This is the only known photograph of Downs’ Zoological Gardens. In the foreground is Downs himself as proprietor; he is perched on a decorative bridge spanning a brook that would have cut straight through the property on its way to the sea. There are several children posing in the background, and it is possible that … Continue reading Part 1, Chapter 5: The Only Photograph
Search results from the Nova Scotia Archives: I’ll continue to follow these leads… Continue reading Part 1, Chapter 4: Trails
I visited the monument to the zoo, and read about its unveiling. During the foggy morning, I peeked inside the woods from the periphery. I have made contact with the caretaker of these woods, who has looked after the former zoological gardens since the 1940’s. Perhaps she can offer further direction. … Continue reading Part 1, Chapter 3: Field Trip
After another visit to the archives, I located the former zoo grounds (property of A. Downs) on a 19th century map of Halifax. The gardens were situated in an area of town formerly known as Dutch Village, which bordered Armdale. During the time of the zoo, these communities were considered bucolic, although downtown Halifax was … Continue reading Part 1, Chapter 2: Situation
I was searching for “wildlife” in the Halifax section of the card catalog at the Nova Scotia Archives, when I found this entry in the “W — Z” drawer… After a quick card reading, I can ascertain the following: Halifax, Nova Scotia, was home to the first zoo in North America, since the Mayan Empire. … Continue reading Part 1, Chapter 1: I Never Knew
