old ferry road

Green Lane, Old Ferry Road, Lawrencetown Road

by

Here is one of, if not the earliest plans available showing Old Ferry Road as far as Cole Harbour (at left), which was originally known as the road to Lawrencetown. Now, Old Ferry Road, Portland Street and Cole Harbour Road. A few modern features added at right to give context. More on this road as it traversed through Woodlawn in the 1780s and 1820s.

The initial construction of this road, at least the part beyond the hill according to Martin, is noted in the Halifax Gazette on June 8th, 1754:

Thursday the 16th past, the Settlers of Lawrence Town set out from this Town in order to go by Land for that Place, having a strong Guard of 200 Regular Troops, exclusive of Officers, commanded by Capt. Stone, with a Number of Rangers; which Place they arrived at the Saturday following, having made a Road from Dartmouth Side to the said Town, which is but little more than 11 Miles distance from us…

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

Old Ferry Inn. Farmers stabled horses here, and sailed to Halifax with produce. Road in foreground extended easterly to the Passage. This sketch was made about 1820.

This is the lower part of Old Ferry Road, once known as “Green Lane” The curve in the foreground leads to the Old Ferry Wharf. The fence on the left encloses the South End Lawn Tennis Courts, and from there to the shore stood Regal willow trees. Two of them were named for King George III and Queen Charlotte, and two others for Mr. and Mrs. James Creighton of “Brooklands” who had them planted perhaps in the late 1700’s. When this picture was taken about 1900, they were of an enormous size. The whole road was a beautiful shady walk from the wharf all the way up to the present Portland Street.

The fence on the right borders Dr. Parker’s fields at “Beechwood”, and ran along near the location of the new house at 71 Newcastle Street.

The route of the obliterated road to the shore is identified by manholes of the sewer pipe running to Parker’s Wharf.

The remains of what used to be the Old Ferry Wharf at the foot of Old Ferry Road still remain visible, particularly at a very low tide – seen here the morning after Hurricane Juan:

Related posts:

  1. 1754 From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin: During 1754, gangs of soldiers are busily engaged cutting a road from Dartmouth to the new settlement at Lawrencetown. (This is probably the beginnings of Old Ferry Road from Parker’s wharf...
  2. Peninsula and harbour of Halifax A very detailed rendition of the Dartmouth shore from 1808. Skerry’s ferry at Ochterloney is seen as well as Creighton’s Ferry at the bottom of Old Ferry Road. Fort Duncan can be seen near where Shore Road meets Lyle Street...
  3. 1807 From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin: On Wednesday, March 11, 1807, Christian Bartlin and Alexander McDonald were drowned by the oversetting of their boat as they were returning home from Halifax. (This man may have been a...
  4. A Chart of Halifax Harbour, N.S. 1759 A particularly detailed early map of Dartmouth, showing several blockhouses surrounding the town plot. There’s 16 marks in and around the town plot which would seem to represent buildings, though they might more generally indicate built-up areas nearer to the...
  5. Halifax (and Dartmouth), Canada Among Dartmouth’s attractions noted: North of Park Avenue: North Ferry, St. Paul’s School, Stairs Memorial Church, Emmanuel Church, Park School and Victoria School, Dartmouth Common as well as Brightwood Golf course further down School Street. In or near Austenville: St....
  6. The Opposite Shore Called Dartmouth At least one distinct record from the year of 1759 survives: “Mrs. Mary Clark, whose house and garden stood at the southeast corner of the present Portland and King Streets, advised Secretary Richard Bulkeley that her “three lots have been...
  7. Part of the Town & Harbour of Halifax in Nova Scotia, Looking down George Street to the Opposite Shore Called Dartmouth See also: Mason, James. 1777. “Part of the Town & Harbour of Halifax in Nova Scotia, Looking down George Street to the Opposite Shore Called Dartmouth” Etching on wove paper. https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMDC-X76-19&R=DC-X76-19...
  8. Ochterloney Street, Preston Road, No. 7 Highway From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin: The names of Ochterloney and Quarrell (now Queen) were commemorated by streets in downtown Dartmouth. The extension of the first named thoroughfare marked the beginnings of the present no. 7 highway....
  9. Part of “Five Corners”, 1866 The Bridge at bottom left crosses the Mill Stream to downtown Dartmouth, St. James Church is now found at the corner adjacent at “Lot 5”. On the left, the road “To Preston” is now Prince Albert Road (Skate Factory, being...
  10. A plan of the harbour of Chebucto and town of Halifax One structure is noted at “Warrens point” near where the Marine Slips were located, what is now King’s Wharf in downtown Dartmouth. “Major Gilmots”, is listed, which should be Major (Ezekiel) Gilman, whose saw mill was erected not long after Halifax’s...