LIVE MUSIC IN THE DEAD CENTRE OF HALIFAX - next Thursday, Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts faculty Katherine Fitch Loza Will be performing solo harp in the OBG. It’s FREE!

Get to know your dead neighbours! My daughter and I are giving a tour of the Old Burying Ground as part of Jane's Walks this Sunday, May 3 at 10am. Meet at the gates on Barrington. FREE.

NICHE CONTENT: A new columbarium has been installed at Camp Hill. It has 96 cremation niches. A good reminder that despite its historic nature, Camp Hill is still an active burial site.

Hearses on the Halifax waterfront to receive bodies of Titanic dead recovered by CS Minia. May 6 1912. Courtesy of @NS_Archives

"He remained at his post of duty, seeking to save others. Regardless of his own life and went down with the ship." Ernest Edward Samuel Freeman, secretary to White Star chairman Bruce Ismay & Chief Deck Steward aboard SS Titanic. Fairview Lawn

"Died on duty "S.S. Titanic"" Purser's Clerk Ernest Waldron King was body no. 321, hauled from Atlantic by the crew of the Minia. Among his personal effects, a romantic mystery: a woman's handkerchief with a lace border & initials T.G.F. Fairview Lawn

George Frederick Charles Talbot was a third class steward aboard The Titanic. The job paid 3£ 15s per month. He was 20 years old. He is buried in Fairview Lawn Cemetery

John Henry Chapman & his wife Sarah boarded the Titanic at Southampton. They were moving to Wisconsin. Sarah had a spot in a lifeboat but turned back saying "if John can't go, I won't go either." Her body was never found. Fairview Lawn

Herbert Cave was born in Wandsworth, London, England in 1873. He was 39 years old when he signed on as a saloon steward aboard The Titanic. He had a corkscrew & a map of first-class cabins on his body when it was found by the MacKay-Bennett. Fairview Lawn

Belgian farmer Achille Waelens was 22 when he boarded the Titanic, heading to Michigan to join his twin brother. Records say he had a 2nd class ticket. His family said he could only have afforded steerage. There was $25 in his pocket when his body was found. Fairview Lawn.

Mampré (Mapriededer) Zakarian was an Armenian Christian fleeing the Turkish occupation of his homeland. He was hoping for a new life in Canada when he boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg as a third class passenger. Fairview Lawn

James Hutchinson was 31 when he signed on a ship's cook aboard the SS Titanic. His monthly wages were £6, 10. His body was found in checked pants and a blue jacket, probably his work uniform. Fairview Lawn.

Rev Pierre Forgeron was born Dec 9 1846, studied at St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, and the Seminary of Quebec, and was ordained 26 July 1874. He died Dec 21 1894. His last parish was Bridgeport, which included what is now St Eugene Cemetery in Dominion.

In Remembrance of Ambrose Worthington of Fleetwood, England who perished in the wreck of the SS Atlantic, of which vessel he was purser, April 1, 1873, aged 23 years." 535 people died when the Atlantic sunk, the deadliest shipwreck to that time. Camp Hill, Halifax.

St Eugene's Cemetery Dominion, Cape Breton

St. Eugene's Roman Catholic Cemetery. Dominion, Cape Breton

William Edwards was a coal miner born in Shropshire, England. He worked in Dominion No 4. He died of MS June 13 1918. Katherine Edwards was also from England. She died Dec 31 1948, from bladder infection, shortly after she broke her hip falling down the stairs. She was 85. St Mary's, Glace Bay

Anna (Eaton) Frost died in London England at age 31, March 26 1857 "Her Remains were conveyed by her husband to her native land and here interred." Camp Hill

my partner just launched a collection of brooches based on New England tomb monuments in case the customer for that is you www.heavensvault.net

William J Harper was from England. He was Master At Arms on HMCS Niobe. He accidentally drowned in Halifax Harbour March 21, 1913. He was 47. St. John's Anglican Cemetery.

"SACRED To the Memory of ELIZABETH Late Wife of James Orman Who de(p)arted this Life March 18 1800 Aged 39 Years Also, JOHN ORMAN obit Jan'y 1(?) Aged 2 Mo's. 7 Days" Old Burying Ground

"In Memory of JAMES BARROW A Native of Old England who departed this Life 17th March 1793 Aged 55 Years" Poll tax records for 1793 list a James Barrow living in Halifax who worked as a painter. Old Burying Ground

Fitz Vaughan was born in Barbados. He was one of hundreds of Black Caribbean migrants who came to Cape Breton to work in the mines. He lived on Sterling Rd, and was killed in a coal fall in the Dominion No. 2 mine, Dec 15 1920. St Mary's, Glace Bay

Josiah Smith was born in Newfoundland. He was a coal miner, and died from a crushed skull caused by a runaway mine car, Aug 19 1924. He was 46. St Mary's, Glace Bay

Marcella (Trimm ) Jones was born on Scaterie Island to a fishing family. She was just 19 when she died of tuberculosis, Oct 30 1909. St Mary's, Glace Bay

Morella (Westhaver) Lennon died of a stroke March 11 1939. She lived on Rose St. "had an attack of influenza the week before her death accompanied w/ slight attack of pleurisy which gave her very little discomfort." Christ Church, Dartmouth.

Terence & Clarence Tucker drowned in a sledding accident Dec 19 1913. They were 11 & 9. A third boy, Cameron MacLeod, also died. Cameron Bowl ballfields in Glace Bay is named in MacLeod's honour, on land donated by his family. St Mary's, Glace Bay

Finally getting around to posting some new pics and stories from a road trip to Cape Breton. I’ll also continue posting “on this day” type content.

Daniel Perry Sampson was the last man hanged in Halifax. Recently, evidence has been discovered that Sampson was FRAMED. A legal battle is underway to clear his name. You can learn more and contribute here: fnd.us/DanielPSamps... #AfricanHeritageMonth

William Charles Jackson was missing the tips of 3 fingers when he signed up for No 2 Construction Battalion, Canada's only all-Black unit in the First World War. He was discharged a year later due to scoliosis, bronchitis & other conditions. He died of TB in 1921. Camp Hill

Walter Adolphus Johnson was 25 years old when he signed up for the No.2 Construction Battalion. He worked as a chef before & after his military service. Johnson lived on Maynard Street near Roberts. He died of coronary thrombosis. Fort Massey. #AfricanHeritageMonth

Thomas Goffigan was 15 years old, 5’2” & 95lbs when he volunteered for the No 2 Construction Battalion, Canada's only all-Black unit in WW1. He served 19 months in France. He died at 19 & is buried behind Emmanuel Baptist Church in Upper Hammonds Plains. #AfricanHeritageMonth

Private John Richard Lambert was 18 when he signed up for No 2 Construction Battalion, Canada's only all-Black unit in the First World War. He died of TB while lifting rail track in New Brunswick to be shipped to France. Camp Hill. #AfricanHeritageMonth

Number 18 on the walking tour at Christ Church Cemetery Dartmouth marks where remains of African Nova Scotians from a church burial ground on Crichton Ave were relocated to in 1977. Their original graves were expropriated for housing. #AfricanHeritageMonth

The zinc marker for Grace Darling Pinhiero (Pinheiro) in Camp Hill shows an unopened rosebud, symbolizing a life cut short. She died April 1 1889, at 5 years & 5 months old. Grace's mother Rose's born in Halifax . Her father Charles was born in Barbados. Camp Hill #AfricanHeritageMonth

“Drowned at Sea,” James H Martin was a ship’s cook born in Antiqua, West Indies. “Seafarer” was the 2nd most common profession for Black men in Halifax at the time, after “labourer.” Camp Hill #AfricanHeritageMonth

Henry William Bundy was born in Cherrybrook. He served in No 2 Construction Battalion, Canada's only all-Black unit in the First World War. Henry & his son Milton died in the Kay's Department Store fire in 1950. They lived on Creighton St. Camp Hill #AfricanHeritageMonth

Rev William White was born in Virginia & moved to NS in 1900 to attend Acadia. He was chaplain for No 2 Construction Battalion & first Black commissioned officer in the CEF. After the war White was minister at Cornwallis St Baptist Church until his death in 1936. #AfricanHeritageMonth

George Henry Joseph Diggs (Dieggs in military records,) lived on Grafton St with his mother when he signed up for No 2 Construction Battalion in 1916. She received $15/month because he was her only means of support. He served in England & France until demobilization in 1919. #AfricanHeritageMonth

Pte James Downey was only 16 when he signed up for the No 2 Construction Battalion, Canada's only all-Black unit in WW1. He probably fudged his birth date. He signed up with his cousin George, later an Olympian & patriarch of the 'boxing Downeys'. Camp Hill #AfricanHeritageMonth

Hudson Roy Gannon was turned away by the No 2 Construction Battalion for being underage. He went on to work as a porter for CNR for 20 years. He lived on Creighton St with his wife Margaret. He died of heart disease at age 49. Camp Hill #AfricanHeritageMonth

Camp Hill was historically segregated, but it wasn’t universal. Charles Cooper was a Black man who lived on Creighton St & worked as a teamster. He is not buried in the so-called “C-S,”probably because he could afford a plot elsewhere. He died of kidney problems in 1893. #AfricanHeritageMonth

"the most outstanding African Nova Scotian clergyman of his generation" Wellington Ney States, born in Wolfville in 1874. Pastor of the Victoria Road United Baptist Church. Dartmouth Common Cemetery. www.biographi.ca/en/bio/state... #AfricanHeritageMonth

Trueman Gass was a painter originally from Bass River. He lived on West St. He died January 30, 1939 of pulmonary tuberculosis. His wife Mary Joudrey died four years earlier of bronchial pneumonia. She was living in the Woodside NS Hospital with Huntington’s disease. Camp Hill.

Gordon James Foster & Jonathan Bennett Burton were neighbours in Jollimore Village off Purcell’s Cove Rd. They fell down a well January 30 1951. They were both 3 years old. Camp Hill.

Mary Kelly died of cancer at the VG Hospital Jan 30 1940. She lived on Creighton Street near North with her husband James. A 2014 photo online shows this marker intact & in place but it was broken & leaning against a headstone when I took this in July 2019. Camp Hill

On January 11, 1916 Bandsman Thomas Lawlor reported he'd been having stomach pains. He died of stomach cancer less than a month later. He played in the Princess Louise Fusiliers Band, 66th Battalion. He was 44. Fort Massey.

George Frederick Lincoln was three months old when he died from "diarrhea," January 26, 1876. His twin sister Annie died 8 months later of bronchitis. Their father Henry served in the 1st Battalion of the 60th Royal Rifles. Fort Massey

ERECTED BY CHARLES BINNS JUNE AND ELIZABETH ANNE HIS WIFE TO perpetuate the Memory of their two infant sons JAMES DIX CANTELO WHO died August 2nd AD 1839 Aged 13 Months and 14 days CHARLES THEODORE WHO died January 23rd 1842 Aged 14 days OPBG Charlottetown