storyofdartmouth-6 hazelhurst

Hazelhurst

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Hazelhurst
Hazelhurst from Pleasant Street

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.

Hazelhurst
“Hazelhurst, residence of John Prescott Mott, Dartmouth” https://archives.novascotia.ca/notman/archives/?ID=159

Hazelhurst
Looking southeast towards Old Ferry Road, Blink Bonnie seen in the distance. “John Prescott Mott’s House, Hazelhurst, Dartmouth” https://archives.novascotia.ca/notman/archives/?ID=148

Hazelhurst
Pleasant Street near St. George’s Lane, looking south

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.

hazelhurst 1890
hazelhurst 1890
Hazelhurst 1890

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.”

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