The Morris Building

Halifax, Nova Scotia
Owner: Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia
Mover: S. Rushton

Halifax’s fourth oldest building was moved in December 2009. This was the second move the Morris building had undergone – the first being in the 1860s. As circumstance would have it, it will be moved one more time later in 2010.

Built around 1760 the Morris building served as the office of Halifax’s first Chief Surveyor and is steeped in Nova Scotia history. Originally slated for demolition to make way for a condominium development at the corner of Morris and Hollis streets, the building owner, at the behest of several community groups, reassigned funds for demolition and tipping fees, and applied them towards moving the building.

Numerous organizations including the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia, the Ecology Action Centre, Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia Community College and the Province of Nova Scotia have been involved in the Morris project. Saving the Morris building provided a rich living laboratory for learning about how environmental, cultural, social and economic interests can be addressed in an integrated way.

Peter Delefes, the Chair of Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia said: “By saving the Morris building not only are we maintaining a link to our past but we are making a commitment to our future.” It’s estimated that 100 tons of building material was rescued from the landfill by this move.