News release

Halifax Landmark Celebrated on Heritage Day

Tourism, Culture and Heritage (Dec. 2003 - Jan. 2011)

A Nova Scotia historic building with ties to a Father of Confederation has received a provincial heritage property designation.

Kelliann Dean, deputy minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, unveiled a plaque at Henry House, 1222 Barrington St., Halifax, today, Feb. 20, designating the house a provincially registered heritage property. The event was part of Heritage Day celebrations in Canada.

"We are committed to building upon Nova Scotians' pride in their heritage, by documenting and recognizing our historically significant places," said Ms. Dean. "This former home of William Alexander Henry will take its place among the province's growing list of registered heritage properties."

Henry House, built circa 1834, is valued for its connection to William Alexander Henry who was deeply involved in the Canadian Confederation negotiations of the early 1860s. Mr. Henry became mayor of Halifax and was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. Today, the house is a well-known pub and restaurant.

Architecturally, Henry House is an excellent example of the Halifax house style. Built of ironstone masonry, it has Scottish influences typical of that style. It is a landmark on Barrington Street.

As an officially registered provincial heritage property, Henry House is also eligible to be posted to the province's new online register of historic places. Nova Scotia has about 1,500 heritage properties, registered provincially or municipally. Their photos, descriptions, and histories are now being added to a growing online register of the province's historic places at www.NShistoricplaces.ca .

The register was created by the Nova Scotia Historic Places Initiative of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. The province's registered heritage properties are also posted on a national online register of Canada's historic places at www.historicplaces.ca .

Heritage Day, established in the mid-1970s by the Heritage Canada Foundation, is an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of our historic buildings and places to our provincial and national heritage. The day is recognized across the country annually on the third Monday in February.