Mic Mac Rotary

“Atlantic Air Survey aerial photo showing Mic Mac Rotary”, 1970s. https://cdn.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/pages/in-content/2022-06/101-80c-1-4-h-56_0.jpg, https://archives.novascotia.ca/communityalbums/HalifaxArchives/archives/?ID=472

In the photo above (and below) you can see the original path of Braemar Drive, as well as where the original shoreline was, previous to the construction of the rotary.

“Mic Mac Rotary [aerial photograph]”, Sept 2, 1963.
https://7046.sydneyplus.com/archive/final/Portal/Default.aspx?component=AABC&record=5a0cfb54-9e92-4958-bd31-040214655f8d
“Mic Mac Rotary [aerial photograph]”, 1960s. https://7046.sydneyplus.com/archive/final/Portal/Default.aspx?component=AABC&record=fc8d889c-68b3-4e01-9267-501465a9c2a4

Another view of the rotary shortly after construction, looking towards what is now Mic Mac Mall. To the right is what remained of Braemar Drive, along with one of the homes that once was a lakefront property before being swallowed up by “progress”.

mic mac beltway rotary

What is now Mic Mac Mall and “Mic Mac Village”, shortly after construction of the beltway that extended as far as Woodland Road as seen in the map at the bottom of the page.

From the Mail Star, Saturday May 24, 1986

“By August of 1961, the Micmac Rotary was nearing completion. Originally Main Street connected with Prince Albert Road and Braemar Drive was a continuous street where it is now split by the rotary. The site of what was to become Micmac Mall was at that time a tract of empty land. Many of the homes surrounding the rotary have since disappeared. And, the Dartmouth Inn has grown over the years.”

From 1830, a good view of the original shoreline around Graham’s Grove. “50 men commenced 8th Oct 1830 to make a new road”. “Plan of the Improvement of Dartmouth Road by Bells Sand Pit”, https://archives.novascotia.ca/maps/archives/?ID=459.

“Graham, Bell”…🤔

The same area as above nearly 25 years later, the “old road” alignment still noted. “Dartmouth, Property along the 1st Dartmouth Lake”, 1853. https://archives.novascotia.ca/maps/archives/?ID=730

https://archives.novascotia.ca/maps/archives/?ID=1370

The general vicinity in 1918, the road to Preston branching into what is now Lakecrest Drive and Tacoma Drive.

By 1956 there’s some subdivisions and aspirational plans included that didn’t quite come to pass as envisioned here. “Map and Directory of Information Halifax and Dartmouth and Vicinity, Nova Scotia”, Mapco. 1956. https://archives.novascotia.ca/maps/archives/?ID=1673&Page=202012450

Planning for the rotary underway, “Map of Halifax, Dartmouth and Vicinity”, 1962. Mapco. https://archives.novascotia.ca/maps/archives/?ID=1740&Page=202012470

From “Halifax Military Town Plan“, 1963. http://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo%3A81109