The Halifax Disaster

On December 6, 1917, two war ships, a Belgian relief ship, Imo, and a French ship carrying munitions, the Mont Blanc, fatally collided in Halifax Harbor. Incorrect signaling and misunderstanding between the two ships led the Imo to strike the side of the Mont Blanc. The Mont Blanc, which was carrying 400,000 pounds of TNT, 300 rounds of ammunitions, along with other explosive ingredients, caught fire and drifted closer into the city of Halifax. Before the fire could be put out, the Mont Blanc exploded creating the "biggest man-made explosion before the nuclear age". The explosion killed over 2,000 people and injured 9,000. The explosion caused $28 million in damage - 326 acres of the north-end of Halifax's waterfront had been destroyed.

Halifax Explosion memorial bells at Fort Needham

Needless to say, Halifax was in a state of emergency. The explosion had left 750 families homeless in the middle of winter. Fortunately, the city of Halifax reacted quickly. A relief committee was organized in several days and specialists were brought into Halifax to advise in the relief process. Thomas Adams, a town planner from Ottawa, and George Ross, an architect from Montreal, both played influential roles in the reconstruction of northern Halifax, known as the Richmond district. Adams focused upon the reconstruction of the layout of the district, while Ross focused upon the new homes which were to be built.

click here to see the location of the Richmond district

click here for more on the Adams and Ross and the reconstruction of the Richmond district