Memorial Tower in Fleming Park commemorates 150 years of representative government in NS.
By Iris V. Shea
In 1908 the Nova Scotia Legislature celebrated its 150th anniversary of representative government in Nova Scotia. In 1906, Sir Sandford Fleming proposed that the city of Halifax build a tower on his land overlooking the Northwest Arm to commemorate that 1758 event, the beginning of “Parliamentary Government” in Nova Scotia. Fleming, in fact, believed it was the first representative government in all of the Commonwealth, outside Great Britain. At the same time, he offered 95 acres of his "Dingle Lands" on the western side of the Northwest Arm for a public park. The mayor and council voted down the proposal, claiming it was not within their budget and that it was a provincial government matter.
Fleming was not easily discouraged and went elsewhere for help. The Canadian Club in Halifax agreed to do the fundraising and Fleming donated $1000 to their very successful campaign. Governments and individuals across Canada and throughout the British Empire donated money. School children in Australia collected and sent pennies. Canadian Clubs in towns and cities across Canada helped in the fundraising effort, as did a number of businesses and universities.
Fleming got his tower. The foundation stone for the tower was laid on October 2, 1908, exactly 150 years from the day when Nova Scotia’s first elected representatives met in Halifax. Four years later, on August 14, 1912, at 12:30 PM, the tower was officially opened by the Governor General of Canada. The city of Halifax received it, free of debt, along with 95 acres of Fleming’s “Dingle Lands”. The land was later given its official name “Sir Sandford Fleming Park” by the city of Halifax.
The memorial tower was designed by Halifax architects Sidney Dumaresq and Andrew Cobb and its construction was in the hands of S.M. Brookfield, Limited. The exterior is native granite and ironstone, finished inside and outside alike. The very durable steel and concrete floors, iron stairs, and copper roof cornices, doors, and window frames, are still visible. The cost of the finished structure, including all gifts of tablets, plaques, flags and other ornaments, was, according to the local Canadian Club, about $50,000.
There is an inscription plaque inside the tower which is “executed in the finest manner by Tiffany of New York”. The two bronze lions “of heroic size”, one on either side of the entrance, were a gift from Great Britain. Donated by the Royal Colonial Insitute, London, in 1913, and designed by British sculptor, Albert Brucejoy, they closely resemble those at Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, London, England.
Located inside the tower are tablets and plaques of all sizes which were described in Halifax newspapers of 1912. From the City of Bristol, England, there is a reproduction in bronze of a 1906 painting by Ernest Board. It depicts the departure of the Cabots from Bristol in 1497 on their discovery voyage to Nova Scotia and North America (the original is located in the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery). The ladies of Bristol donated two beautiful flags for the tower to the ladies of Halifax…one of silk, the other of fine bunting, facsimiles of the Royal Ensign presented to the Cabots in 1497 by Henry VII. From the City of Bath, England, is “a finely executed and beautifully framed picture of the famous old Roman bath, after which the city was named.” The City of London presented the arms of that city, executed in stone from the Thames quarry by a celebrated sculptor. The City of Edinburgh gave the arms of the city, sculpted in buff Scottish freestone. “Friends in Ireland” sent a beautiful slab of black granite from near the “Giant’s Causeway” in County Antrim. The Commonwealth of Australia presented the arms of the commonwealth done in very bold relief on a two ton block of Melbourne freestone. Their high commissioner in London also presented the flag of the commonwealth. The Union of South Africa provided the arms of the union carved on Pretoria brown freestone. Their high commissioner in London also presented the flag of the union. From the Dominion of New Zealand came “an accurate and picturesque arms of the Dominion painted in heraldic colours on a fine block of native granite”. That country’s high commissioner in London presented the flag of the Dominion. The Department of Militia and Defense donated a surprise gift of four field guns for the terraces.
There is a small plaque from France, one that was instigated by Sir Sandford Fleming himself. In Fleming’s journal, dated April 10, 1911, referring to his daughter, Lily, and her family, he noted: “Wrote Wm Exshaw, Lily & Noel about getting a block of stone from Brouage, birthplace of Champlain.” On May 14th of that year he added in his diary “the block of stone arrived for incorporation into the Tower”. Brian Cuthberston, in his proposal for the Tower’s National Heritage Designation wrote: “The special piece of white/beige stone rests on a small red sandstone plinth built into the wall of the tower. The copper alloy plaque below it reads: This old building stone formed part of the gateway of the house in which Champlain was born 1567, three hundred years before Canadian Confederation. The gift of William, Lily and Noel Exshaw was personally procured at Brouage, France April 27th, 1911.”
For the opening of the Memorial Tower, Halifax merchants, looking forward to the influx of visitors, decorated their storefronts. Schools and businesses were closed for the day as the city prepared to celebrate the arrival of Royalty. People would certainly want to get a glimpse of Queen Victoria’s son, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, who was Canada’s Governor General. He was accompanied by his wife, Princess Louise Marguerite, and daughter Princess Patricia. Invitations had been sent out to all provinces to share in this special visit. For a fee of 25 cents spectators could board SS “Kilburn” for the excursion to the Northwest Arm to get a “near view of the ceremony”. Brown’s Jewelers on Granville Street advertised souvenir spoons for sale. A souvenir pin was made available with a picture of the tower and its opening date.
On opening day, the Royal Yacht made its way up the Northwest Arm from the Dockyard, landing at “Boutilier’s Point” (the name used locally at the time for the point of land from which Boutilier’s ferry operated). Other dignitaries and invited guests were aboard DGR “Aberdeen”. With the Royal party, they made their way on foot to the tower. On the Arm, in view of the tower, were many steamships, sailing vessels, canoes and rowboats, all laden with passengers wanting to be part of this historic occasion. Five hundred school children sang at the event. Flags, gifts from all over the British Empire, decorated the tower’s exterior.
In 2010, the Memorial Tower was officially given National Heritage Status. The tower has been closed to the public for repairs at that time but in 2012 the tower opened again, in time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its 1912 opening. On Natal Day, August 6th, from 11 to 2, the public was invited to attend this special celebration.
Subpages (3): Memorial Tower My Grandfather's Tower Sir Sandford Fleming Park