Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia
55 Ochterloney Street B2Y 1C3 Dartmouth, NS, Canada

John Demont pens an ode to #Halifax, NovaScotia’s capital city, a town built around a garrison fortress, with its own village green. After contrasting the city Joe Howe could gaze upon with today’s canyons of glass and steel, (You walk by some old brick building one day, return not too long afterwards, and where it stood is a hole, from which something new and not necessarily pleasing to the eye will soon rise), he continues: Halifax looks great in the sunlightbut is best viewed at night, when fog circles through the old Georgian houses and waterfront warehouses and piers, muffling all sound." Will our grandchildren be left only with the fog?

Lost! A member of Pictou Heritage Advisory shared the shock of discovering a bulldozer at the door of this 1854 house last night. In February 2021 the HAC was assured that the new owners would not demolish the building. Members were not informed of any change of plans. Town of Pictou has the #Hector but it has lost a great deal of the #builtheritage that made it a distinctive destination in Nova Scotia. The property was originally owned by Hugh Denoon for whom Denoon Street... was named. After the Denoon house burned in 1846, James Fogo, Judge of Probate for the County of Pictou, purchased the property and built a house on the site in 1854, which became known as the Belleville Farm During WWII it was used by the Royal Canadian Navy as a lookout and signal station, as its location gave a wide sweeping view of Pictou Harbour and out to Northumberland Strait. (Feb. 5 Pictou Heritage Advisory’s Facebook post) See more

It is unfortunate that the church community feels it necessary to take this step: The process to deregister the church as both a provincial and municipal heritage property is underway. Once that’s completed the hope is that the right person or organization will step up to take it over for free. #heritagebuilding #placesofworship #deregistration #repurposedbuilding

This TVO article and embedded video discussion illustrate competing interests and differing understanding of what makes a community thrive and how heritage fits in. it’s in Hamilton’s best interest both to have more density and to protect heritage buildings: Significant, interesting heritage buildings and cool streetscapes are part of the attraction of the place they’re why people like living in Hamilton. When you walk down the street, the way the streetscape itself speaks to you about a neighbourhood is quite important, he says. I think we're losing that in Ontario, particularly in Toronto, and particularly in some of the midsize cities. #heritagebuilding #communityplanning

The hill upon which St. James Church and associated buildings are located is a burial ground of uncertain origin, having produced human remain[s] throughout over a century of construction-related disturbances (1844 to 1954). A pre-contact 'grooved stone hammer' was collected there by #HarryPiers of Museum of Natural History. The site is now facing redevelopment: the lots and buildings surrounding the church and hall have been assembled by one developer. It’s time to let Councillors know how important it is that the Nova Scotia Museum, Special Places and the Mi'kmaq be contacted ahead of any potential further ground disturbances in the area of the hill. Email [email protected] and ask for your thoughts to be forwarded to Mayor, Council and heritage staff. #heritagesite #archaeology #downtownDartmouth

These houses have stories! The stone mason who designed and built Cabot Tower [on Signal Hill, St John’s] built the homes as wedding presents for his four daughters starting in the late 1800s. He made them out of surplus sandstone and slate from the tower. Take a peek inside. There are photos as well as a video in the article. #heritageforsale

February is recognized as Black History Month in Canada. William Hall grew up near Hantsport and was the son of freed African-American slaves from Maryland who ...settled in Nova Scotia after the War of 1812. He was the first Black person, the first Nova Scotian and one of the first Canadians to receive the British Empire’s highest award for bravery, the Victoria Cross during the Indian Mutiny and the siege of Lucknow in August 1857. A cairn in Hantsport recognizes this man and his heroic story. We continue to honour William Hall each year by displaying his banner on Main Street in Hantsport in the fall. His banner is being displayed in the window of the McDade Heritage Centre for the month of February. For additional information on William Hall VC, please visit our website: https://mcdadeheritagecentre.ca/william-hall-vc/ See more

Noticed in passing by a local heritage enthusiast This stone post sits marooned on College Street. Archaeologist #JonathanFowler explores its history and concludes: Wouldn't it be nice if we could integrate [map] sources such as Hopkins, Ruger, and others into an archaeological master plan for one of Canada's oldest urban communities? The fact that no such plan exists suggests we are poor stewards of the legacy we have inherited. Maybe we'll sleepwalk through our storied streetscapes until they are at last unrecognizable. @archaeologieacadie #urbanheritage #exploreHfx

The Black Loyalist Heritage Centre, a part of the Nova Scotia Museum, is pleased to announce the unveiling of a Black History Month commemorative coin, honourin...g Black Loyalist heritage. Learn more about the Black Loyalist Heritage Society armorial bearings The idea of armorial bearings was initiated in 2003 by the BLHS Board of Directors. They applied to the Canadian Heraldic Authority, under the powers held by the former Governor General of Canada, The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, for petition for Armorial Bearings. The BLHS is the first Black heritage organization that has received Armorial Bearings, granted and recorded in the Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada on March 15th, 2006. https://blackloyalist.novascotia.ca/about/armorial-bearings Follow @blackloyalistheritagecentre

Several people have asked about the #Casavant #organ in #FirstBaptistChurchDartmouth. The details (thank you,Sandra Barss): "this is a 15 rank, 2 manual organ - 987 pipes, 3 divisions and 15 registers. It had some significant work on the blower a few years back and, when it’s in tune, it’s a lovely organ for congregational singing, but also a few unusual stops for an organ of its size. It would be wonderful to either find it a new home or convince the new owner that it will enhance the space that he says he wants to use as a performance venue. "

The #AndrewCobb-designed First Baptist Church in downtown #Dartmouth is in the hands of new owners and the congregation is in the throes of moving out. Among the furnishings not going to the new church are the Casavant organ and these chairs. Dartmouth Heritage Museum - Evergreen House & Quaker House staff wondered whether the architect himself was responsible for their design. #heritagebuilding #placesofworship #repurposedbuilding #downtownDartmouth Downtown Dartmouth Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission

The RCMP have begun the investigation of the #ReidHouse demolition. MLA Keith Irving writes: "Hundreds of people within and outside Nova Scotia contacted the both the Department and my office about the importance of our built heritage. The Heritage Property Act is the legislation that protects our heritage through the official designation of Provincial Heritage Properties. To substantially alter or demolish a provincially registered property, an owner must obtain approval from the Province of Nova Scotia. No such approval was given by the Province for the de-registration of the property or the demolition. Even if the property were sold, the heritage designation is attached to the deed and would still apply." #heritageproperty #demolition

Practical advice about repair and caulking of posts, illustrated (here) by the restored Mackinnon-Cann Inn in Yarmouth. Especially helpful is the diagram showing where to caulk and where NOT to caulk. See the link to the web-site for the full article.

From Thursday 19 November: A virtual walking tour of Spring Garden Road on HeritageTrustNovaScotia's youtube channel: https://youtu.be/1blSUfBpdk4. Geologist Dr Howard Donohoe will be our guide to the stones used in the buildings. He will talk about local building stone, the quarry location, building styles. and important geological history from the building stones. All of the ironstones we will see originated at the Dalhousie Quarries while the granites are not only extraordinary in their diversity but also in their location of origin. Only a few locations have granite from the Purcell’s Cove quarries. (To read about this quarry, see Cole Grabinsky’s Purcell’s Cove: The Story behind the Stone here: http://www.htns.ca/pdf_Griffin//Griffin-Vol42.1-Mar2017.pdf p 8).

Coming Thursday 19 November beginning at 7:30 pm: A virtual walking tour of Spring Garden Road on HeritageTrustNovaScotia's youtube channel. Geologist Dr Howard Donohoe will be our guide to the stones used in the buildings. He will talk about local building stone, the quarry location, building styles. and important geological history from the building stones. All of the ironstones we will see originated at the Dalhousie Quarries while the granites are not only extraordinary in their diversity but also in their location of origin. Only a few locations have granite from the Purcell’s Cove quarries. (To read about this quarry, see Cole Grabinsky’s Purcell’s Cove: The Story behind the Stone here: http://www.htns.ca/pdf_Griffin//Griffin-Vol42.1-Mar2017.pdf p 8).

Last minute opening for participants! Register on-line up until 6:30 tonight: https://www.easthants.ca/government/webinars/ Or register up until 4:30 today by phone: 902-883-7098 ext 122 Heritage Property Webinar... Maintenance Plans for your Heritage Property Thursday, November 12, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Presented by Rosa Milito, DSRA Architecture, Principal of Building Conservation, Senior Projects Manager for DSRA Architecture. Join us for a discussion on the importance of maintaining heritage properties and preparing a maintenance plan.