Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - March 18, 1975, Winnipeg, Manitoba 12 Winnipeg free press tuesday March 18, 1975 Halifax recalls swashbuckling past by Sheila Mccook Halifax is a two faced town. Some think the Nova Scotia City is a Prim place to which proper britishers Long ago carted their after noon teas favorite ser vants and strict code of Eli Quetler in an Effort to re create the Way of life they d enjoyed at Home. Halifax was founded in 1749 As a British stronghold to offset the might of a Louisbourg France s great fortress situated uncomfortably nearby on Cape Breton Island. Being a Mil itary base and still Canada s naval training Centre brought with it All the attendant rules of behaviour and attention to rank. Being the capital of Nova Only added to Hali fax s Well developed sense of propriety. Some remember the other Halifax the one with the Shady past. It goes Back a Long time to the 18th and 19th Cen Turies when privateers set off from Halifax to bedevil giant ships sailing on the Atlantic. Booty was brought Back to town and openly auctioned off to the highest bidders a practice that made Halifax s most accomplished Privateer capt. Enos Collins a millionaire. Records Tell of Knock pm Down Street and a Brothel called seven Steps to hell testifying to Rowdy stages in Halifax s Story. Slums seedy bars and Vio Lence were unfortunate realities up through the Sec Ond world War. Haig onions would t for the world pretend the past did t exist but they do in Sist that the City has changed. It has Flung off its Grimness to enjoy life More. And nowadays when people refer to Halifax s shakiness they Are talking about magnificent rows of Trees not unseemly neighbourhoods. But one of the most Wel come new elements of Halifax is a revived inter est in preserving the City s past. An outstanding exam ple of Halifax s fascination with its old self is the waterfront area which holds considerable sentimental value for sea Loving Hali ionians. Three acre area is being restored in what is one of the most extensive projects of its kind on the continent. F r o n t i n g the Waters of the Narrows an Inlet of the Atlantic form ing one of the finest Inland harbours in the world and the largest Inland ice free Harbor in North America is a Section that has sur v i v e d from about 1800. Buildings Are of Wood and Stone even ballast from the ships that docked at Halifax. This old waterfront area is considered to be the last of its Type on the continent. Long neglected and hidden by the grime of years its buildings Are now re emerging not to become museums but functioning parts of City life. Oldest is capt. Collins warehouse where Silks spices rum sugar and Booty from ships Dur ing the 1812 War were stashed. Its rebirth will see it become a pub restau rant and lounge. So much Money did the Privateer make that he was obliged to build a Bank to contain it All. Around the Corner from the Ware House collins1 Bank will again become a Bank. New buildings maintain ing the architectural tone of those swashbuckling Days Are being constructed As Well. Docked at the old wharf be a vessel that must never be overlooked on a Halifax visit the Blue nose. This is an exact replica As to Hull Sailplane and rigging of the original b 1 u e n o s e undefeated Champion of the International fishermen s series of races from 1921 to 1938. During the warm months Bluenose ii keeps a Busy schedule transporting tourists on three and a half hour daily excursions. Other historic Sites can be found within walking distance of the restoration area. They Are situated along resolutely British sounding streets Duke George Granville Buck oldest building in Halifax is also Canada s oldest protestant Church St. Paul s. It was built with Timber brought by sea from Boston. Province House is per haps Canada s smallest As Well As oldest legislature building. Lamps from old Waterloo Bridge in London Grace the Entrance. A Halifax landmark vis Ible across town when it was built in 1803, is the old town clock. It is a Monu ment to Queen Victoria s passion for round empty Homes double buildings and punctuality. The Duke of Kent insisted on having both while com Mander in chief of the City from 1794 to 1800. Other legacies of his circular Fixa t i o n include a Martello Tower and St. George s Church a rare North american example of by Zantine architecture. Perhaps the Only Cri mean War memorial in North America can be found in Halifax in an old downtown cemetery dominated by a Large Monu ment marked Sebastopol. Halifax is known As the City of Trees. Helping uphold the slogan Are Point pleasant Park rented from he grown for a shill ing a year and tree lined streets. Parks where numerous Field hockey and soccer games Are played As reminders of a 1 if a s British origins abound and ornate private and Public gardens Are lovingly tended. The Halifax Public gardens Are based on the original gardens planted in 1783. Not Only has Halifax been a great North Ameri can naval base but also a major land As can be seen by its massive Citadel. There have been four of them built in approximately the same place since the City s founding. The last was constructed in 1828-29. Never a shot has been fired during the Citadel s four lives today the Star shaped Structure is a favorite Stop p i n g o f f Point. Among tourists one is Likely to bump into Are sailors from around the world taking time out from their Atlantic fishing to visit the famous Citadel. Within Are displays from the provincial museum whose Headquarters Are a a military museum consid ered to be of major importance in Canada. A wealth of military curiosities is on display centuries of uni forms lord Kitchener s in Dian sword collection 15th and 16th Century Spears italian and German Gas operated machine guns from the second world War. Other areas of the Citadel show the Public the Type of environment the Garrison had to put up with. Halifax claims historical importance in the educational realm As Well. The University of King s col Jege founded by United Empire loyalists in 1789 is the oldest University build ing in the British Conion wealth outside the British Isles. Canada s first Public school was in Halifax but the City s oldest school building which still stands was the National school opened in 1818. When it later became the Victoria school of Art and design i t s director was Anna Leonowens known to All As the King of Siam s Friend in the King and i. The building underwent another change to become the five fishermen one of the Fin est sea food restaurants in Halifax today. There is plenty to see and do in the Halifax area. Its sister City Dartmouth across the Narrows has More than 20 lakes 18 Gold courses museums and Quaker houses. Numerous yacht clubs Are found in the Vicinity most of which accept visiting members from other clubs. For further information about Halifax and area Contact the Canadian government office of tourism 150 Kent Street Ottawa Canada k1a oh6. Ingalls Dies Birmingham Ala. Robert Ingalls 65, former chairman of the Board of in _ a 11 s has died. I n g a 11 s was at one time head of the huge firm that in eluded Ingalls shipbuilding corp., Ingalls Iron works in galls steel construction and Birmingham tank co. He re tired in 1961. Mob beef counters Toronto up when Eaton s offered pounds of beef at one third off in the downtown department store the meat was sold in hours. But it was almost a mob scene. Buyers were jostled had their feet trod on and one was knocked Down. Among the items were four 10-ounce new York steaks at for fast Dominion when it comes to janitorial supplies come to the people who know the West Best 122 Mcphillips Street Winnipeg r3e 2j7 775-8111 Ottawa up although housing construction is in a t a i 1 s p i a demand for new Homes and duplexes is slow. Central mortgage and hous ing corp. Chc said last week that the number of unoccupied houses and duplexes had risen to units by the end of january More than twice As High As a year earlier. This seems puzzling As House prices Are steadying and Mort Gage interest rates Are falling. Builders could not keep up Vith the demand a year ago despite a record building rate. But spiralling housing prices and climbing interest rates succeeded in dousing demand Oward the end of 1974. However the picture is changing with prices and inter est rates levelling off or fall ing. A Chc spokesman said the for the slow demand May be because prospective Ibeme buyers Are waiting for mortgage rates and House prices to drop further. But some economists have been saying recently that they do not expect mortgage rates to dip below 10 per cent this year. They say these rates May even Start climbing again late in the year. Chc said recently that the House building Industry has had its worst Winter in eight years. Builders started construction on housing units in the december to february period about half the number of starts a year earlier. The last time there was a lower total for the three Winter months was in 1966-67. Mercy killing opposed London renter the Church of England came out monday against legalizing mercy killing after spending four years studying the controversial Issue. A report by a Church work ing parly said it could not be proved that changing British Law to permit euthanasia would remove More evils than it would introduce. The report was published against a background of renewed controversy in Britain following admissions by some Hospital doctors that they have Practised euthanasia. The report said that i Galiz ing mercy killing would place , and oven non terminal patients under pics sure to allow themselves to be put pressure which they should be it was better for doctors to do All that was necessary t ensure peaceful deaths than t legalize mercy killing for Gen eral use the report said. Jesuit affirms loyalty Vatican City a the head of the jesuits brushing aside reports that he plans to resign made Clear recently he considers the roman Cath Olic religious order completely Loyal to Pope Paul. The general congregation has demonstrated without any doubt its readiness to follow die directives of the Rev. Pedro Arripe told a news conference. Before the congregation began last november Pope Paul had criticized the society of Jesus for an activist image. He demanded that All resolutions be submitted to him Lor approval and blocked a move o extend the vow of papal Obe Dince to All in the member order. Brothers in the order do not acc the special vow and re orders within the order have 3cen seeking to erase the Dis inaction from priest members f the order. But the Spanish born Superior general said All discus Ion of the vow ended after the Pope s veto. We Are sure that the Pope is the father Arripe said. Despite persistent reports during the three month Congre gation which ended last Friday that he would step Down under pressure from within the order. Father Arripe. Said had no idea of handing in m he said the biggest problem for the 434-year of society an a declining number of Voca the last nine year the number of has declined to from and its role in modern society. We most fight with Allou strength for a most just mor human and in our View mor Christian father Arrup said. A week of Sun country fun and a great suntan for Only 49.50. 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