Summary of Dartmouth Council minutes relating to the Halifax Explosion (101-1A)
This page provides summaries of Dartmouth Town/City Council minutes relating to the Halifax Explosion. Meeting dates are hyperlinked to PDFs containing digitized copies of the meeting minutes.
- Letter from the Eastern Trust Co. re: liability of Fire Underwriters advises that all proofs of loss for damage to property caused by the Explosion must be prepared and delivered as soon as possible.
- Letter from C.H. Harvey recommends Town take prompt action to place community compensation claims for property losses caused by the Explosion before the Allies. Action on the letter is referred to the Joint Committee of the City Board of Control and the Town Council.
- The Town Council agrees to meet in committee with the Assessors to determine what action should be taken regarding the Explosion.
- Motion to meet with the Mayor of Halifax and Dominion Cabinet Ministers to discuss compensation for damage caused by the Explosion.
- Council resolves that the Dominion Government needs to further investigate the causes of the Explosion and what can be done to prevent a similar event occurring.
- Councillor Herman is appointed to meet with the Halifax Board of Control and Dominion Cabinet Ministers in Halifax to discuss the disaster.
- Letter from the Governor-General re: Explosion.
- Repairs authorized for the Town Hall through the Public Property Committee.
- W.N. Forbes, Plumbing Inspector, to meet with the Water Committee and the Superintendent to discuss the plumbing in the temporary houses being built for the Relief Committee.
- The Mayor, Town Solicitor Foster, and Councillor Tobin form a committee to draft a letter to Prime Minister Borden, re: reparation to owners of damaged property caused by the “Great Explosion.”
- Council resolves to send A.C. Pettipas, on behalf of J.A. Edwards of John St., whose house was damaged by the Explosion, an order of oil-cloth, and which will be billed to the Relief Committee.
- Committee consisting of the present Council – Mayor Williams, Councillors Mosher, Tobin, Carter, and MacLean, and Town Solicitor Foster – is appointed to conduct an Assessment to determine the loss of “real and personal property in the Town of Dartmouth caused by the Explosion…”
- Letter from A.C. Pettipas prompts a resolution that the Town Clerk write the Executive of the Relief Committee to request an interview with the Mayor and the Council to discuss opening a supply depot in the north end.
- Property Assessment for 1918: Assessors to make appraisal of damage done to real and personal property and to report to Council; three builders to be employed to assist the Assessors; Mayor and Finance Committee to arrange remuneration for their services.
- Letter from J. Wilton, Mayor of Dartmouth, England, dated December 19, 1917, to express his sympathies to the Town regarding the Explosion.
- A.C. Johnston, Chairman Dartmouth Relief Committee, states that the Committee unanimously decided against establishing a relief depot in the north end of Town.
- Joint meeting with the Town Council and the Dartmouth Board of Trade to consider the recent disaster and “the probability of other accidents occurring owing to the inefficient administration of the Harbor and Pilotage Regulations.”
- Chairman Graham of the Board of Trade proposed a resolution that Dartmouth Town Council and the Dartmouth Board of Trade request an appointment of a “competent official to control Halifax Harbor traffic” in light of the negligence that led to the disaster, as well as a near miss of another munition ship since. Resolution was passed unanimously by the Council. Copies were wired to the Prime Minister and the County Members, Honorable A.K. McLean and Peter F. Martin.
• Members of the Halifax Relief Commission were present and suggested collaboration between the two groups.
• Council appoints Councillors Mosher, Lynch, and Tobin to a committee to act as advisors to the Commission.
- Council prepares a notice to be published in the newspapers that urge Dartmouth residents to conserve water, despite the conditions in many dwellings caused by the Explosion.
- The Dartmouth Manufacturing Company gifts the “Gun” from the S.S. Mont Blanc that was cast onto its land by the blast of the Explosion.
- Discussion of Assessment Act relating to Appeals made by ratepayers in relation to the Explosion.
- Mayor to arrange a meeting with the Dartmouth Relief Commission to discuss repairs to the Public Buildings and School Houses which sustained damage during the Explosion.
- Residents of the North End of Dartmouth are present at the meeting to discuss the condition of the woodland between Windmill Rd. and the Harbour, which was destroyed by a fire on June 3, 1918. The Explosion uprooted all of the trees in this location, which is now a fire hazard. A fire on June 3 spread to a nearby house, owned by George T. DeYoung, who, in a letter, urges Council to take immediate action. Council resolves to notify all landowners to remove fallen trees within ten days.
- The McDonald Construction Co., Ltd. submits an estimate of the damage caused to all Town Buildings and Schools by the Explosion.
- The Clerk is asked to arrange a meeting with the Halifax Relief Commission for an update on damage to property due to the Explosion.
- Repairs needed to the Engine House, caused by the Explosion; referred to the Mayor and the Public Property Committee.
- Public Property Committee report that C.A. Biard & Son successfully bid $395 to complete repairs to the plaster in Town Hall which was damaged by the Explosion.
- Dartmouth School Board asks the Town Council for $4,563.74 to pay off the School’s Explosion Account.
- Council grants Mr. A.C. Johnston, ex-Chairman of the Dartmouth Relief Commission, the gun which was blown from the Mont Blanc during the Explosion.
- Notice of motion from Alderman Woods regarding the moving of the Mont Blanc cannon to the north end - Albro Lake proposed Golden Acres Park.
- Motion to move the cannon, which was hurled from the Mont Blanc during the Explosion, from Wyse Rd. to the north end where it would have initially landed. Motion is carried to move the canon to the Golden Acres Parkland in Albro Lake, once the park is deeded to the City.
- Mr. Gosley gives a presentation to Council discussing the impact of the Explosion on Dartmouth and encourages Council to consider the upcoming 75th anniversary.
- Alderman Woods advises the Mayor that a Micmac [sic] [Mi’kmaq] community member should be on the planning committee for the 75th anniversary of the Explosion.
- The Heritage Advisory Committee proposes that a special committee be formed to work on the 75th anniversary of the Explosion.
- Council recommends approval of “The Spirit Swings,” a commemorative sculpture by Theresa MacPhee for the “MicMac Village” [sic] [Mi’kmaq] that was destroyed by the Explosion. The sculpture is to be on or near Yetter Park on Windmill Rd.
- Discussion of permits for special events, including the re-enactment of the Explosion, before they take place in public areas.