The Early 20th Century

Following World War One and leading up to relocation, unemployment and underemployment were widespread among Africville people.

By 1923, most buildings in Africville were quite dilapidated. Fire ruined numerous houses and lack of insurance (nearly impossible to obtain) prevented building improved structures; some sheds and garages became used as homes with very little renovation.

On average, owner-occupied dwellings were in better condition than other dwellings. All but one house had electricity, about 15 had stone and cement foundations, a few had brick or cedar shingles, about a dozen homes had seven or eight rooms and just two had indoor sanitation.

Starting with the First World War, the major expansion of Halifax resulted in the decline of Africville’s rural character, as well as its social and physical isolation. Africville as a community underwent profound change and the church became less central to the social structure.

The church “may be more important now, as a focal point for Africville residents’ dissatisfaction with the relocation and as a stimulus in the development of black consensus in Nova Scotia, than it was during the years immediately preceding the relocation.”

There were a lot of vacant lands owned by the city, as well as railroads, Rockhead Prison (1853), “night-soil” disposal pits, the Infectious Diseases Hospital (1870s) and the Trachoma Hospital (1905).

The building of the railroad through the Africville area resulted in the acquisition of some Africville land (1850s, 1912, 1940s) – at least five properties were expropriated in the second of these relocations (1912), and more at the onset of World War Two.

In 1945, a Civic Planning Commission submitted to City Council a plan calling for the removal of the Africville settlement. In 1947, Halifax rezoned and Council approved the designation of Africville as industrial land. Seven homes were destroyed by fire the same year, bringing up the question of extending water and sewerage services to this area. An alderman stated at this time that “the property could be cleared in case some industry might want to go there.”

Africville residents were consulted; they expressed a strong desire to remain in the area and to work with the city in developing it as a residential area. City Council approved the borrowing of funds to provide water and sewer services, but these were never installed.

During the 1950s, discussions in City Council concerning the industrial potential of the area increased.

The Africville Genealogy Society gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Department of Canadian Heritage for this project.
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