By Terrie Todd
There’s nothing like a disaster to form a bond between two previously rival cities. Citizens of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, once considered Boston, Massachusetts, their “ancient foe.” As the crow flies, these two cities are only 400 miles apart. But with an international border and mass of water between them, travel can be complicated.
The interest in Halifax began for
Boston around 1749, when the port was viewed as an asset for shipping and fishing.
But during the Revolutionary War, the British evacuated Boston in favor of
Halifax. In mid-March 1776, General Howe ordered the evacuation. Under threat
of American artillery fire, British troops and Loyalist civilians boarded ships
crowded with essential supplies. Thousands of Loyalists who feared retribution
from the Patriots chose to leave with the British, contributing to the chaos
and overcrowding.
Eventually, of course, the United
States declared its independence and peace was established. In 1867, Canada
became its own country. For some, bitterness remained between the two cities.
Along came the Great War and with it,
the Halifax Explosion of December 6, 1917. Caused by the collision of two ships
in the harbor, one of them loaded with explosives intended for Europe, Halifax
was devastated.
Cloud seen for miles following the explosion
Boston authorities learned of the disaster via telegraph. By ten p.m. they had dispatched a relief train loaded with medical staff, food, water, and more. That night, a blizzard delayed the train. Halifax citizens were amazed when Boston’s train arrived in the early morning on December 8, and immediately began distributing desperately needed supplies. American doctors and nurses went to work, relieving the Nova Scotians who had worked nonstop since the explosion occurred.
Over the many difficult months to
follow, Massachusetts continued to come to the aid of Halifax with supplies,
funding, and personnel. Although help came from across Canada and other parts
of the world, many Haligonians praised Boston as their greatest source of
assistance. So grateful were they, that in 1918, they sent a beautiful
Christmas tree to the city of Boston in appreciation.
Some of the wreckage in Halifax following the explosion.
Fifty-three years later, in 1971, Boston’s
goodness was still not forgotten. The gift of the Christmas tree was
resurrected, becoming a tradition that has lasted to this day. The tree is
Boston’s official Christmas tree and is lit on Boston Common throughout the
holiday season, an important symbol to both cities.
For more, watch this moving video celebrating the bond between these two cities: 102 Years of Nova Scotia and Boston
The Reluctant Healer of Halifax is the final and sixth book
in Barbour Publishing’s Enduring Hope series by various authors. In
one-fifteenth of a second, the world’s prettiest harbor suffered the world’s
largest man-made explosion prior to Hiroshima. A story of love, loss, faith,
and honor set against Canada’s most devastating moment of the First World War.
Watch for it in August 2026.
Terrie Todd is the award-winning author of ten historical novels, all set in Canada where she lives with her husband Jon. A former church drama team leader and newspaper columnist, she’s also a frequent contributor to Guideposts Books, mother of three, and grandmother of five.
Follow Terrie here:
Quarterly Newsletter Sign-up
No comments:
Post a Comment