The
Relief EffortsThis page is currently undergoing revision...
As news of the disaster spread, offers of help poured in. On the
afternoon December 6, a trainload of injured and homeless victims left for
Truro. Other cities provided Halifax with as much relief and accommodations
as they could muster. Doctors, nurses and workers, all bringing supplies
with them, arrived in the city.
Sir John Eaton came in a train, which, was filled with building supplies
and donated furniture from his stores. Due to all of the carnage and destruction
from the Explosion, Halifax was given the nickname the "Shattered City".
Hours following the explosion, to some people, their reactions were "What
can we do to help?" These are the ordinary people who soon turned into
hero’s for the city who risked their lives to save and try to save
the lives of others.
Massachusetts quickly sent a train equipped with doctors nurses with various
medical supplies, money, cookware and other important items. Train and shiploads
of aid continued to follow after December 6th. This state also contributed
a complete warehouse of household goods. Every year, the Province of Nova
Scotia presents a Christmas tree to the City of Boston, in gratitude for
the help received after the explosion.
Instantaneously after explosion, those who were not badly injured from the
devastating blast helped others. The residents of Halifax made efforts to
rescue family members from burning houses. Complete strangers did not hesitate
to help those in need.
Soldiers formed barracks for people to stay, and commandeered every available
vehicle to remove the injured.
The large numbers of disciplined men were priceless. With astonishing speed,
relief efforts were set in motion. Money poured in from as far away as China
and New Zealand. The Canadian government gave $18 million to help cover
the cost of the damage. The British government gave almost $5 million, also
to ease the cost of the disaster. Haligonians remember the generosity of
the state of Massachusetts, which donated $750,000 in money and goods and
gave vigorously many volunteers. This is offically the biggest pre-nuclear
explosion before the two Nuclear Bombs that hit Japan in the Second World
War.
Soon after the Explosion, the Dominion Government appointed the Halifax
Relief Commission on January 22, 1918. It headed pensions, claims for loss
and damage, along with re-housing and the rehabilitation of victims. In
June 1976 the pensions were then paid for as Department of Veteran Affairs.
Three thousand houses were repaired in the first seven weeks after the Explosion,
as well as temporary apartments were being constructed at the rate of one
every hour. Reconstruction continued briskly, and a few months later, construction
started on 328 houses in the area bordered by Young, Agricola, Duffus and
Gottingen Streets.
These houses were constructed from cement blocks known as hydrostones, had
gardens with trees in front, and modern plumbing and electricity. This area,
is known as the Hydrostone, and is still considered one of the more good-looking
and desirable parts of Halifax in which to live. This was a huge factor
in the recovery of the North-End of Halifax, some of which are still standing
today.
The Halifax Explosion Memorial Bell Tower on Fort Needham overlooking the
explosion site and the area that was Richmond. The bells were was dedicated
in June, 1985 from Barbara(Orr) Thompson to the United Memorial Church in
1920 in memory of her entire family, killed in the explosion. A memorial
service is held here every December 6th.
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