Reinstating bells to Halifax City Hall

Project overview

In 2020, work began to install two bells dating back to the mid-1800s to early 1900s in the Halifax City Hall bell tower. The newly rehabilitated bells, one or both quite possibly an original City Hall bell, will replace the electronic bell sound system that City Hall has had installed since 1995. These historic bells will sound the same as they did over a hundred years ago, and might sound differently than the electronic bells that played a recording of Westminster Chime. 

The installation work will be completed in two phases — phase one, involving preparation work, was completed in August 2020. 

Phase two, the installation of the bells, was completed in late October 2021. 

A brief history: Halifax City Hall clocks and bells

The bells at City Hall have a long and interesting history. City Hall has had two clocks since 1904 and acquired its first bell sometime within the 1880s to the 1890s. It is not clear specifically when the bell was first installed, but the first clock was installed in roughly 1904. 

It is believed that the clock and bell were both damaged during the 1917 Halifax Explosion, however, it is unclear as to when they were both removed. The clock was already not a great timekeeper, and there were records of repairs, but it is unclear whether this was related to damage caused by the explosion. Based on archival images, it is thought that the bells were removed within one to two decades following the explosion. 

From then on, City Hall did not have a clock or bell, with very few records indicating whether they would be brought back. Throughout the 1980s, City Hall underwent significant renovations. As part of the Advisory Committee on City Hall Renovations Report submitted to Council in 1983, it was recommended that the clock and bell tower mechanisms be rehabilitated and restored.

In 1995, it appears that the electronic bell sound system was installed, as part of the G-7 Summit event and funded by the Halifax Foundation. In 1999, the Halifax Foundation provided funding for two new clock faces. The Halifax Foundation website states:

“The Foundation installed chimes in the City Hall tower to mark the 1995 G-7 Summit in Halifax. In 1999, it placed two clock faces in the tower, one permanently fixed at the exact moment, 9:04:35, of the Halifax Explosion.”

In roughly 2007, two large bells were moved from City Field and a Public Gardens outbuilding by Mills Heavy Hauling. The bells were relocated on pallets to the Fairview Cemetery cold-storage basement.
As outlined in the 1983 report, the consultant report from January 2016, and as part of the 2019/20 budget, the two 2007 recovered bells will be restored to City Hall in August of 2020.

Once installed, the electronic bell sound system will no longer be operational, and the newly installed bells will be the only ones chiming. The bells will be rung by an automated clock and striker system, and are programmed to chime on the quarter hour, half hour and hour.

The Reinstate Bells – Halifax City Hall tender was awarded to Black & McDonald in October of 2019. 

What this means for the Halifax Regional Municipality

The two bells, one quite possibly an original bell of City Hall, will offer historical significance and a traditional sound experience to everyone in Halifax. This will be the first time that real bells will ring at City Hall in almost 100 years. The chimes will sound different than the electronic bell sound system that was in operation since 1995. 

About Halifax City Hall

The City Hall building, located in Grand Parade Square in downtown Halifax, was constructed between 1887 and 1890. Halifax City Hall, with a seven-storey bell tower, was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1984. Further research on the history of the building is available online. 

Halifax Explosion Legacy Projects – Fort Needham Memorial Park

In 2017, the municipality honoured the 100th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion, which included an extensive revitalization to Fort Needham Memorial Park. The memorial park was established in the 1950s as part of the rebuilding of the neighbourhood devastated in the 1917 explosion. The project included extensive landscaping, and the addition of memorial and interpretive elements to better present the Explosion story to residents and visitors, and park upgrades to prepare the site for the anniversary event. As part of this work, the Halifax Explosion anniversary advisory committee began discussions once again on the status of the bells in City Hall. While priority was given to completing the park ahead of the anniversary, staff began planning for the return of the bells to City Hall.
 

FAQ

What happened?

In late October 2021, two bells dating back to the mid-1800s to early- 1900s were installed in the bell tower at Halifax City Hall. These bells replaced the electronic sound system that had been installed since 1995. 

What was the project timeline?

Phase one, involving preparation work, was completed in August 2020. Phase two, the installation of the bells, was completed in late October 2021. 

What did phase two involve?

Two bell technicians from the Verdin Company in Ontario arrived in late October 2021, as their expertise was required to oversee the installation of the bells. The installation of the bells took place on Saturday, Oct. 30, and the bells rang for the first time that same afternoon.

Are these original City Hall bells? 

Based on archival evidence, it’s quite possible that one of the two bells could be original City Hall bell. Archival images show that between 1900 to 1904, it appears there was one bell in the City Hall bell tower. It appears the City Hall bell was removed one to two decades following the Halifax Explosion, although a concrete date has not been determined.

When and how are the bells rung?

The two bells ring by an automated clock and striker system, programmed to chime on the quarter hour, half hour and hour. 

Can you tell me more about the bells?

There are two bells – one bell with foundry marks of 1853, and the other without foundry marks. 

In roughly 2007, the two bells were moved from City Field and a Public Gardens outbuilding. The bells were relocated on pallets to the Fairview Cemetery cold-storage basement. 

The bells were determined to be in sound condition, with minimal corrosion and wear due to their age. The bells were cleaned and had strikers attached for ringing.  

The smaller bell is 830 lbs and 30” by 31” in diameter. The larger bell is 1070 lbs and 35” by 38” in diameter. The smaller of the two bells has foundry marks of 1853. 

When was the tender awarded? What was the project cost? 

In October of 2019, the Reinstate Bells - Halifax City Hall tender for installing the bells and replacing the clocks at Halifax City Hall was awarded to Black & McDonald for $107,000.00. The amount was later updated to include only the bells at $71,000, as the new, replacement clock faces were removed from the award. 

Photo gallery full citations 

1. The largest City Hall bell in storage at the Fairview Cemetery in 2016, from McIvor Conservation.
2. Verdin Bells CO. doing the sounding of the 1853 bell, from McIvor Conservation.
3. A view from inside of the City Hall tower overlooking Parade Square, from McIvor Conservation.
4. Verdin Bells CO. doing the sounding of the 1853 bell, from McIvor Conservation.
5. A bell in storage, from McIvor Conservation.
6. The 1853 bell in storage, from McIvor Conservation.
7. The 1853 bell in storage, from McIvor Conservation.
8. City Hall, sometime in the 1990s when cars were still permitted to park out front – City Clerk’s historical reference file - 102-5-1-84-10. Halifax Municipal Archives
9. City Hall, pre-1929 when the Grand Parade fountain was removed to make way for the Cenotaph – City Clerk’s historical reference file - 102-5-1-88. Halifax Municipal Archives.
10. Halifax Fire Department demonstrates new 100-foot aerial truck, City Hall, ca. 1966 -- Halifax Fire Department community outreach photographs 102-111-4-1.88 to 102-111-4-1.91. Halifax Municipal Archives. 
11. Halifax Fire Department demonstrates new 100-foot aerial truck, City Hall, ca. 1966 -- Halifax Fire Department community outreach photographs 102-111-4-1.88 to 102-111-4-1.91. Halifax Municipal Archives. 
12. Halifax Fire Department demonstrates new 100-foot aerial truck, City Hall, ca. 1966 -- Halifax Fire Department community outreach photographs 102-111-4-1.88 to 102-111-4-1.91. Halifax Municipal Archives. 
13. Halifax Fire Department demonstrates new 100-foot aerial truck, City Hall, ca. 1966 -- Halifax Fire Department community outreach photographs 102-111-4-1.88 to 102-111-4-1.91. Halifax Municipal Archives. Image 13 identifies the City Manager, Peter Byers; Mayor Vaughan (seated); Chief Brundige; and Alderman Doyle; please contact Halifax Municipal Archives if you can identify anyone else.
14. New City Hall - Halifax, NS - print from the June 11, 1887 edition of the American Architect and Building News of architect Edward Elliot's sketch of Halifax City Hall, with insets of the ground and first floor plans. Halifax Municipal Archives Map reference collection CR10-026.
15. Crowd gathered in Grand Parade, for unidentified event between 1890-1905 - John and Beatrice Alley photograph collection CR16-84 Halifax Municipal Archives.
16. City Hall front elevation, 1888, Edward Elliot, architect.  City Engineering and Works Department plan # E-6-514. Halifax Municipal Archives.
17. City Hall Clock drawing, 1919 - City Engineering and Works Department plan # Z-5-4623. Halifax Municipal Archives  (It has not been researched if this plan for a new mechanism was actually done after the Explosion).
18. Two bells on flats before installation in October 2021 - The Halifax Regional Municipality.
19. A crane lifting a bell into the City Hall bell tower - The Halifax Regional Municipality.