlia Street; on Maple Street at the northwest corner of Tulip; on the south side of Tulip Street 50 yards east of Beech St.; in front of 106 Thistle Street but on the northern side.
In the northend there was one on the northern side of Pelzant Street at the end of George St ; another on north side Dawson Street fronting the little church just east of George St.
In December of 1893 a book was published to which frequent reference has been made; this was the well-known History of the Townships of Dartmouth, Preston and Lawrencetown by the late Mrs. William Lawson. The story had won a prize awarded by King’s College a few years previously, and in 1893 was brought out in a volume edited and annotated by Harry Piers, then Curator of the Provincial Museum at Halifax, who added valuable explanatory notes. The book is a treasure-house of our tragic and romantic history, written with a fine literary flavor.

This is wooden Park School from the roadway near the top of Synott’s Hill [–corner of Wyse and Windmill Roads today] photographed by George Craig in 1893 for the Chicago World’s Fair. The room near the tree was that of Vice-Principal Miss Margaret Downey who taught Grades 5 and 6, which was equivalent to both parts of the Fourth Royal Reader. Next left was Grade One of Miss Stenhouse who had an enrollment of 86. On the northeast side of the building were the classrooms of Miss Scarfe and Miss Annie Wilson. All four rooms had beehive stoves, wooden coal-boxes and water-buckets with a common drinking-mug. A hand-bell was used to summon the pupils. At recess in summer, we used to wander all over the blueberry grounds to the eastward; and in winter, as far northward as the skating pond opposite Hare Street.

1892

December 27, 2022April 22, 2016 by Dartmouth

From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin:

In the spring of 1892 the water-works project was carried on more extensively with trenches being dug concurrently in sections both without and within the Town limits. During that year and the next, main streets of downtown Dartmouth presented an extraordinary appearance with long stretches of yawning ditches topped by ridges of reddish clay and slate-ish stone which narrowed the thoroughfares into one-lane arteries.
Gutters were strewn with long links of heavy iron pipe, while here and there the sidewalk was obstructed with breast-high piles of birch-brush used in blasting operations. The periodic sounds of the coarse blasting-horn halted teamsters in their tracks and warned pedestrians to scamper for shelter and await the thudding boom of the explosion which sometimes sent sprays of stone against window-panes nearby. On muggy days the atmosphere was laden with pungent fumes of spent powder mingled with the smell of dampish earth which seemed to cling to the clothing of the sweating navies as they scrambled out of the deep trenches sharp on the bang of the noonday gun from Halifax Citadel.
Meanwhile Halifax and Dartmouth plumbers were busily engaged fitting up residences along the route of the pipes with modern water and sewerage facilities. Tests on the main line were made at intervals along Lake Road and within the Town proper. Finally on October 20th, water was let into the pipe at the upper part of Ochterloney, and the precious liquid gushed forth from a hydrant at the corner of Pine Street. The first tumblerful from this outlet was passed to Dr. Norman F. Cunningham, who upon sampling the same, pronounced it “good and wholesome brew.”
The first building to receive the service was the Town Hall where the water was turned on on November 2nd. By the end of 1892 some 125 houses and shops had been connected with the new system, and at least 125 water-buckets thrown into discard.
One can imagine with what feelings of relief and delight, young people of my generation welcomed this wonderful improvement. No more would we be obliged of a morning to jostle for our turn at the old town-pump amid the milling crowd of boys and girls striving to fill their buckets before school time.
Others were not so jubilant. Truckmen, for instance, who eked out their incomes by hauling puncheons of pond-water for the use of large families on wash-days, were now no longer deluged with orders on Monday mornings. The new arrangement also spelled doom for itinerant water-carriers like Frank Wilson and Saul Bauld, who were soon forced into liquidation.
In addition to a water system, the year 1892 is to be noted for another important advancement in the public utilities of Dartmouth. This was the installation of electric lights. Promoted by Dr. A. C. Cogswell, the Dartmouth Electric Light Company set up a generating plant at Ochterloney and Maple Streets, and strung wires on their poles throughout parts of the Town to provide for some 60 incandescent lights, besides arranging to service several shops and houses.
Up to that time the only street lights to which we were accustomed came from the small kerosene lamps whose rays were weak enough at their best, but often rendered worthless when high winds sputtered the flame and blackened the lamp-shade. Then on Thursday July 14th, about 9 o’clock in the evening, we were surprised and dazzled by the sudden illumination of streets from a series of electric lights at corners which brightened-up whole town blocks. To us youngsters, this was the eighth wonder of the world.
The contract with the Company was to run for five years at a cost of $20 per light per annum. George Foston and his wagon equipped with an oil barrel, small ladder and a supply of lamp-wicks, who had been making rounds as town lamplighter for nearly twenty years, ceased his operations.
By 1892 most of the work on St. Peter’s brick church was completed, and on the first Sunday of February the basement section was open for divine service. (For the next nine years, the upper portion remained as a vast empty shell.)
In a three-mile skating race at Dartmouth Rink that winter “Sandy” Patterson, who could cut around corners with ease, had no trouble defeating Charles Gordon the well-known speedster of Montreal. Ice-sports and carnivals were held frequently, but only an occasional hockey match of importance because the Chebucto team had not much competition either in Halifax or Dartmouth.
Zera Semon, the magician, (and no doubt his little son Larry) appeared for a week at Reform Club Hall. The nightly program of entertainment given there by the Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company also drew large crowds, and so enthused some of our local lassies that they made a futile attempt to run away from home and travel with the troupe. A tight-rope walker named Langwell gave an exhibition on a rope stretched high across Portland Street from the old Post Office to Brown’s corner.
Houses erected during 1892 included one in the vacant Esson field at the corner of King and Boggs Street built by John T. Walker for H. S. Creighton. The place was equipped with the most modern plumbing and hot-water heating. Mr. Creighton’s meticulous diary gives the total cost of the residence as amounting to $5,082.47. Alexander Hutchinson, plasterer, built a two-storey house at Ochterloney and Pine Streets. The high steeple of St. James’ Church was taken down by John A. Chisholm. Prescott Johnson purchased the house adjoining the Manse from Wm. McV. Smith, harness maker.
Luther Sterns died that year leaving a $40,000 estate. He owned the field bounded by Tulip, Maple, Rose and Pine Streets. Another industrialist James W. Turner, the tanner, also passed away. He was worth $100,000. “Jock” Patterson the piper, who came here with the 42nd Highlanders after the Crimean War, died in September. At 63 years of age he participated in the Riel Rebellion of 1885. His descendants are legion.
The year 1891-1892 marked my debut at Greenvale School in the Primer Class of Miss Emma Hume. A few of us young hopefuls of that vintage had been shuttled through Miss Hamilton’s crowded kindergarten owing to our ability to read some simple words on the beginners’ chart. My knowledge of these was gained mostly from an acquaintance with large-lettered phrases blackened on the six-foot bulletin board of the Halifax “Daily Echo” which was placed against a lamp-post at our corner in the late afternoon, and which stood inside the shop confronting us every succeeding day. Besides that there were copies of the three evening papers left from the day’s sales, strewn on the kitchen table after supper when we youngsters gathered around the single kerosene oil-lamp to do school lessons or clip out newspaper pictures.
At Greenvale School a high board fence extended from the southeast angle of the building towards the Canal stream, establishing a dividing line between the two play-yards and the two outhouses, which were built back to back. The lower level of the school had separate playrooms for girls and boys where during the recess periods noisy groups of grown-ups shouted, chased and dodged one another around the upright beams or across the creaking floor in an atmosphere that was literally clouded with indoor dust.
The school year constituted 212 days, divided into two terms. The winter term ran from November 1st to April 30th. The summer term extended from May 1st to the end of October with a six weeks’ break for vacation beginning on the second Monday of July. In 1891 schools closed for the summer on Friday, July 10th.
The most popular single holiday of early summer was the Natal Day of Halifax on June 21st. The Lieutenant-Governor always proclaimed it a public holiday in the Halifax area to commemorate the settlement of the City in 1749. Dominion Day was not recognized very much hereabouts, and schoolhouses in Dartmouth and in Halifax were kept open on July 1st as they had been, with few exceptions, both before and after 1867.
At Halifax, the Citadel flagstaffs, and some shipping in the harbor would be gaily bedecked with flags or bunting. The chartered Banks, the Dominion Government offices (not the Provincial) and some business places kept the holiday, but definitely a large number of wholesale and retail firms, ordinary shops, and the Liberal newspapers did not then observe Dominion Day, nor ever had. This, in spite of the fact that the City itself had given a majority vote for Confederation in the Dominion election of 1867. Almost every July 1st, the “Acadian Recorder” used to refer contemptuously to the day when Nova Scotians were “sold down the river”.
By 1892, however, much of the old antagonism to Confederation was beginning to weaken. Younger men were growing up and succeeding their ancestors in the business world. In June of 1892, a large group of Halifax merchants petitioned the Mayor to declare a holiday on Dominion Day. The answer was that there had already been a holiday on June 21st, and another one was due on Labor Day, then held about mid-July.

1890

March 11, 2024April 22, 2016 by Dartmouth

From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin:

On May 1st, 1890, our seven-member family moved from “Asylum Road’’ to the roomy Quaker-built house at Sterns’ corner. The front door was on Portland Street. The premises had just been vacated by Frank Mowatt, grocer. Downstairs in the shop my father sold candy, tobacco, hop beer and table beer on draught. We served oysters on the half-shell which cost about a dollar a barrel and yielded a handsome profit.
On the western side of Water Street then ran a row of small buildings so that the house and one-chair tonsorial parlor of D. J. Symonds on the northwest corner was directly opposite our shop. Steamboat Hill was no wider than the rest of Portland Street. Next north of Symonds was Mrs. Morrissey’s window-array of three plates of taffy (not fly-screened), while behind the counter were displayed a few 4-cent figs of chewing tobacco which could be purchased either whole or in part. If financial stringency necessitated the latter method, the sale price was one cent per quarter-fig.
Backyards, even in the downtown section, were usually enclosed with high board fences to keep in the poultry and keep out stray cows whose wanderings could ruin a vegetable or flower garden in a few minutes. Here and there on main street fences were painted advertisements of Burdock Blood Bitters, Scott’s Emulsion or the one about Perry Davis’ Pain Killer. (On our weather-beaten wooden fence, just up from the Ferry, were painted four large brown letters, M. C. R. C. This was probably some cough-remedy compound. The letters were so spaced as to occupy the entire length of the Portland Street side to the alleyway behind the present Dartmouth Furnishers. We had our own cow in the yard, also hens.)
The principal business places were on Portland and Ochterloney Streets west of King Street, and on Water Street (now Alderney Drive) between Ochterloney and Portland. The idea was to be located near the ferry. There were no shops of consequence on Portland Street east of King. Meat was sold only in butcher shops which carried no groceries whatever. There were also stores like Graham Brothers and Mrs. Backman that dealt exclusively in pork and pork products. Butcher shops like C. E. Peveril, John R. Graham and Stewart Conrad were crowded before school with children sent to buy the meat for dinner. In the afternoons of an ordinary week-day, there were very few customers in such stores.
Leading grocers were T. Gentles and Son, opposite St. Peter’s Hall, E. M. Walker, 22 Ochterloney, Mrs. Isabel Lawlor at the corner of Portland, J. B. Maclean at the present Nieforth Radio and Colin McNab diagonally opposite. At week-ends these places carried on a flourishing country trade with a heavy turnover of bags of oats, bran, pollard and bales of pressed, hay. All had spare barns for sheltering oxen and horses on Saturdays. Otherwise the buildings were unused. Lawlor’s long low barn had three separate entrances and extended from the store up to the present Harbor Cafe. If no stalls were available the animals were tethered to the rear of their wagons where the oxen would usually squat and ruminate contentedly upon the bed of oval-shaped cobble-stones in Portland Street gutter.
The most modern establishment in town at that time was in our only brick building where L. Sterns and Son sold dry goods, millinery, trunks, carpets and oilcloths. In the high McDonald building to the north, A. M. Beck made smart suits for men, employing about ten persons in his tailoring rooms upstairs. John Allen at Hiltz’s present location, and W. L. Tuttle opposite Murphy’s blacksmith shop were the only shoe dealers. In his drugstore at 19 Portland Street W. H. Stevens had the agency of the Western Union Telegraph. The bakery of H. B. Gentles and that of John Lawlor at Solomon’s location on Portland Street supplied our limited bread needs since most housewives made their own semiweekly batches. Neither bread nor milk vans came over from Halifax in those days.
On the contrary there were some twenty milk wagons crossing to the City from the outskirts of Dartmouth in the early morning ferries. Only a few farm-proprietors maintained routes around town because householders could usually obtain milk in their immediate neighborhood where almost every block had its back-yard cow-barn. (One of the last of these downtown barns may yet be seen up the alleyway at 41 Portland Street where Angus McAdam once kept as many as nine cows and three horses.)
From diminutive dairies in the rear of such households, tin-cans of fresh milk were carried to the homes of regular customers about seven o’clock in the morning -and six o’clock at night. The two trips were necessary 365 days in the year, for there were then very few families who had any means of preserving milk except by enshrouding the pitcher with a dampened cloth. Milk then sold for three cents per pint.
On summer mornings it was a common sight to see one or two cows meandering along a main street on the way to pasture, with an indifferent juvenile drover loitering far behind. Some nine or ten animal owners who were unable to rent fields, used to pay 25 cents per week per cow to a boy named William Stevens who tended their critters all day long in the undeveloped sections outside the town plot where there was plenty of grass. For this reason the boy got to be called “Shepherd” Stevens, and the nickname still sticks. “Shepherd” is best known to ferry-commuters because he was for nearly forty years employed as an oiler in the engine-room, and has only recently retired.
The other precious liquid most vital to our existence was fresh water. Every drop of it had to be carefully conserved. There were private wells in many cellars and in yards, with the ever-present puncheon for rain-water under the spouts of dwellings. Households which lacked a supply, generally sent their young people to the nearest town pump. In 1890 there were 19 public pumps and 19 public wells scattered throughout Dartmouth, and these were regularly cleaned out and the pump rods repaired by the Water Committee.
The nearest source of supply to our house was at “Dr. Cunningham’s pump”, so called because it was located in front of the latter’s residence which is now the Dartmouth Funeral Home on Queen Street. The pump stood on a platform in the street, some five feet from the gutter. My big brothers used to make about four trips a day to this pump, sometimes using an iron hoop over the top of the two buckets so that the water would not splash over their boots. The pump in Dr. Campbell’s yard was another source and a shorter haul, but the water there was a bit brackish.

This picture shows James Craig, a Crimean War veteran, who purchased the watered stock of the Toddy Brook enterprise from Alexander Marvin about 1890. His sales were more voluminous than those of the carriers, and on a Saturday often grossed five dollars. The team is standing just north of Queen Street at Greene’s railway siding. The Black man is thought to be Matt Brown. “TODDY BROOK WATER” was artistically painted on both sides of the 200-gallon puncheon by Isaac Bonang, employee at John Power’s carriage factory on the location of St. James’ Church Hall.

In homes of widows and especially in boarding-houses the water-firkins were regularly replenished by elderly Frank Wilson and Saul Bauld, two familiar figures of last century, who carried water from the nearest pump or well at the delivery price of two cents per bucketful. Their customers were wholly in congested downtown blocks where backyard wells were impracticable owing to the proximity of outhouses and ash-heaps.
The business of water-peddling was also conducted in a more capacious manner by Alexander Marvin who had recently inaugurated a vehicular service whereby the precious aqua pura was sold from a large puncheon mounted on a two-wheeled wagon. His source of supply was at Toddy Brook, an ice-cold underground stream flowing down the Austenville slope to form a crystal pool at Crichton Avenue near the present Edgemere Apartments.
Wooden water-buckets in porches were often odorous, and the drippy drinking-mug usually battered and rusty. The contamination of wells, the swarms of flies entering open windows from pigpens and stables, and the unsanitary method of handling food like unwrapped bread and meat from their exposed position on counters and delivery wagons, must have contributed to the frequent outbreaks of diseases then prevalent. Diphtheria seemed to be the most sudden and deadly. In 1890 there were 29 cases distributed throughout Dartmouth, and 18 deaths of young people resulted. Blacksmith James Settle lost two daughters within a few hours.
Outhouses had to be cleaned out and whitewashed every spring, according to town regulations, and the yearly accumulation of ashes moved from backyards. Night-carts usually worked after hours during these operations, and wasted little time transporting their loads to the nearest public dump. Afterwards all fences and outbuildings were brightened with a coating of whitewash giving premises a wholesome appearance.
By far the most appalling event of 1890 was the drowning tragedy at the ferry when the “Annex” arrived from New York. There are now only a few men and women left hereabouts who as children, were swept overboard with the shrieking mass of humanity on that frightful evening. One of these is Ralph Elliot, son of the late Town Clerk, who was rescued in the nick of time, and still lives to tell the tale. (Harry J. Bauer now (1965) living in Antigonish, tells me that he just managed to leap aboard the “Annex” before the bridge collapsed. Then the steamer backed out.)
The biggest real-estate transfer of that year was the acquisition by the Town of the buildings, boats, docks and equipment of the Steam Ferry Company at a price of $109,000. The operation of the service was taken over in July by the newly-formed Ferry Commission comprising Mayor Frederick Scarfe, Councilors W. H. Stevens and J. B. MacLean with John White, George J. Troop and Byron A. Weston as appointees of the Provincial Government.
The School Board purchased for $2,400 the “Greenvale” property of an acre and a half from the Falconer estate. Pine Street, which then ended at Ochterloney, was opened in a southerly direction to meet the easterly extension of Quarrell Street. The Falconer house was bought by A. M. Beck for $255 on condition that it be removed or demolished.
Subsequently John T. Walker commenced the construction of four-roomed Greenvale School at a price of $5,997. The same contractor-had just completed two-roomed Tufts’ Cove School which was erected at the Town limits to accommodate children living north and south of Dartmouth school section. About that time Mr. Walker also built the Summer House in the Park.
On Maple Street a start was made on the $27,000 St. Peter’s Church which was to be the first brick edifice in town. John Cawsey of Halifax contracted for the stonework, and Rhodes Curry and Co., for the remainder.

This is the paddle-wheeler “Annex 2” built in 1878 at New Baltimore, N. Y., and one of the six boats of the Jersey City-Brooklyn ferry system. She was bought in New York by John White and Byron A. Weston representing the Citizens’ Committee of Dartmouth to run as a competitor to the Ferry Company. The boat cost $25,000 but in the months subsequent to her purchase a considerable sum had to be spent on repairs. The “Annex” was re-named the “Halifax”, and did duty until 1909 when she was destroyed by fire at her dock in Dartmouth.

This is Saul Bauld who peddled water around town, or stood at corners awaiting calls from customers. He had no overhead whatsoever. In later years, Saul set up a shoeshine stand outside the Post Office through the charity of H. R. Walker. He died in 1906.

See also the Town of Dartmouth’s Annual Report for 1890:

Annual Report 1890

Blink Bonnie

December 4, 2022April 21, 2016 by Dartmouth

From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin:

This was the first house on the Prince Arthur’s Park hillside, constructed and occupied about 1870 by John P. Esdaile, Esq., a Montreal merchant. The Russells later called the place “Mount Pleasant.” The Redmonds re-named it “Blink Bonnie.”

Hazelhurst

December 27, 2022April 21, 2016 by Dartmouth

From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin:

This is John Mott’s residence “Hazelhurst” at 62-64 Pleasant Street undergoing demolition. Shown is the rear of the house with a back door for tradesmen. The driveway curved around to the main entrance with its partly-open sun porch facing the harbor where I used to see elderly Mrs. Mott and some rocking-chaired ladies enjoying the scenery on fine afternoons when I delivered the “Evening Mail” newspaper there just prior to her death in 1896. The place was then purchased by J. Walter Allison. At that time there were no houses on that side of Pleasant Street from Old Ferry Road to Albert St. When Mr. Allison’s widow died in 1934 the 10-acre estate was acquired by A. A. MacDonald. He remained until the P.E.I. Highlanders leased the residence for officers, and erected barracks on the lower grounds for occupation during World War II. The late W. G. Martin and others transformed the land.
Directly opposite 127 Pleasant Street the hollow foundation marks the site of “Beechwood” where Hon. Dr. McN. Parker resided from 1863. He practiced in Halifax and is said to have been the first surgeon in Nova Scotia to perform an operation on a patient with the use of an anesthetic. Dr. Van Buskirk of “Maplehurst” administered the ether. One of the rooms at “Beechwood” was used as a private school. Rev. Robert Falconer who became President of Toronto University in 1907 once attended there. He was then Principal of Pine Hill College. He became Sir Robert in 1917.

The view from across the street, looking South East towards Old Ferry Road, then and now.

pleasant st — A panorama made from the photos seen below, this is Hazelhurst estate, as seen from somewhere near what was once the driveway to Blink Bonnie from Pleasant St, looking northwest around the year 1890. Pleasant Street at Old Ferry Road seen in the foreground, Dartmouth Cove at middle left, what is now Downtown Dartmouth at upper middle. The Dartmouth ship yards are seen middle left, while Halifax is seen in the distance on the upper left. Dartmouth Common at the top middle. On the upper right much of “Slabtown”, later Austenville, still in a forested state.

A similar view to the image composite above, except from a vantage point a few blocks up the hill c.1950s. Much of Hazelhurst remains undeveloped, Newcastle having been a recent addition at this point. The lack of harbor bridge helps to pinpoint the date to before 1955.

See also:

French Prison: Near old Ferry Road, Dartmouth Cove, probably built about 1793, afterwards J. P. Mott & Co. soap factory

Dartmouth from Mount Amelia

“Survey of Ferry-House Lot belonging to J.P. Mott Esq.”

Mott’s Factories and Warehouses

January 12, 2023April 21, 2016 by Dartmouth

From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin:

MOTT’S FACTORIES AND WAREHOUSES about 1913. The manager then was J. Walter Allison, associated with John P. Mott from 1876. Over a long period, this thriving concern had agents in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver where large stocks of goods were kept on hand. Mr. Allison resided at “Hazelhurst” about 30 years. He died in 1927, but shortly before that date the firm had gone out of business. On Nov. 25, 1930, some of the vacant buildings were burnt down, and the others were afterwards demolished.

South End Lawn Tennis Club, 1898

March 11, 2024April 21, 2016 by Dartmouth

From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin:

SOUTH END LAWN TENNIS CLUB ABOUT 1898. The Old Ferry Road bordered by willow trees was at right. Mott’s “Candle Factory Hill” in the background. The site is about 50 yards west of 71 Newcastle St.
Reading from left to right the players are: Miss Fanny Parker; John Menger; Lewis K. Payzant; Prescott Johnston; Miss Annie Strong; Miss Isabel MacGregor (sister of Prof. Gordon MacGregor of Dalhousie); Miss Louise Black; George G. Dustan; Miss Mary Ann Parker (Mrs. Rev. Dr. Keirstead of Acadia University); Miss Jessie Mackenzie; Miss Nora MacKay; Mrs. Walter Creighton; Mrs. M. A. B. Smith: Miss Daisy Dustan (Mrs. C. H. Harvey); Miss Josie Howe (granddaughter Hon. Joseph Howe); Dr. Thomas M. Milsom; (girl seated at middle unidentified).

John Prescott Mott

March 11, 2024April 21, 2016 by Dartmouth

From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin:

THIS IS JOHN PRESCOTT MOTT, a 19th century industrial king of Eastern Canada., who by his business acumen and shrewd investments, became one of the wealthiest men in the Province. Mr. Mott was a President of the Nova Scotia Building Society, a director of the Steamboat Company and other enterprises. In 1861 he was among the incorporators of a Company intending to supply Dartmouth with a system of water and gaslight. Always prominent at town meetings, he served twice as Councillor for Ward 1.
John P. Mott’s tall figure, clad in swallow-tailed coat and beaver hat, used to be a familiar one as he was driven daily to the ferry by sleek horses caparisoned in silver-mounted harness. His benefactions to institutions and to people were made regardless of creed or color. But of his vast fortune, not a penny was provided to care for his costly monument and exotic copper-beech trees shading the old family plot in Christ Church cemetery.

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