Halifax Day 1

Omi and I had been talking for a year about going up to Nova Scotia and seeing the place of her birth, visiting her beloved relatives Janet and Jean (second cousins, once removed) in Melvern Square, seeing the location of her grandfather’s church in Chebogue, and her grandmother’s house in Yarmouth, where she spent many summers, and showing me the cemetery where her parents, grandmother, and sister were laid to rest.

We were excited about all that we would see and do before we stepped on the 1 hour long international flight from Boston Logan to Halifax.

On our way to Halifax from Boston Logan. We had time to stop in the Admiral’s club lounge and get a light breakfast before our flight.

Our first stop in Canada was the Halifax Citadel. Omi remembered going here on previous trips and directed me to stop so that we could check it out together. Omi didn’t complain as we trudged up the steep slope to the historic site. There were kite flyers all around us as we walked.

The Citadel Entrance – Omi hoped to see some mention of her great uncle Major William Borrett, who was Fletcher’s cousin and hired him to take his first job at the very first radio station in Halifax. We did not see any monument to Major Borrett, but a quick Google search revealed that he was quite an impressive guy (see bottom of page). His wife, Muriel was impressive too, and a stickler for manners. She complimented Omi on her good manners because Omi ate her food with the fork in her left hand. But Omi revealed to me that this was because she was left handed. Her sisters had glared at her as she received the compliment, since they ate in the usual American style, fork in the right hand. But no one gave away Omi’s secret. Major Borrett’s wikipedia excerpt is at the bottom of this post.

Soldier showing off his rifle skills – he is representing the Highlands expeditionary force from the 1869 era at the Citadel

Citadel view, with the Halifax waterfront below.

Studley Avenue is the street where Omi spent the first two years of her life before the family relocated to New York City, when Fletcher got a job in Manhattan. Studley avenue is a very fancy, leafy street right next to Dalhousie University – where Fletcher studied before taking the job at the radio station CHNS-FM. We were not sure exactly which house it was, since the numbering system changed, but all the houses on the street were lovely:

Omi would have explored these streets with her sisters – at least in a stroller.

Fletcher and Eleanor Coates moved into one of these houses.

Enjoying local fish and chips in Halifax

Nice hike at the Point Pleasant Park. The day was mild, sunny and summery. The landscape leafy and sun dappled, with extensive trails and friendly dog walkers.

We went to the Point Pleasant Park and stayed nearby in the South End of Halifax, had a great night’s sleep, and then packed our things in the car, for more adventure the next day – Peggy’s Cove and Mahone Bay.

Here is Major Borrett’s Wikipedia page. A click will take you there: