The Halifax Explosion: Remembering the ‘unimaginable destruction’ and perseverance

Saturday morning marked a solemn day of remembrance and tribute, commemorating the explosion that devastated Halifax 108 years ago.

“On December 6, 1917, Halifax faced one of the darkest moments in its history,” said Halifax Deputy Mayor Patty Cuttell. “In a single, devastating instant, the Halifax Explosion shattered homes, families and entire neighborhoods.”

Two-thousand people were killed and 9,000 were injured.

“The physical and emotional landscape of the city was forever changed,” Cuttell said.

The explosion occurred when the SS Mont-Blanc, loaded with combustible elements, collided with the SS Imo and unleashed the most devastating man-made blast until the atomic bomb.

The destruction was felt across communities, homes, schools, churches and businesses within a 2.6-kilometre radius, Cutell said.

“Windows shattered as far as Truro and the shock was felt across Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island,” she said. “Halifax endured not only the explosion, but a tsunami, widespread fires and a blizzard the next day.

“Among the communities hardest hit were some of our most vulnerable,” said Cuttell, referencing the “severe damage and loss” that Africville suffered and the “nearly entirely devastated” Mi’kmaq community at Turtle Grove.

‘Extraordinary courage’ amid ‘unimaginable destruction’

Despite the “unimaginable destruction,” Cuttell said “extraordinary courage emerged.”

“Neighbours pulled neighbours from rubble. First responders, volunteers and everyday citizens stepped forward,” she said.

Historian Dan Conlin detailed an historical perspective of the explosion and its impact on survivors.

“Every year, as we think about thanking people in places like Boston and New York, we should also kind of remember the fellow Nova Scotians and people from New Brunswick who came on that day when Halifax needed help more than any other time.”

He said when the SS Mont-Blanc, an incoming ship, collided with the outgoing vessel, there was “a flurry of steam whistles and a dull, ominous crunch, the Mont-Blanc began to burn.

“With the barrels of aviation gas on her deck, burning with a lurid, bright light that was soon attracting people to this very hill to watch the fire to the length of Barrington Street, to watch this drifting, burning ship that nobody knew was packed stem-to-stern with explosives.”

Remembering those lost and the city’s history

Isla Cohen, the great granddaughter of explosion survivor Eric Davidson, laid a wreath on behalf of descendants of the Halifax Explosion.

For Cohen, the turnout proved how big of a community that has been built because of the disaster.

“I think (the victims) should always be remembered and that we should always keep their memory alive no matter what, because it was a huge disaster,” she said. “But it brought the community so much closer.”

Her great-grandfather survived the explosion – but was blinded as the result of glass shattering from his window.

“He didn’t let his disability stop him,” said Cohen. “Even though he was completely blind, he still became a mechanic, which was his dream, and just (showed) perseverance through all.”

Will Robinson-Mushkat, who brought his young daughter to the service, said, “I think it’s really important to recognize one of the most formative events in the history of the city of Halifax.”

“This was a remarkable tragedy, but I think more importantly, a story of resilience; how the city managed to rebuild itself and recover from such a calamity.”

He believes it’s important to teach the next generation about what happened.

“I really want to learn about the history of my city, because I really like learning about history,” said his 10-year-old daughter Matilda.

-With files from CTV Atlantic’s Melanie Price

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