Featured maps and plans

The Halifax Municipal Archives has thousands of maps and plans in its holdings. Only a small fraction are in the Archives Database, but many others can be searched in a drawings database onsite at the Municipal Archives.

Here is a small sample of our collection. For higher resolution copies of these maps and plans, please contact the Municipal Archives.

Halifax plan showing localities where diphtheria occurred in autumn 1890

In 1890, City of Halifax staff, probably from the Board of Health, marked the location of cases of diphtheria in colour on this plan. The 1891 Report of the City Medical Officer, Dr. Thomas Trenaman, indicated that there were 192 deaths from diphtheria in 1890--the leading cause of death that year. Infectious diseases have always been a serious public health issue; the City of Halifax operated an Infectious Diseases Hospital, which was located in the North End next to Rockhead, the City Prison.

The City of Halifax created similar maps locating typhoid cases during the outbreak of 1913-1914.

The base map on which staff marked the locations of diphtheria, is a print from a woodcut done by xylographer C.H. Flowerelling. Before establishing its own mapping service (now HRM’s Geographic Information Systems and Services), the city government used published maps for its mapping needs. Note that the lines of radius indicate distance from the Post Office (P.O.).

This map is one of over 12,000 plans filed with the City Engineer's Office. The Municipal Archives is refining a database of these plans so that it will eventually be searchable online by the public. Researchers can search and view these plans onsite at the Municipal Archives.

Proposed Halifax WaterWorks, 1845

The need for a safe, reliable water supply was crucial after many infectious epidemics in Halifax. In 1844, civic-minded businessmen formed the Halifax Water Company. Civil Engineer Charles Fairbanks was hired to survey the lakes around the town and his plans were used by New York engineer John Jarvis to propose the Long Lake–Chain Lakes water supply. Jarvis' plan recommended damming Long Lake and then connecting it to Chain Lakes via an open canal. From there water would be piped to a reservoir on Wind Mill Hill (now Camp Hill), and then through a gravity-fed distribution system to fountains and hydrants (shown in red on the plan).

This undated plan was probably finished by Fairbanks in 1845 to accompany the Jarvis report. The board of the Water Company later determined the Camp Hill reservoir as shown on the plan was not necessary, but this plan shows the beginnings of Halifax's water supply system.

Beyond documenting the proposed water supply system, this plan also shows the location of features from 160 years ago that you can no longer see, including:

• The original level of Long Lake, before it was dammed
• Mills located below Chocolate Lake
• Freshwater Brook that flowed from the swampy Commons through the pond in the Public Gardens, Victoria Park, and out under the Kissing Bridge to the Harbour
• Fort Needham, Fort George, and Fort Ogilvie
• The pond on the Common (the Egg Pond)
• Early routes of Herring Cove Road, St. Margaret's Bay Road, and Prospect Road
• Landmarks like MacIntosh Bridge, Keser's Hill, and Yeadon

Source: "Downstream: an historical reflection of the Halifax water supply system" published by the Halifax Water Commission in 1995 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Originally the Public Service Commission of Halifax, the Commission took over the water works from the City Works in 1945. The City took over from the Halifax Water Company in 1861.

Boer War Triumphal Arch, 1901

In the summer of 1902, Canadian Boer War volunteers returned to Canada through the port of Halifax after successfully aiding the British in the Boer defeat. The crowds that cheered on the volunteers' departure in 1899 celebrated the return of the first Canadian Contingent in 1901 with parades and concerts. The return of the remaining regiments at the war’s end was equally impressive: Halifax organized street celebrations, a parade, and a triumphal arch in honour of the volunteer’s military successes, such as the battle of Paardeberg in 1900.

The displayed image is likely from an unsuccessful bid for the triumphal arch design, either for celebrations in 1901 or in 1902. The plan is from prolific Halifax architectural firm, J.C. Dumaresq & Son. Received by the City Engineer’s Office on November 8th, 1901, this plan was one of several submitted by local architects, including Hebert E. Gates.

The Dumaresq plan was completed on linen and was coloured to enhance the drawing’s effect. It is one of more than 30,000 plans from the City of Halifax Engineer's Office held at the Municipal Archives.

More information on the victory celebrations can be found in the minutes of The Special Committee on the Reception and Entertainment for the Second Canadian Contingent and the Committee for the Reception of the Second Contingent of Canadian Volunteers for Service in South Africa (series 102-1G).

See also the book "Fortress Halifax: Portrait of a Garrison Town" (2004) by Mike Parker. Nova Scotia Archives has an image of the victory parade in their exhibit from the Notman Studio.

1910 Map of Halifax

This map of Halifax, published by John W. Regan and C.D. McAlpine in 1910, is one of the many excellent map resources at the Municipal Archives. It shows streets, name and location of businesses and public buildings, the depths in the harbour, tram car lines, ward divisions, steamship lines and underwater cable lines. A directory of local businesses is included in sidebars on the left and right edges of the map.

Harbour Drive Proposal, 1963

The Halifax Peninsula has inspired generations of urban planners. This 1963 plan shows how the proposed Harbour Drive would integrate with the existing street system, as well as with possible "future artery improvements" such as a third Harbour bridge, and a bridge across the North West Arm to Bicentennial Drive.

The Harbour Drive proposal was halted by public opposition in the late 1960s after the Cogswell Street Interchange paved the way for the freeway to replace the waterfront area that became known as Historic Properties.

The Municipal Archives holds the minutes, reports, plans, public hearing files, etc. that document the Harbour Drive proposal development and demise. This map is one of over 20,000 plans filed with City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department. See our Cogswell Interchange/Harbour Drive source guide for more information about our holdings related to these projects. 

Halifax Municipal Archives gratefully acknowledges financial support of the Government of Canada through Library and Archives Canada, and from Nova Scotia's Tourism, Culture and Heritage Provincial Archival Development Program, through Nova Scotia Archives.