HRM Point of Interest #24: Waverly Inn

The Waverly Inn, on Barrington Street, started out in life as a private residence. Edward W. Chipman, a wealthy dry-goods merchant, and his wife Mahala Jane Northup built one of the most expensive and extravagant homes in Halifax in 1866 (this one).

Mahala really really loved her new home, and apparently she loved showing it off even more. Numerous accounts describe the lavish parties and dances she would host in her home that was described as "... in a style, both regards to size and decoration, more like a palace than a private residence."

By 1870 the party was over though, literally, for Mahala as well as her hoighty-toighty guests. Eddie's dry-goods business had all dried up and the house and all the furniture was seized by the city. The house was then sold to a couple of sisters, Sarah and Jane Romans, who turned the house into one of Halifax's finest residential hotels.

During its heyday, The Waverly Hotel was noted for having exceptional hospitality, and played hosts to regular guests such as Oscar Wilde, John Doull (president of the Bank of Nova Scotia, 1889-1899), P.T. Barnum (yup, that P.T. Barnum), George Vanderbilt (seriously, just search some of these names up for yourself), and William Henry (the son of the Father of Confederation with the same name). In fact, the hospitality was so remarkable at The Waverly, that the Premier of Nova Scotia, The Honourable George H. Murray, stayed in the hotel for six years while in office.

Every time I cycle or walk past this bright yellow mansion on south Barrington, on the way to the train station, I'm reminded of all the history of this city. I had wanted to take a picture earlier and make a post about it, but it's just not the same without that blue sky in the background and I could not seem to get all the way down to south Halifax early enough to capture an image with a clear sky and the sun behind me. Better late than never though, I suppose. This hotel is over 140 years old, after all, so one would think that a few more days won't hurt it too much.

HRM Point of Interest #19: Freak Lunchbox

Freak Lunchbox, in downtown Halifax on Barrington Street, has won The Coast's Best Of Halifax Best Retail Sign award for the least two years, and one look at even this low quality photo of the store front (above) will tell you why. However, Freak Lunchbox is so much more than just a great exterior.

It is also covered on the inside with great original artwork by the owner, which makes the roof and walls of the store look like a Ripley's Believe It Or Not Cover. I wasn't allowed to take a picture of them though, so I thought this shelf full of candy and bobble head dolls would be a good substitute. Moreover, Freak Lunchbox makes its money by selling candy, toys, etc., which is the reason I went there in the first place.

I first discovered Freak Lunchbox while exploring the streets of downtown Halifax during my original cross-country voyage back in May. At that time (my inner Korean is coming out now), I was overjoyed to discover that my favourite candy, Lotsa Fizz, while absent from many convenience store racks across the country, was still on sale at FL. When I came back again during the Christmas Tree Lighting just last week I discovered a reinvention of a Canadian classic - The Pop Shoppe bottled beverages.

And that's the best part about Freak Lunchbox. There are just so many items to peruse that it's almost impossible to see everything the first time. Long story short, you'll have to go back again and again and again to find out what you missed the last time. Freak Lunchbox: great business model, or greatest business model ever?

(Who's that handsome guy?)

Nova Scotia National Historic Site #12: Old Burying Ground

I've mentioned the Old Burying Ground in a couple of blog posts already, so I figured it was about time I made an actual post on it.

Located right on the corner of Spring Garden Road and Barrington Street, in Old Town Halifax, the Old Burying Ground was the original cemetery built in 1749 at the founding of Halifax. While there are only 1200 headstones in the cemetery today, over the years some 12 000 people have been interned here. Of course, the Old Burying Ground is also the home of the impressive Welsford-Parker Monument.

An interesting fact is that all of the headstones were carved by hand using chisels and wooden mallets. Many of the original slate stones were quarried and carved around Massachusetts Bay and shipped over to Halifax before the American Revolution. The newer headstones are carved from local ironstone though, and are apparently of much lower quality because of it.

Nova Scotia National Historic Site #10: Henry House

For twenty years this ironstone and granite residence on Barrington Street was the home of William A. Henry, a Father of Confederation, and a former Attorney General of Nova Scotia and Mayor of Halifax, and an original Judge on the Supreme Court of Canada from its inception in 1875 until his death in 1888. The masonry of the gable wall and the surrounds of the windows are Scottish in character, and are representative of the style of many Halifax residences of the early 19th century.

Now Henry House is an excellent pub, with the Best Fishcakes and Best Pub Food according to the readers of The Coast in a 2009 poll. Interestingly, it is also the very first place I ever ate when I came to Halifax back in May, during my cross-Canada adventures. I had some kind of three meat meat-loaf dish, the name of which I unfortunately cannot remember, and it was excellent. It is located across from the HI Hostel, and only a block away from the VIA Rail train station for your travelling convenience.