Summary of City of Halifax Annual Reports (102-1I)
This page contains relevant sections from the City of Halifax Annual Reports relating to the Halifax Explosion. Report names are hyperlinked to a PDF of the digitized report.
1917-1918
- City finances are “in such a state on account of the explosion of December 6th” but hopeful this is temporary and the Halifax Relief Commission will take care of the expenses incurred.
- Rest of report summarizes finances of the City.
- Damage to the City Prison, the fence surrounding the prison yard, and the concrete walk, caused by the Explosion; temporary and permanent work has been carried out in order to repair damage.
- Discusses the number of people supported in the City Home, the largest number during the year being on December 6, 1917 when there were 341 people seeking assistance.
- Library was closed for a few weeks following the Explosion and used as a food depot.
- After the Explosion the regular patrolmen worked overtime and were supplemented by “a number of specials… recruited from citizens of all ranks” who assisted the Police department.
- Work of Detective department has increased due to increase in number of non-residents due in part to the War, as well as the Explosion.
- Accidents and Deaths which occurred during the year include the names of the firemen who were injured during the Explosion – John Hennessy, Joseph Johnston, William Wells, Frank Leahy (who later died from his injuries) – and those who died – Chief Edward P. Condon, Assistant Chief William P. Brunt, Hosemen Frank Killeen and Mickel Maltus, Captain William T. Broderick, Hosemen Walter Hennessy and John Duggan (missing, body never recovered).
1918-1919*
- p. 27-28: Briefly acknowledges the work the Relief Commission is doing for Halifax, as well as the “sympathy and monetary relief extended us by the world” following the Explosion.
- p. 108c: Relief Commission – Schools Accounts – statement of receipts and expenditure on schools.
- Mentions the interruption to the Library’s work caused by the Explosion and then the influenza epidemic which caused the library to shut down for a portion of the year.
1919-1920
- p. 27 – expecting settlement from Relief Commission; Housing Commission has built 50 houses, at an expenditure of $200,000 with $300,000 more expected due to the housing shortage within the City.
- p. 35 – bonds of $565,000 for the Halifax Relief Commission for cash advanced to the City.
- p. 121 – Relief Commission, Schools Account.
*Note: The Halifax Municipal Archives does not currently have a copy of the Halifax City Report 1918-1919. The Nova Scotia Archives, where this research and scans were compiled, has a copy on microfilm that is accessible to researchers.