Africville
An African-Canadian
Community of
Halifax, Nova Scotia
1848 - 1967
Presentation by Patricia Clark
Photo Source: (unless otherwise indicated)
The Spirit of Africville, (D. Clairmont et al) 1992
Parents in Africville sought
to provide the best possible
life for their children, in
spite of the neglect of the
city of Halifax.
Coleman Howe
The city bureaucrats “never
chased baseballs across the
field on cool summer
evenings, or scrambled for
blueberries in the scrub on
the hill. They never heard
the piano music from the
parlors, or the voices raised
in praise at the church. They
never knew what it felt to be
six years old, living in
Africville, and knowing that
you’re safe because you’re
home. They only saw the
peeling paint loosened by the
salt air.”
Africville
Bird’s Eye View of Africville
View of Africville from the blueberry patch on the hill
A View of “Up the Road”, near the Bedford Basin
Porters in front of the train for the royal visit, 1939
John Pannell, Tom MacDonald, Henry Lawrence, J. H. Franklin,
George Dixon, R. H. States, B. J. Cromwell, James Springer
Matilda
Newman’s store
“Listen close… can you hear it? Can you hear that sound, coming
from the church? It’s like a heartbeat … the heartbeat of
Africville. This church is the living, breathing soul of our
community. As long as the church is here, we’ll be here.”
Seaview African United Baptist Church
Seaview African United Baptist Church
Africville residents learned about trains at a young age.
Tracks were laid through Africville in the 1850s,
and expanded twice before WWI.
Three sets of train tracks ran through Africville.
Outdoor wells - the sole source of water for inhabitants of Africville
Halifax refused to supply Africville with water and sewage facilities, garbage collection, snowplow
service, or building code enforcement, arguing that the community was impermanent and that the area
was slated for industrial development.
A 1954 report by the City Manager notes, “The water supply in Africville is from shallow wells which
show more contamination than is desirable. The proximity of privies to these wells is particularly bad
with the rocky soil conditions. The city of Halifax has been fortunate that no serious health conditions
have resulted from this situation.”
George Dixon:
World
Featherweight
Champion
1896 - 1900
Portia White, worldrenowned singer, once
taught school in
Africville.
The youth of Africville at church...
Sunday School class at Seaview Baptist Church,
Easter, 1961
Africville school seen from the waterfront
Hope Carvery
a student at Mulgrave
Park School, 1965
Picking blueberries in Africville
Evening on Bedford Basin...
Kids at play...
Millie and Benny Jones
~ Their wedding day ~
Cutting the cake at Jessie (Brown)
Kane’s wedding
A proud young family of
Africville
Music was central
to the lives of
Africville’s
residents.
The jazz giant
Duke Ellington
regularly visited
relatives (through
marriage) in
Africville.
The Brown Bombers Hockey Team
African-Canadians have
always been eager to
contribute to their
country’s defense.
Africville residents were no
exception.
World War II volunteer
Gerald Johnson, with his
brother Charles and nephew
Robert.
Africville homes...
Home Sweet Home...
CGIT: Canadian Girls in Training
“The community presents a picture of neglect, poor
roads, primitive and unsanitary wells and outdoor privies”
Rev. W. P. Oliver, 1964, former pastor to Africville
In 1962, Africville residents met with city bureaucrats at the
Seaview African United Baptist Church to discuss the city’s plans to
relocate them.
Deacon Ralph Jones’ house, boarded up during relocation
“City people sent a truck to move my furniture. Just think what
the neighbours thought when they looked out and saw a garbage
truck drive up and unload the furniture.”
~ Moving day for Dorothy Carvery ~
Africville residents were evacuated using City of Halifax dump trucks.
Aaron “Pa” Carvery
surrounded by rubble
on the site of his
Africville home. Most
residents left
between 1964 and
1967. Pa Carvery,
the last Africville
resident, held out till
January 2, 1970.
In December 1969, city officials tried to convince Carvery to move.
He recounts the story as follows:“They sent for me and when I got
there, I was taken into someone’s office. There were five or six
people in the room, plus a suitcase full of money tied up neatly in
bundles… The suitcase was open so as to tempt me and try to pay me
off right then and there… I didn't like it at all… It hurt me… I told
them, ‘You guys think you’re smart… well, you’re not smart enough,’
then I got up and walked out of the office.”
Africville Memorial: all that remains...