Joseph Howe

1868

by

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

As the people of Nova Scotia had voted so overwhelmingly against Confederation at the polls, one of the first acts of the new House of Assembly in 1868 was to send a delegation to London praying for a repeal of the B.N.A. Act as far as it regarded this Province. Although Joseph Howe was a member of the House of Commons at Ottawa, he was nevertheless among the number selected. Dr. Charles Tupper, also a member of the Federal Parliament, likewise went to England to use his influence in favor of Confederation.

In his reminiscences written in later life, Sir Charles records that when the delegation of that time had failed in its mission, he discussed the situation with Joseph Howe in London, pointing out the great advantages the latter could obtain for his native Province by accepting the inevitable and supporting the Union. As a proof there was no enmity among the opposing factions, Dr. Tupper further relates that on the homeward bound steamer for Halifax in July, he had played the odd rubber of whist with Joseph Howe and with others of the party, including Mrs. Howe who had accompanied her husband from Dartmouth to London.

At Halifax there was only “mild cheering” when the Howe delegation disembarked on a Wednesday morning, and perhaps still less when Dr. Tupper and his supporters landed. Hon. S. L. Tilley, Federal Minister of Customs, who chanced to be in the City, came down the wharf later and took advantage of an opportunity to speak with Joseph Howe and to inquire after the welfare of Mrs. Howe, expressing a wish to call on her before he left Halifax. Thereupon Mr. Tilley was invited to breakfast with the Howe family at “Fairfield” in Dartmouth on Friday morning of that same week.

Mr. Tilley’s observations of public opinion around Halifax and Dartmouth, together with the substance of his Friday interview with Mr. Howe were reported next day to the Prime Minister at Ottawa, in a letter*, part of which stated:

Many of the people are worked up to a perfect frenzy and ready for the most extreme measures. These are backed up and encouraged by the annexation and the Fenian element, and there is a good deal of that scattered throughout Nova Scotia.

By the end of July, Sir John A. Macdonald was in Halifax. He came, with a few members of his Cabinet, ostensibly to hear the grievances of the Province from a Convention of Liberals then being assembled, but perhaps the real reason was to sound out the feelings of Joseph Howe. No doubt Tilley’s report encouraged him to do so.

Evidently the Prime Minister lost no time in sending a communication to Dartmouth. In those pre-telephone times the customary method was by special messenger who, on this occasion, most likely came posthaste across the harbor, and traveled towards “Fairfield” with a message that was historic in its significance:

Government House, Halifax, Saturday, August 1, 1868

My dear Mr. Howe,—I have come to Nova Scotia for the purpose of seeing what can be done in the present state of affairs, and should like of all things to have a quiet talk with you thereafter. I shall be ready to meet you at any time or place you may appoint. The General has kindly given me up his office here and if it would suit your convenience we might perhaps meet here after church tomorrow,

Believe me, Yours faithfully, JOHN A. MACDONALD

The reply is dated the same day, indicating that the messenger waited for Mr. Howe’s answer. The latter agreed to meet Sir John on Sunday at 1.30 p.m. (This was a far different attitude towards Howe than had been shown hitherto by Sir John at Ottawa.}

Political issues were not discussed during the meal that morning. This is learned from Mr. Tilley’s letter to the Prime Minister preserved among Confederation papers of Macdonald-Tilley at the Dominion Archives wherein he states that, “After Mrs. Howe and her sons had left the room we approached the main question.” The day was Friday, July 16th 1868, and the letter was dated at Windsor, N.S., July 17th. The visit of a Conservative Cabinet Minister to Fairfield is further proof that the place was associated with the formative period of the history of the Dominion of Canada. Students nowadays examining Howe’s letters at Ottawa, or in newspapers at the N.S. Archives, or in the volumes of “Letters and Speeches of Joseph Howe’’, must be puzzled as to the location of “Fairfield”, and probably imagine that it is the name of a town. There is no hint given the reader that it was Howe’s estate in a rural part of Dartmouth.

“In his Dartmouth booklet published in 1941, John W. Regan’s sketch of Fairfield noted that between there and Government House in 1868, “weighty proposals were carried back and forth on the Ferry— a Ferry Tale of vast importance”.

The year 1868 also saw the beginnings of another Dartmouth undertaking when William J. Stairs commenced the Ropeworks on former Albro land where he erected a brick factory, tarring house and a ‘long walk”—then the longest structure in the Province. This industry set development going in the north-end, and contributed to the prosperity of the town by continually increasing the amount of assessable property in their own buildings and in the dwellings of employees. New streets were laid out.

The Dartmouth Woolen Factory, situated west of the “Channel” at Lake Banook was also in operation by 1868 because their name is listed, among prize winners, for several varieties of tweed at an Exhibition in Halifax that autumn. Other local firms having displays included Albro’s Nail Factory, Eben Moseley, ships’ models, Nathaniel Russell, tinsmith, John P. Mott’s products and Starr Manufacturing Company’s artistic array of John Forbes’ new skates. Exhibits of birch bark canoes, paddles, beads, moccasins and chair bottoms won prizes for Mary Thomas, Peter Sack, James Paul and Peter Cope from the Mi’kmaq camps at Dartmouth.

The last named firm was incorporated in 1868 with a capital of $60,000. Shares were $1,000. John Starr was the first President.

On a December night in 1868 fire destroyed a vacant house at “Abbeville” belonging to Mrs. John H. Slayter. This house (was located on what would now be) part of Slayter Street.

Speech in favor of repeal, January 13th, 1868

1866

by

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

The year 1866 opened with a sharp spell of weather. On January 8th the thermometer at Citadel Hill registered 20 below zero. On February 2nd, Henry Y. Mott, former political partner of Joseph Howe, died in his 69th year at his residence near the brickyard. William Condran, born in 1859, well remembered the funeral procession passing his home, and often told me that it was the longest ever seen in Dartmouth up to that time.

The Starr Manufacturing Co. were now exporting their newly invented Acme spring skates and outselling American and European competitors in this field. This information was gathered from a report in the Halifax Morning Chronicle of 1866, which stated:

A few days since Messrs. Starr shipped 40 packages of skates to Montreal, which were manufactured at Dartmouth. They have upwards of 20 men employed and turn out weekly large numbers of skates and hundreds of kegs of nails. The firm can manufacture skates cheaper than the article can be imported from England. Much of the apparatus used in the manufacture of the skates was invented by Mr. Forbes who is foreman of the works.

The simplicity of the spring skates must have made it possible for local ladies to take up the pastime of skating which they evidently had not practised very extensively up to that time.

The Condran house was built about 1859 by John Condran, and was the first dwelling erected in North Woodside. It stood on the spot of the now Marvin house opposite North Woodside School. For some years it was the only human habitation between “Sunnyside” and McMinn’s. Both sides of what is now the busy thoroughfare of Pleasant Street were then bordered by thick forests teeming with rabbits, partridge and other wild life. Soldiers regularly travelled the lonely road back and forth to Fort Clarence, but traffic to the Passage was mostly by water except for an occasional ox cart load of hay, bound for Halifax market. The old Condran house was burned down in 1940. William Condran died In 1947, having lived In the neighborhood for 88 years. James Condran, another son of John, lived there over 92 years. He died In 1954.

Severe weather came early in February to freeze the harbor for five days, and thus tie up the ferries. The story continued:

Yesterday the tug “Neptune” cut a channel and ferried people over at 3 cents a head. The enterprise was well rewarded. The last time the harbor was frozen over, was some six years ago. Then there was not a young lady to be seen skating on the surface, as this amusement had not yet become fashionable among the fair sex. Yesterday afternoon, however, there were perhaps as many as a hundred lady skaters on the harbor, and the gay dresses rendered the scene quite a colorful one.

From Halifax on Friday night, parties could be seen walking across the ice to Dartmouth holding torchlights which reflected the light a great distance. Landing on the Dartmouth side, they appeared as if coming up out of the sea.

The first public school building in Dartmouth, for which money had been voted in 1864, was ready for occupancy in the early part of 1866. This was Central School, on the site of the Quaker Meeting House at the northeast corner of King and Quarrell Streets. At the time it was considered one of the finest of its kind in the Province. John Hollies was Principal and he had three female assistants. Four large well-lighted rooms provided accommodation for about 270 pupils, but these classes soon became so overcrowded that in November the Town trustees were obliged to apply for a lease of the room in the Mechanics’ Institute which had been used in the past for school purposes. The November minutes of the Institute noted that the trustees were already paying rent for three rooms in other buildings. This information enables us to form an estimate of the total Dartmouth school attendance in 1866. Allowing 60 pupils to a teacher, the figures would be approximately 450.

In 1866, there came to live at “The Grove” in Dartmouth, Commodore Josiah Tattnall who had been head of the Confederate Navy in the American Civil War. This is the man who originated the saying, “Blood is thicker than water”, uttered in 1859 when he sent American sailors to aid the British then being slaughtered in Chinese waters.

Feeling throughout Nova Scotia was so strong against Confederation of Canada in 1866 that an anti-Confederate League was formed. Dartmouth had many members. In order to protest the passing of the B.N.A. Act, this group sent a strong delegation to London that autumn. Among the number was Hon. Joseph Howe of “Fairfield”.

1865

by

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

By mid-January of 1865 the new ferry “Chebucto” was ready for launching. Customary preparations were made and the town school children invited to be present at the ceremony. But they all arrived too late. Ex-Ferry Superintendent Charles Pearce once told me the story. The latter’s grandfather, Abraham Pearce, and his assistants, were working below decks preparatory to the launching, and their hammering against the joists and sides caused such a jarring that the boat started to slide and could not be stopped. She actually launched herself. Mr. Pearce further stated that all the one-laned boats had side-beamed engines, and that the one from the “Boxer” was transferred to the “Chebucto”.

The “Boxer” evidently did not give satisfaction as a ferry for she was taken off the service and later converted into a tugboat. At this time a stagecoach came over from Halifax and travelled to Tangier thrice a week, and to Sheet Harbor once a week. Adam McKay moved his boiler works from Freshwater at Halifax to the Dartmouth location. Stoves made at the foundry of W. S. Symonds were on display at the Dublin Exhibition. Dartmouth built a new lockup that year, and obtained authority to appropriate all police fines to pay for its construction. The Magistrates were Nathaniel Russell, Patrick Fuller and George Shiels. Town Constable was Richard Bishop. Town Clerk was Donald McLean. The office of the Clerk was in his home on Portland Street near Prince. It was probably a part time position.

Early in 1865 Joseph Howe contributed a series of newspaper articles against Confederation which he entitled “The Botheration Scheme”. At Detroit in July he won a great triumph by his masterly oration in favor of continuing Reciprocity with the United States. No doubt the material for both these topics was prepared and written out in the quietude of his home at “Fairfield”.

In September, Richard Hartshorne died at Halifax, and was buried from his father’s residence at “Poplar Hill”. A fortnight later, the venerable old gentleman himself passed away in his 80th year. He had been County Treasurer since 1838 and also became the first City Treasurer when Halifax was incorporated in 1841. Mr. Hartshorne died in office. He was held in such high esteem for his integrity and devotion to duty that the City Council arranged for a tablet to be purchased and placed inside Christ Church whereon was inscrolled a worthy tribute to Lawrence Hartshorne from grateful Halifax. (This mural remained there until destroyed by the Great Explosion of 1917. For the inscription on the plaque, consult Canon Vernon’s Centennial History of Christ Church.)

1863

by

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

From 1863 onward, lists of inhabitants in large settlements are available in Nova Scotia directories. For instance, we learn that among Dartmouth residents of 1863 were the two political giants, Hon. Joseph Howe and Hon. J. W. Johnston. Hon. Michael Tobin of the Legislative Council was living at “Brookhouse” in Woodlawn.

(You can find Howe and Johnson listed in the Dartmouth Business Directory for 1864 too, also check out Lovell’s Province of Nova Scotia directory for 1871 as it concerns Dartmouth)

Mrs. John Esson, whose late husband had won the 1859 election for Halifax East, was still residing at “Balmoral” at the extremity of Esson Road. Colonel Robert Bligh Sinclair, Adjutant General of the Militia of Nova Scotia, was then occupying “The Grove” which he had acquired in 1856.

Mrs. Sinclair’s father, Colonel George Pelzant Dawson, evidently did not remain many years hereabouts, but he has left his name and that of his son-in-law on three adjacent streets on his former property at “Fairfield”. These two men are said to have been the first to appreciate and popularize the advantage of Cow Bay beach (Silver Sands) as a summer resort.

We learned the above from a history of that district written in the Dartmouth newspaper of 1901 by H. W. Hewitt. His interesting and informative stories, many of which were probably gathered from old folks during Mr. Hewitt’s term of teaching at Eastern Passage, are extremely valuable for their records of people and experiences in the pioneer days. Here is the 1901 Cow Bay story:

The history of Cow Bay as a summer resort began about 35 years ago. Some of the first to go to Cow Bay for pleasure were Colonel Dawson and his son-in-law Colonel Sinclair. They used to have rooms in the house of Daniel Moser senior. Colonel Barnaby also rented rooms a few years afterwards. From that time, more and more persons began to come regularly to Cow Bay, so I will say nothing of any others except the two first mentioned.

Colonel Dawson was a very tall and corpulent man. He served for a short time in the Crimean War. He was very wealthy, and on his return from the Crimea he left England and came to Dartmouth. He bought a property near the Ropeworks, and laid out streets, etc. One of these streets is named after himself.

Colonel Sinclair of the 42nd Regiment, known commonly as the Black Watch Regiment, did not care to leave his wife, so when the war broke out he sold his commission and came to Dartmouth to avoid the censure which this act would entail. His father-in-law bought him the property once occupied by Rev. Mr. Morris as the Church of England Rectory. After Sinclair’s departure about 35 years ago, the place was made an Inebriates’ home. A dissipated young Englishman, known only as Lord Newton, the son of a wealthy nobleman, married a lady below himself in social standing. His father sent him to Dartmouth. One night he became intoxicated and was the cause of an accident which resulted in his death by fire.

But to come back to Colonel Dawson and Sinclair. Colonel Dawson took a fancy to Cow Bay. He thought that the island in Cow Bay Lake, being completely surrounded by water, belonged to nobody. He camped on the island, and thought it his own. He had a folding canvas canoe and a sailboat which he used frequently on the lake and outside the beach. He used to put an awning over the boat and sleep in her.

To make a long story short, both Dawson and Sinclair left Dartmouth and Cow Bay about 35 years ago, and their property passed into other hands. “Jock” Patterson, whom Colonel Sinclair had brought with him as servant, remained. All have heard of Jock Patterson, the Piper, veteran of the Crimean War and of the North West Rebellion in Canada.

Another impression of Mrs. Sinclair is gathered from a letter in a Halifax newspaper of 1861 wherein a writer stated that a certain Dartmouth woman had gone to the fish market at Halifax to obtain the family supply of fish. That the man at the market had carried the fish to the ferry gates, at which point the lady requested the ferry officer to put the fish on board the boat. “He not only refused but stood quietly by, watching a lady lugging her not very touchable commodity”. The writer suggested that such ungallant action deserved severe retribution.

A few days later, Captain James Graham wrote that he was the officer at the gate, and that the lady was Mrs. Sinclair. He indignantly declared that carrying fish was not within his line of duty, and that no other family in Dartmouth received as many favors on the ferry as did the Sinclairs.

The circumstances that influenced Hon. Joseph Howe to remove from Halifax to Dartmouth in 1863, are set forth in a letter written in October of that year to his sister in Digby, inviting her to visit his new home lately leased from Colonel Dawson at “Fairfield”. The complete letter is in the N. S. Archives Report for 1953. Here is the part dealing with Dartmouth:

You may remember a pretty place just below Albro’s on the Dartmouth side, that Bob Story had many years ago. At his death it was purchased by Martin Black who made it his summer residence for many years. When Martin died it fell into the hands of an eccentric Yorkshireman (Mrs. Colonel Sinclair’s Father and Pater also to some gay girls, the Misses Dawson, that you may have heard about) who fitted it up in very nice style for his own family. When just ready the ladies determined to go to England. This happened just when I was looking out for a place a little out of town, and balancing between the suburbs of the City and Windsor. He offered it at a moderate rent and I have taken it for three years. For £50 sterling I get a House with kitchen, Dairy, Cellars and all manner of conveniences on the ground floor with covered veranda for the Servants looking out on the Harbour. Over this we have Dining and Drawing Rooms, a Library, Bed Room and any number of Pantries and closets. Upstairs there are four bedrooms with nice views of the harbour. A verandah, covered in like a Hotbed runs along the whole front of the place, where we live half the time, and get the Music of the Bands from the Ships and from the Wellington Barracks for nothing. Here I sit with my Book and my cigar when evening comes without the noise of wheels or newsboys horns, or gossiping idlers to disturb me. It is the old North West Arm over again with a livelier outlook by night and day. . . .

More of our flourishing industries in 1863 were Mott’s Factory, Moyes’ Boiler Works, Greig’s Foundry, Symonds’ Foundry, Turner’s Tannery, Allen’s Tannery, Elliott’s Tannery, Albro’s Nail Factory, Dooley’s Gristmill, S. A. White’s Gristmill, Chebucto Marine Railway, Adams’ Machine Shop, Mumford’s Foundry, Laidlaw’s Ice, Falconer’s Distillery, Glendenning Brothers syrups and cordials, Duncan and Robert Waddell’s ballast boats, Young’s Shipyard.

1850

by

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

At the beginning of the year 1850 Charles W. Fairbanks made a long report to the Legislature on the state of the Shubenacadie Canal. He proposed abandoning the two double-locks near Foster’s bridge in Dartmouth and the damaged locks at Porto Bello. At both these places, inclined planes were to be installed.

On a rainy night in May, the Steam Mill of H. Y. Mott and Son near Woodside was completely destroyed by fire. Large stocks of chocolate, cocoa, spices and other goods were consumed by flames.

Harbor regattas were revived that summer after suffering a lapse of three or four seasons. Again the naval men played a prominent part, and as usual many contestants were from Dartmouth. The ferry carried the customary crowd of excursionists.

On June 20th, St Andrew’s new church at Eastern Passage was blessed and dedicated by Bishop Walsh. The heat that day was oppressive. A steamer made two trips carrying crowds from Halifax.

The fields of Hon. J. E. Fairbanks were now being used for picnics of special groups and organizations. In August, the North British Society enjoyed an outing by ferry steamers to the wharf at “Woodside” where about 150 couples, “delighted in promenading through the romantic grounds of the kind proprietor”. Instead of a regular dinner being served, they adopted the old fashioned plan of “cut and come again”, says the newspaper report.

About that time the work of cutting out curves and hills to level and improve the eastern shore road, was finished as far as Musquodoboit Harbor. In order to commemorate such an advance in transportation facilities, it was arranged that leading public men should open the new road officially, and be among the first to drive from Dartmouth over this modern superhighway.

Accordingly, prominent Liberal party workers like James Lester Griffin, James Ormon and other residents of Porter’s Lake arranged for a summer picnic and road-opening ceremony in 1850 at George Ormon’s Inn where they entertained- a large group of ladies and gentlemen from Halifax, Dartmouth and the eastern settlements.

As will be learned from Hon. Joseph Howe’s letter to Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Harvey, the inhabitants on that day presented a petition asking that the whole length of the highway be called “The Harvey Road”. The name was referred to as such in Government reports for some years afterwards, but has since gone into disuse. (It is suggested that this very appropriate title be restored to commemorate one of the last acts of the hero of Stoney Creek.)

The Morning Chronicle’s lengthy account of the reception at Porter’s Lake stated that the visitors, “were met at George Ormon’s snug little inn by a deputation from the Eastern Harbours. The grounds around the Inn were embellished with flags and bouquets, water-lilies wreathed through the trees producing a very fine effect”.

After “an elegant and substantial repast” had been served, Hon. Joseph Howe was presented with a complimentary address by the inhabitants of the districts thereabouts. In an impromptu reply, Howe reviewed the great improvements made in the County roads during his 13 years in the Legislature. He recalled that his first journey on foot round the eastern shore, “cost me a fortnight”. Now he hoped, “to see a Stage Coach, before long, perform the journey in a single day”.

The whole party then, “proceeded over the new line to Musquodoboit Harbour, the cavalcade consisting of seven waggons and some horsemen. The new road forms a beautiful ride, is nearly level and has command of several interesting scenes”, concluded the report in the Chronicle.

Towards the close of 1850 the first gaslights appeared in Dartmouth when Dr. Abraham Gesner equipped the ferry-house, docks and boats with gasometers. The product was manufactured from Trinidad asphaltum, and could be generated more cheaply than that of the Halifax Gas Company which used other materials.

Although newspapers do not mention it, the year 1850 must have been the date of Tom Thumb’s visit to Dartmouth, as described by Mrs. Gould. In October the famous 15-pound midget performed in Halifax for nearly a week under the direction of P. T. Barnum.

The Nova Scotia Loan and Building Society, which was being organized at Halifax in 1850, numbered among its directors well-known Dartmouth men like John P. Mott, Charles Robson, John Tempest and James W. Johnston, junior.

(In the centenary booklet of the Building Society issued in 1950, there is a picture of the first house in Dartmouth upon which a loan was made by this new organization. The mortgage was taken out by John Whidden in August of 1850. This house stands at no. 60 Ochterloney Street, and is at present in the possession of Miss Emily Patterson, granddaughter of Jock Patterson, Crimean War veteran.)

1848

by

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

In 1848 we note that this year marks an epoch in Nova Scotia history, because it was then that the Province attained complete Responsible Government. (See plaque in the corridor of Province House commemorating this accomplishment of Howe, Uniacke and others of the Reform Party.)

Foreign news that year conveyed the intelligence that King Louis Philippe, who was once in Dartmouth, had been driven from the throne of France by another Revolution.

In our own country, preparations went on for the proposed Halifax to Quebec railroad; and also for the construction of a telegraph line to the New Brunswick border. One section of the Railway Commissioners’ report dealing with their surveys in and around Halifax, must have made Dartmouthians leap with delight. The report noted:

The best site for a railway terminus is on the opposite shore at Dartmouth. The distance from Quebec to the latter is four miles shorter than to the Halifax side. One great advantage is that its shore line is as yet comparatively free from wharves and commercial establishments, and an extensive terminus can be formed there at less expense and inconvenience than on the Halifax side ….

Another interesting 1848 document dealing with a local matter, is a ferry record showing the rates of ferriage in effect at that time. Commutation tickets were quoted by the year, the fares being payable on January 1st and July 1st. Ten days’ grace was allowed at each half year.

£15 per annum passed man and wife, unmarried children, servants, constant inmates (not boarders), with all horses, carts, carriages, sleighs, sleds, owned by the proprietor, laden with his own goods, and driven by persons entitled to free passage.

The price was scaled down for one horse, cart or carriage; and scaled further if no cart used, but only a driving-carriage.

The list is lengthy and diversified. The rate for a foot-passenger was £2 10s per year. One rate was quoted for a family with children. The same rate applied if no children, but a horse might be substituted. Dogs not in harness, or in sportsmen’s carts, cost one penny. Clergymen passed free on Sundays. Disorderly persons excluded from ticket privileges.

One of the crying needs of the steamboats was an adequate supply of fresh water. No doubt that necessity had something to do with the recent formation of the Dartmouth Water Company, some of whose incorporators were likewise ferry directors.

About that time the latter must have hit upon the plan of tapping the flooded pit of John Cleverdon’s old mine at the foot of Fairy Hill, for there was an Act of the Legislature passed in the session of 1848, “empowering the Commissioners of Dartmouth Common to dispose of the abandoned pit and the use of the water, to any Company, for 21 years”.

Or perhaps the idea was suggested by Charles W. Fairbanks who at that time, was the civil engineer in charge of the laying of pipes from Long Lake to bring in the first fresh water supply to the City of Halifax. Mr. Fairbanks was then only 26 years of age, and a resident of Dartmouth.

Stern’s Corner

by
storyofdartmouth-22 sterns
storyofdartmouth-22

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

This photo of Sterns’ corner taken about 1930, shows the Governor Wentworth cannon in the same position as seen today near the Portland Street show-window of Dartmouth Furnishers, Ltd. The other large structure two doors north was the first brick building of Dartmouth, erected by Luther Sterns as a store and dwelling about 1864. In a section of his dry-goods establishment, was the local Post Office. One of Dartmouth’s famous residents who called in for morning mail was the great Joseph Howe.

1841

by
1841-52

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

When the new House met in February 1841, Joseph Howe was chosen as Speaker. That appointment brought a bit of political prestige to our side of the harbor, because Dartmouth was the largest center in Mr. Howe’s constituency.

An Act incorporating the City of Halifax was passed by the Legislature that session. Of more local interest, however, was an Act for regulating Dartmouth Common.

“An act for regulating the Dartmouth Common”, 1841 c52: “The Common of the Township of Dartmouth, situate on the eastern side of the Harbour of Halifax, in special trust, for the use of the inhabitants settled and resident in the Town Plot, or that might thereafter settle and actually reside within the Township of Dartmouth”

This was the “new town-plot” … As the trustees of the Common were all dead by 1841, there was no one in authority to prevent the increasing number of squatters from occupying parts of the Common, especially those portions adjacent to the waterfront in the vicinity of Black Rock. (The whole area of the new town-plot must have been so called from earliest times, no doubt from the black color of the slate rock there.)

The Act of 1841 appointed new trustees in the persons of John E. Fairbanks, Henry Y. Mott and William Foster. They were empowered to subdivide the large area of Common land on the western side of Windmill Road, extending from about the present line of the new bridge on the north, to Geary Street on the south.

William MacKay, a well-known surveyor of that time, subsequently laid off the section into 41 building lots which were advertised at auction and conveyed to the highest bidder for 999 years, subject to an annual ground-rent of £1. Thirty-one of the lots were sold that summer. Some were bought outright by the holders, but others continued paying ground-rent for many years afterwards. (The MacKay map of the section, is still preserved at the Town Engineer’s office.)

According to the Act, revenue from the sale of these lands had to be applied to improve the remaining portion of the Common, and provide for the laying out of a street along the waterfront. (This is the present Shore Road).

Names of other streets in that vicinity like Fairbanks, Hare, Mott, Best and Lyle, commemorate trustees and original property owners. (Geary Street was named after the Priest who had charge of the Catholic cemetery. Turner Street, directly opposite, runs through the old Turner tanyard. The name of Foster certainly should be applied somewhere to honor a forgotten family who were long included among our early industrialists.)

From the Dartmouth “Atlantic Weekly” of April 29, 1899, readers may obtain the number of each lot of Common land, and the price paid for same at time of sale. The following names were among the first purchasers: George Turner, James Synott, William Stairs, C. A. Mott, James Whiteley, John Fenton, David Hare, Gilbert Elliott, James Keating, William Walker, Richard Best, Michael McKenna, John Thornham, John B. Woodworth, John Kennedy, Alexander Lyle, John E. Fairbanks, Richard McLearn and John Tapper.

On June 8th 1841, the Nova Scotia Philanthropic Society celebrated the Natal Day of Halifax by holding a picnic and athletic games at Turtle Grove “near the Windmill in Dartmouth”, whither they were transported on the “Sir C. Ogle”.

Another large group enjoyed an outing at Dartmouth on the afternoon of St. John’s Day, June 24th 1841, when the members of St. Mary’s Total Abstinence Society of Halifax crossed the harbor. A brass band on the deck of the “Sir C. Ogle” kept playing lively airs during two or three trips, until the full crowd of people had been transported.

These then “marched to a beautifully situated field, half a mile from the ferry, and kindly loaned for the occasion by Mr. Boggs. The progress through the pretty village of Dartmouth, and through the rural ways and woodpaths, was delightful”, says the account in the Nova Scotian. Between 700 and 800 met on the appointed ground where they indulged in games of ball and bat, and other sports. Quadrille and Contra dances were also got up on the green.

(About this time, the temperance cause was being preached in Europe by Father Theobold Mathew, and his influence was felt in North America. St. Mary’s Society had about 3,000 members. The Halifax Temperance Society had almost as many. In Dartmouth, St. Peter’s Total Abstinence Society had over 1,000, among whom many were Mi’kmaq. Most of Austinville district was then owned by Thomas Boggs. Roughly, the area from Christ Church cemetery to St. Peter’s School grounds was known as “Boggswood”. Not likely Pine Street was as yet constructed. Definitely lower Maple Street was not. The field referred to, must have been somewhere in “Boggswood”, other than the swampy section. [—I believe JPM is referring to the south side of Myrtle Street here]. The “ball and bat” contest mentioned, is the earliest written record of a baseball game being played in Dartmouth.)

1840

by
peter toney

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

The elections were on that autumn. Joseph Howe came quite frequently to campaign in Dartmouth and in its suburbs, because he and William Annand were candidates for the County of Halifax, which was a separate constituency from the City.

On Friday evening, October 30th, there was a meeting of about 200 supporters of Howe’s Reformers held in the Dartmouth School House. Henry Y. Mott presided, and Alexander James, then the schoolmaster of the town, was Secretary.

Joseph Howe spoke at some length, outlining the legislative reforms recently gained by his party. Although the night was dark and tempestuous, loyal followers accompanied the Halifax group to the ferry; and as the boat pulled out, gave three rousing cheers which were lustily returned.

The poll for the election of candidates was held at the Halifax Court House for five days early in November. There was no privacy whatever in the manner of voting. The rabble, jostling one another in the Court House passageway and in the gallery, showed no mercy in voicing their feelings as freeholders announced the candidate of their choice.

(Once upon a time, even the old ferryman John Skerry, always the essence of honesty, was heckled by political foes in the gallery, with cries of: “Who stole the oars!”)

Dartmouth people voted at Halifax. Evidently campaign funds to provide transportation were also necessary in those days, as is gathered from the following account published in the “Morning Post” of November 4th, 1840 :

Yesterday the Court House was crowded long before the hour appointed for commencing the register of votes. A rich display was formed by the colored folks from Preston who came over in a steamer gaily decorated with flags, and chartered for the day by the Reform Party.

The African gentry formed themselves into a procession on landing, and marched with flying colours through part of Water and Hollis Streets, and then went to the Court House and took complete possession of the passage for the entry and exit of voters. The area in front of the Exchange was a dense mass of persons from the commencement of the poll until4 o’clock* when the poll closed for the day.

We conclude this account of the year 1840 by copying a few excerpts from a description of Dartmouth and its suburbs written that year for the “Nova Scotian” by Joseph Howe. Since 1836, when he was first elected for this constituency, Mr. Howe often toured the district to familiarize himself with its people, its problems and its romantic scenery.

Panoramic views in particular must have appealed to Joseph Howe. Note the number of well-known hills in our vicinity which he must have climbed, because he so definitely describes the surrounding streams and forests.

… In looking East, the growth and improvement of Dartmouth itself is a pleasing feature in the prospect. But a few years ago, it seemed to have been smitten with desolation — many of the houses were tenantless or unsaleable — business was at a stand — its population dispersing, while those who still clung to it were haunted with visions of the past, and reflections on the fortunes which they had not made by the Shubenacadie Canal.

“A change has come over the spirit of the dreams” of the good people of Dartmouth — they are no longer relying upon adventitious and extraordinary sources of wealth — but, with cheerfulness and activity, are making the most of the natural advantages of the place, and, aided by the example of a few enterprising individuals, who have settled among them, are raising the little town in industry, population and public spirit.

… Nearly all the roads branching off from Dartmouth have their peculiar charm. If one strolls to Sackville (Bedford) over the hilly, indifferent and unfrequented track, which skirts the eastern side of the Basin, the view from several points upon it is very fine. With that noble sheet of water spread out upon the right, white cottages, with a green background, circling its western margin, you look down upon the Narrows, the Harbour, the Eastern Passage, Dartmouth, Halifax, the Islands, with the men-of-war and merchant-ships riding tranquilly at their moorings, beating up, or gliding down, a numerous flight of coasters and sailboats glancing around them, and the scene, though there is nothing very striking or sublime about it, is yet full of beauty, variety and interest.

The ride down the Eastern Passage is also very pleasant …. On a summer evening when the setting sun throws his latest and mellowest beams upon Harbour and Town, giving a glow to all the life they have, whether still or animated, the look-out from the Battery, and from several points above and below, is very delightful.

. . . The only drawback to a ramble down the Passage in summer, is the powerful effluvium from the split dog fish, with which the fences are lined.

. . . The ride along the Cow Bay road has not many attractions. On crossing the River, one is struck with the regular natural steps by which the waters, drained from the chain of lakes stretching up to the celebrated Grog Brook, descend to the level of the ocean.

. . . These are but two of the pastern roads. That (one) leading past Creighton’s and Shiels’ to Cole Harbor also has its attractions. The views from Breakheart Hill, Mount Edward, and several other points, are pleasing and extensive—one is seldom out of sight of lakes or of the salt water, and there are several cross roads branching off in which the student may while away an hour with his book.

The peculiar charm of the Main Eastern Road (18 highway), is the fine chain of lakes, past which it runs for 18 miles. The old Preston Road is not without its beauties—a sweet sylvan scene rewards us for climbing the hills beyond the Parsonage, near the first and second lake. Another, of a somewhat similar character, is presented in the neighborhood of Lake Loon—while from Katzman’s and the Church Hill seaward a scene of great extent and beauty delights the eye. Where the Rivers cross the road there is a valley, fringed with green meadows, or overhung with maples and birches, and the bright waters sparkling between.

“Mi’kmaq captain Peter Toney” https://novascotia.ca/museum/mikmaq/default.asp?section=image&page=4&id=107&period=1800&region=

peter toney

This is a copy of a sketch of Peter Toney, made about 1840, and preserved among the collection of Lady Falkland in the Dominion Archives at Ottawa. Evidently Peter was a leader of the Mi’kmaq at Dartmouth. At least he was always prominent in canoe races in the harbor regattas of a century ago, and was a winner in one of these contests. The part of Hawthorne Street between Prince Albert Road and the Canal stream used to be called Toney Street, after this well-known Dartmouth family of that vicinity.

1836

by

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

Among the petitions before the House of Assembly when they met in late January 1836, was a memorial from colored people of Dartmouth asking financial aid to help them establish a school for their children. It was signed by Jeremiah Page, Louis Cassity, Daniel Fendal, George Gibson, Samuel Wood, John Garo, William Andel, Robert Tynes, Nim Carter, Henry Clark, Daniel Gross and John Franklyn.

The petition of Jeremiah Page humbly sheweth that there are many colored persons residing in the Town Plot of Dartmouth and in its immediate vicinity. That they have among them as many as 40 children and they are entirely without the means of giving them schooling.

That the school which receives the aid of the public allowance in this place, is already so numerously attended that in all probability there would not be room in it for memorialists, children, if they had the means of sending them.

That the memorialists are willing to do all in their power, but without aid from your honorable House, they have no prospect of ever being able to support a school among them; and their little ones will consequently not be taught sufficiently to read the Bible.

A general election was held in December of 1836, when Joseph Howe was elected for the first time to the House of Assembly. Some credit for the commencement of the public career of the great Reformer might properly be claimed on the eastern side of the harbor, for his name had been put forward in the previous summer, first by a meeting of freeholders at Musquodoboit, and later at Lawrencetown.

Dartmouthians voted at the County Court House in Halifax, where the poll opened on December 5th and continued for three days. Later it. moved to St. Margaret’s Bay, and finally closed at Musquodoboit on December 20th.

Candidates usually appeared daily at the hustings, and on opening day, or during a lull in voting, made campaign speeches to the cheers of supporters, or the jeers of opponents. As the vote progressed, tail-enders would resign. What with open voting, political arguments and liquor drinking, it is small wonder that there were frequent fist fights at those prolonged elections.

Howe’s successful partner in the County was William Annand. Hugh Bell and Thomas Forrester were elected for the Town. The two losers in the County were William Lawson, who had sat thirty years in the Assembly, and Henry A. Gladwin of Middle Musquodoboit, who had been nominated by John Skerry of Dartmouth.

In this election, Halifax was divided from Colchester and Pictou districts, as these had just been made separate Counties.

Page 4 of 5
1 2 3 4 5