Phase I - Halifax Regional Municipality

Archaeological Resource Impact Assessment
Pre-development Assessment
Spring Garden Road/Queen Street Public Lands Plan
3.0 METHODOLOGY
A historic background study was conducted by DAC Ltd. between the January 6 - 20.
Historical maps, manuscripts, and published literature were located and consulted at
Nova Scotia Public Archives and Records Management in Halifax as well as at the
Halifax Regional Municipality Archives. The Maritime Archaeological Resource
Inventory, held at the Nova Scotia Museum’s Heritage Division, was also consulted to
understand any prior archaeological research and known archaeological resources
neighbouring or within the study area.
3.1 Maritime Archaeological Resource Inventory
Using facilities at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, a search was conducted
for archaeological sites in the study area through the Maritime Archaeological Resources
Inventory (MARI) forms. One site, named Winchester’s Midden, was identified within
the study area. During a structural renovation to the rear of Winchester’s clothing store
on Queen Street in the mid-1990s, a privy was accidently disturbed and archaeologists
were called to investigate. Though most of the structure was gone, many artifacts were
recovered and dated to the mid to late nineteenth century.
3.2 Historical Background
The following historical background is divided into the three study areas as delineated by
the HRM. These include the site of the former Halifax Infirmary bounded by Spring
Garden Road, Queen Street, and Morris Street (A), the Halifax Public Library property
on the corner of Spring Garden Road and Grafton Street (B), and two half-blocks of
property bounded by Clyde Street, Queen Street, Birmingham Street, and Dresden Row
(C) (Figure 3.2-1).
3.2.1 Area A: The Infirmary Property
The site of the former Halifax Infirmary has a long and detailed history extending at least
to the founding of Halifax in 1749. There are two distinct portions of Area B which have
archaeological potential and these include a long-standing residence on the corner of
Spring Garden Road and Queen Street, and the buildings associated with Dundonald
Street, which were closed to facilitate the growth of the Halifax Infirmary.
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