Phase I - Halifax Regional Municipality

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Archaeological Resource Impact Assessment Pre-development Assessment Spring Garden Road/Queen Street Public Lands Plan 4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The study areas have all been used, beginning from the late 18 th to early 19 th centuries, for a number of cultural activities. Area A (the Old Infirmary property) remained pasture from the founding of Halifax in 1749 until the late 18 th century, when the corner of Spring Garden Road and Queen Street became military property and remained so until the 1950s. The southern part of the property became residential shortly after 1800 and a street – Dundonald Street - cut through the property. When Dundonald Street closed in the 1960s to make way for the New Halifax Infirmary, all the houses were destroyed. The buildings on the Old Infirmary property were demolished in 2005 and all cultural soils beneath the building were extensively disturbed and/or removed from the site and therefore, the likelihood of recovering in situ (undisturbed) archaeological resources in that area which was excavated is negligible. However, in situ resources may exist beneath the adjacent sidewalks, under standing buildings (such as the old nurses residence on Morris Street), and beneath the pay parking lot at the north end of the property where the Commandant’s Quarters once stood. Area B (the Halifax Memorial Library property) was originally used as a cemetery beginning in 1762, and as its origins faded in the eyes of the public, it later became the grounds for a public library. As many as 4500 people may have been buried here in the 18 th and 19 th centuries. Burials undoubtedly remain on the Halifax Memorial Library property. Due to the possibility that many of these burials, particularly in times of war and epidemics, were shallow, some burials may have been disturbed during construction of the wall around the property in the late 19 th century as well as during construction of the pathways when the property was converted to Grafton Park. Although there have not been confirmed reports, it is highly probable that burials were disturbed during construction of the Library building and it is not known what was done with any remains that may have been disturbed throughout the centuries. It is possible that disturbed burials exist around the foundation of the library and, although disturbed, would require the same level of care and attention as any in situ burials. Area C (the Clyde Street parking lots) was also a pasture from the founding of Halifax until development occurred in the early 19 th century. These buildings became part of an area known as Schmidtville, and they were subsequently turned into parking lots after 1951. Previous excavation in the parking lot bounded by Clyde, Birmingham, and Queen Streets revealed remnants of historic 19 th century occupation here. 5.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS While the construction of the Infirmary may have destroyed all archaeological resources beneath it, historic mapping and documentation of 18 th , 19 th , and 20 th century land use for the Clyde Street parking lots, the old Bellevue property, and the Memorial Library property, suggests these areas are of high potential for archaeological resources. Davis Archaeological Consultants Limited 39
Archaeological Resource Impact Assessment Pre-development Assessment Spring Garden Road/Queen Street Public Lands Plan Should these areas be slated for development at any time, it is recommended that archaeologists be present during any soil disturbance, including any geotechnical testing and demolition activities associated with the standing buildings which may result in ground disturbance (i.e. removal of the foundations). Furthermore, it is recommended that archaeologists monitor, assess, and record any archaeological resources which may be present. 6.0 REFERENCES Acadian Recorder. 1882. “G.G. Gray recounts…” 9 December 1882, p.2 col.4. Akins, T. B. 1895. History of Halifax City. Belleville: Mika Publishing (1973 Printing). Bates, George T. 1749. First Settlers in Halifax. NSARM Map Collection V/6-240. Blaskowitz. 1784. Map of Halifax. V6/240-1784. Citizen and Evening Chronicle. 1878, June 1 st . “Bellevue House”. p.3, col.1. Clark. 1869. Map of Halifax. V6/240-1869. Crowdis, Don. 2009. Personal telephone interview, 19 January 2009. Halifax Chronicle Herald, 1986, April 26 th . “The Halifax Infirmary... ‘A Special Place’”. p.4-7. Halifax Herald. 1894, August 21 st . List of guests at Bellevue. p. 8. Halifax Mail. 1947, October 15 th . Rottenburg Renamed. p.3. Halifax Mail-Star. 1948, January 16 th . Bellevue sold to MT&T. p.1, col.7-8. Halifax Mail-Star. 1951. History Made as New Library Opens. 2 November, p. 2. Halifax Mail-Star. 1955, August 4 th . “Bellevue Sold”. p.1. Halifax Mail-Star. 1955, August 23 rd . “Razing Old Residences of Commanding Offiers”. p.6. NSARM microfilm collection #7439. Halifax Mail-Star. 1955. March 7 th . “End of Dundonald Street Shows How Times Change”. p.31. Halifax Mail-Star. 1975. November 25 th . New Extension to Library. Halifax Mail-Star. 1976. January 19 th . 2 Million addition to the infirmary. p.21. House of Assembly. 1845. Journal and proceedings of the House of Assembly. Halifax, N.S.: s.n., 1845, Appendix 66. Davis Archaeological Consultants Limited 40
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Phase I - Halifax Regional Municipality

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