The Halifax Explosion Memorial
     Bell Tower

*Location:

   Fort Needham Memorial Park
   - and -
   The United Memorial Church
   Novalea Drive NW of Young Street
   LL: N 44.66574, W 63.60112
   - and -
   5350 Young Street
   LL: N 44.66294, W 63.59871
   Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Site locator map (present location)

(The Google Maps version of the above map shows both locations.)

Site locator map (original location)

*Player:

   (unknown)

*Contact:

   The United Memorial Church
   5350 Young Street
   Halifax, NS  B3K 1Z4
   T: 902-454-0508

*Schedule:

   (unknown)

*Remarks:

   Original 10 bells were in church until
   structural problems with that tower
   forced their removal; park tower was
   completed in 1985, and four more bells
   were added later.
   Bells are located in park, and can be
   operated from either the tower base or
   the church, which originated as a
   merger of Kaye Street Methodist and
   Grove Presbyterian churches.
   Dedication in 1921 played on chimestand
   by donor Barbara Orr Thompson;
   rededication in 1985 played on electric
   keyboard by Barbara Orr Thompson.
   Original tech data year = 1921

*Technical data:

   Electric-keyboard chime of 14 bells
   Pitch of heaviest bell is F# in the middle octave
   Transposition is unknown
   Keyboard range:     ----  /    ----  
   The arrangement of tones and semitones is unknown.
   The instrument was enlarged in 19__
     with bells made by an unknown maker
   Prior history:
     In 1921, the instrument was begun with 10 bells
       by Meneely/Troy
   No auxiliary mechanisms known
   Tower details not available
   Year of latest technical information source is 2006

The Halifax Explosion Memorial Bell Tower is pictured and described on a tour of Halifax.  It's shown in context here.

A Halifax municipal page has a different photo plus history.

A news article about a ceremony marking the 99th anniversary of the Halifax explosion includes a photo of the bell tower (#5 of 5).

Article with photo of a ceremony showing a few of the bells.  But the electric keyboard and action are a mess, and there's no space to restore a lever action.

News article, with photos of the monument, a closeup of bells, and part of Verdin controls.

Where this work lies in the sequence of output of the Meneely (Troy) bellfoundry.

Ranking among all North American chimes by size (number of bells).
Ranking among all North American chimes by weight (pitch).
Ranking among all North American chimes by year of completion.

Index to all tower bell instruments in NS.

   This page was built from the database on  4-Nov-23
   based on textual data last updated on 2021/01/01
   and on technical data last updated on 2006/06/30