Phase I - Halifax Regional Municipality

Archaeological Resource Impact Assessment
Pre-development Assessment
Spring Garden Road/Queen Street Public Lands Plan
Figure 3.2.3-2: The 1784 Blaskowitz map showing Area C.
During a short time, Pedley’s Fields began to disappear as new streets were laid, and that
which was bounded by Spring Garden Road, South Park Street, Queen Street, and Morris
Street, was know as Schmidtville. By 1862, the entire area was becoming densely
populated and had residents on every street 36 . The 1878 Hopkin’s Land Atlas confirms
this trend only a decade later, with homes and outbuildings covering every lot (Figure
3.2.3-3). The panoramic view of Halifax drawn in 1879 shows homes completely
dominating the study area, including a curious building which appears to be sitting in the
middle of Rottenburg Street, later renamed Clyde Street (Figure 3.2.3-4). Schmidtville
contained a high proportion of skilled craftspeople during the height of its popularity
from the 1830s to the 1860s, and these included coopers, sailmakers, and carpenters 37 .
By the early 20 th century, Schmidtville was considered a slum. In 1947, residents of
Rottenburg Street were sensitive of their streets name considering the neighbourhood and
36 PANS Card catalogue, Halifax 31.
37 Historical Houses 1980.
Davis Archaeological Consultants Limited 33