Hey all!
I realize that this is a VERY late post to this thread and my intention is not to try and restart the sign conversation. I had some photos saved on my computer and when I found this dedicated thread to the Morse's building I thought it might be the best place to post them.
Source: NS Archives - Taken with the camera on my phone of the image in one of their photo binders
For the longest time I had been trying to find a photo online of the building before the 1927 fire. But with no success I stopped into the NS Archives one evening and with some digging around I found the image above. The only image they had though was a photocopy of the original in one of their photo binders. There was no date on it either. I had to use the camera on my phone so please forgive the quality. If you look closely above the doors on the west facade you can see the "Jerusalem Warehouse" sign so we know that it was before 1910 that this was taken. I love the fact that you can see the original loading doors on the north facade. It's interesting to note that after the fire these loading doors were moved from the east and north sides to the west side of the building. I read somewhere that because of the increasing popularity of the automobile there was more room for loading/unloading on the Hollis St. side then on the Upper Water St. side. At first the building is almost unrecognizable without the 2 story brick addition, eh? I had no idea that it had dormers at one time. When I first saw the image I realized just how iconic the "Morse's Teas" sign really was and how unique it made the building. I wish though when the did the repairs in 1927 that they had used ironstone and granite to keep the look uniform. I understand it was most likely a time/money/materials available thing but still......
Any thoughts on a possible date for the image? Also, just as a last thought. If you look at the far left door on the north facade there is writing on a sign above the entrance. Can anyone make that out? I've zoomed in and changed some contrast settings and I'm 90% sure it says "Canada". The exact same text is on the far right door of the west facade as well.
Source: Noticed in Nova Scotia -
http://="https://halifaxbloggers.ca/...daptive-reuse/
Source: Spacing.ca -
http://"http://spacing.ca/atlantic/w...orsesneon.jpg"
The image above was originally posted by "spaustin" in response to "Drybrain" (page 5). I already had it uploaded and ready to go for this post before I saw his so I figured I'd just post it again as this seems to be the only picture in online existence of the neon sign, lol. I've seen this image dated 1965 but also 1977 so I'm not sure which is correct. The vehicles out front definitely look like 70's models though. Can anyone date that Gremlin, haha?
Source: NS Archives -
http://="https://novascotia.ca/archi...ves.asp?ID=74"
I think this was the image that was originally posted by fenwick16 (page 2). Since the link is no longer active I thought I would repost with the new one as it's another great view of the building before the 1927 fire. All the time I spent looking for an image before 1927 and this one pops up just like that, haha. The date on the photo above is 1871. Interesting to note that the "Jerusalem Warehouse" sign is not visible in this image like in the first one posted above nor can you see any signage above the door on the right. This one gives a nice view of the ironstone fence around the Ordinance Yard too, eh?
Source: Noticed in Nova Scotia -
http://="https://halifaxbloggers.ca/...ur-past-life/"
I thought this was a great photo taken by Stephen Archibald on his blog. Cool to see inside the store, right? No date though.
Source: Parks Canada -
http://="http://parkscanadahistory.c...chs9-3-48.jpg"
This image from Parks Canada isn't of the best quality but I thought I'd post to show the damage of the fire. This is the only image I can find though.
Source: HistoricPlaces.ca -
http://="https://www.historicplaces.....aspx?id=7955"
I'm sure everyone's probably seen this one before but I've posted because I can't seem to make sense of the south facade and why it's sloped. Was this part of the 1927 repairs? No other facades on the building are shaped like this and it doesn't seem to fit the shape of the adjacent Windsor Iron Foundry building (pre 1927 images). Without a good view of the south side in the pre 1927 images it's hard to tell, eh? The granite string course does not go around the back so I wonder if they actually did build the south side differently?
Anyway, before I wrap up I found it interesting that this was not the first building on this site. In 1753 Thomas Saul had his house built here. He was a British Army Agent and in charge of food and money provisions for the soldiers and new settlers. His house was modeled after the some of the most modern English dwellings of the 18th century and was said to have carved doors, hardwood floors, and other lavish expenditures for it's time. It became known as "Saul's Polly" and was regarded by some as "the best finished residence in town". When he left Halifax in 1759 he sold it to the Hon. Alexander Brymer and it became known as "Brymer's Palace". It was after Brymer's departure that it became the popular Jerusalem Coffee Shop until the fire in 1837. When Edward Starr Co. bought the property many of the the original bricks from Saul's mansion/Jerusalem Coffee Shop were used to build the current building (1841) that is on site today. It was at this point in time when it became known as the Jerusalem Warehouse after the former coffee shop. Skip to 1910 after a grocery store (1855) and it becomes the Morse's Tea building. I haven't been able to find an image anywhere (online or at the NS Archive building) of the mansion that was originally there. Would anyone have one?
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