Oliver's

Fall River, NS

I met this fellow outside of Oliver's Pub in the Inn on the Lake.  He looked so happy we were there, that we had to stop in for a drink or two.  I love his expression. 

Mural and Street Scene

Halifiax, NS

Signal Masts

The Citadel, Halifax, NS

These masts look like they should be on a sailing ship rather than a part of fort.  I wondered what possible role they could play here, since it was pretty obvious to me that this fort was not going to sail away.  It turns out these are signal masts and served as a method of communication from this fort to other forts and the ships in the harbor.  By hoisting various signal flags on these masts, messages could be sent to anyone who could understand the code and could see the signal flags.  It was a pretty effective means of communication long before the telegraph, telephone, radio and the internet. 

Chimneys

The Citadel, Halifax, NS

Fortress Wall

The Citadel, Halifax, NS

I  know nothing about the design of 19th century fortifications, and unfortunately during our visit to Halifax, The Citadel was not open for the season.  It was possible to walk the grounds, but none of the regular exhibits nor re-enactments were open.  So, I'm not really sure what rooms were buried under the earthen works seen along this wall.  I would imagine the rooms stored ordinance for the canons perched above and other supplies for the fort.  The rooms must have had fireplaces for heat as evidenced by the number of chimneys seen along this wall. Or perhaps these stacks provided a source of fresh air to the rooms buried below.  

Parade Grounds

The Citadel, Halifax, NS

Soldiers' Barracks

The Citadel, Halifax, NS

The current Citadel in Halifax was completed in 1856 and is the fourth fortification built by the British to protect the city of Halifax and the important harbor.  The first fortification was built back in 1749 and quickly fell into disrepair due to the harsh climate.  A similar fate met the next two forts built here.  Finally a more permanent fort was built which has been restored to its Victorian-era glory and is now a Canadian National Historic site. Despite the strategic importance of Halifax to the British none of the forts built on this site ever saw any battle.

Halifax, NS

Halifax, NS, Canada

These pictures show Halifax as seen from the top of Citadel Hill, the site of Fort George, a National Historic Landmark of Canada. The fort gave some pretty nice views of the city below.  

Figurehead II

 Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Halifax, NS

This figurehead is in the process of being carved at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.  Nearby was the original figurehead which was being used as the model for this one.  The original looked in pretty sad shape and was probably well beyond repair.  

Captain Farquhar

Captain James Augustus Farquhar

1842-1930

According the placard nearby, Captain Farquhar was a Nova Scotian, master mariner, salvor, sealer, and ship owner.  His business and wharf were located a few yards from where the current Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is located.  He must have been a very prominent business man in Halifax, to have his statue  standing in the museum.  

Figureheads

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Halifax, NS

I find ship's figureheads both fascinating and somewhat spooky at the same time.  They appear very lifelike and often have haunting expressions.  They would adorn the bows of sailing ships, and I think were supposed to bring good luck.  Those who created these figureheads were very talented artists in their  own right.  The top picture is from the St. Patrick, a ship wrecked off the coast of Nova Scotia in September of 1841.  The bottom figurehead is from an unknown ship.

Chandlery

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

A chandlery is a shop which supplied sailing ships with all the equipment, ropes, tools and rigging necessary to sail a ship back in the 1800's.  These shots were taken in  the restored chandlery of William Robertson and Son, which is on display at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, NS.  This store was a fixture on the Halifax waterfront since 1840 and operated into the early 1900's.  The museum has  number of exhibits including artifacts from the Titanic as well as other shipwrecks.  

Murphy's Restaurant

Halifax, NS, Canada

We tried to eat dinner at this restaurant, but the evening we were in Halifax, the restaurant had a private affair going on, and was closed to the public.  This restaurant has its own "party boat", moored right outside. 

Container Ship

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

I recently spent some time in Halifax, NS.  The city has a rich history, playing vital roles in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War and both World Wars.  The city also is the final resting place for a number of the victims from the Titanic.  Today one of the main industries using the harbor and it's facilities is the container shipping industry.  This container ship was seen entering the harbor to be off-loaded of its containers, which are placed directly onto trucks for shipment overland to their final destination.