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SUBJECT:
The Right Hon. Charles Tupper Grave Site Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report St. Johns Cemetery and Columbarium 6 Bedford Highway, Halifax, Nova Scotia Madame Julie Dompierre, Director Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) Les Terrasses de la Chaudire 25 Eddy Street, Gatineau, 5th floor Quebec K1A 0M5 National Program for the Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers
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TO:
FOR:
[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Sir Charles Tupper]
DATE:
1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION DATE OF INSPECTION: PC FIELD UNIT CONTACT: 2 November 2011 Carla Wheaton Cultural Resource Manager Mainland Nova Scotia FU Halifax, Nova Scotia Sunny, 10o Celsius
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS:
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE GRAVE ENVIRONMENT: The gravesite of Sir Charles Tupper is situated in St. Johns Cemetery and Columbarium. Established in 1839, the cemetery is located in the north end of Halifax overlooking the Bedford Basin and the Fairview Cove Container Terminal. Its slightly rolling terrain features mature trees, two intersecting circular drives, a columbarium and a maintenance shed The gravestones are laid out in a fairly regular lines that run diagonally across the cemetery. The cemetery is owned and operated by the Parish of St. Johns Anglican Church and it is managed by a small, full and part time staff. The gravesite of Sir Charles Tupper consists of a finely carved Celtic cross of pink granite. The outer boundaries of the site are marked by a low, rectangular granite curb. To commemorate the gravesite three bronze plaques are mounted on simple granite blocks that face towards the cross on three sides. The flagpole is located behind the 125th Confederation Anniversary plaque and directly facing the Celtic cross. At some point ornamental shrubs were planted inside the granite curb along the narrow end of the rectangular curb. The awareness panel is prominently located just inside the main gate. Although a considerable distance from the gravesite itself, the Canadian flag marking its location can be seen from this point.
[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Sir Charles Tupper]
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Observation The awareness panel is located just inside the main entrance at the north end of the cemetery and set apart from the lawn by a small pad of slate pavers. The grey background paint on the sign has been chipped in several places but the stand itself is in good condition. There are also a few paint chips at the base of the black metal stand. These chips were noted in 2005 but there has not been any significant deterioration since that time. The 2005 monitoring report noted that the pavers at the base of the panel had become uneven and moss and weeds were growing between the pavers. No action was taken and these problems are becoming more evident. Recommended Action: Medium Priority: Touch up or refinish the gray background paint on the Awareness Panel and touch up the black paint on the metal stand. Medium Priority: Remove pavers, raise and level gravel base, and re-lay the pavers.
[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Sir Charles Tupper]
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2.
Flagpole
th
Detail of flagpole.
Observation: The flagpole is situated behind the 125th Confederation Anniversary plaque and facing toward the granite cross. It is in good condition and the use of a nylon cord to anchor the bottom of the flag tends to polish rather than wear off the black anodized coating of
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Observation The 125th Confederation Anniversary plaque, which is situated in front of the flagpole, is mounted on a low granite block whose front face is canted slightly for better legibility. The plaque and the mounting stone are in good condition although the surrounding vegetation is beginning to encroach on its space. Recommendation Action: See Section 6 on vegetation.
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[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Sir Charles Tupper]
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Observation: The principal grave marker is a finely-carved, pink granite Celtic cross mounted on a granite plinth. The angled base of the plinth is inscribed with the name Tupper and incised stone plaque attached to the plinth memorializes Charles Tupper and his wife, Francis Amelia. The stone is level and in good condition. There is some soiling on the flatter areas of the granite base but the rest of the stone shows little sign of wear or atmospheric deterioration. The borders of the gravesite are defined by a low granite curb which form a rectangle around the cross. Although it appears to be in good shape, the east and west side of the gravesite have been completely covered by the ornamental shrubs. Their substantial root systems may constitute a long term threat to the stone although there was no visible evidence of any cracking at this point. Recommended Action: See Section 6 on vegetation.
[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Sir Charles Tupper]
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Detail of granite curb which defines the outside boundary of the gravesite.
5.
Observation: The gravesite features two other commemorative plaques which form a symmetrical grouping on either side of the 125th Confederation Anniversary plaque and face toward the grave marker. The first is the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada bronze plaque to Charles Tupper as a Father of Confederation. The second was erected by the Canadian Medical Association in recognition of Tuppers role as its first president. Both are bronze plaques with maroon backgrounds. The Father of Confederation plaque is mounted on a low granite stone identical to that of the 125th Anniversary plaque. The CMA plaque is mounted on a slightly larger granite stone featuring a gently sloped top. Both are in good condition. Recommended Action: None
Father of Confederation plaque installed by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada
[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Sir Charles Tupper]
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Observation: At some point in the past 10 to 15 years ornamental shrubs were planted on the gravesite. The flagpole is flanked by a low row of Cinquefoil and a taller row of Burning Bush. Two Dogwood bushes have been planted on the other side of the gravesite behind the Celtic cross. Comparisons between photos taken in 2001, 2005 and most recently in 2011 show how quickly these plantings have grown to the point where they now threaten to overwhelm the site. The flagpole is now completely engulfed by bushes and they are starting to encroach on the 125th Confederation Anniversary plaque. The granite curb, which originally defined the borders of the gravesite, are completely obscured by the dense growth at two ends of the site. While the Celtic cross is not currently threatened by the vegetation, it does obscure the view of the site as seen from below. Furthermore, the original balanced layout of the plantings is also being undermined by the vigorous growth of the Burning Bush which is now choking out the row of Cinquefoil. Recommended Action High priority: Engage the services of a landscape designer or horticulturalist to assess the plantings and determine whether they are unsuitable to this location or whether growth can be controlled through regular pruning.
Gravesite in 2001.
Gravesite in 2005.
[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Sir Charles Tupper]
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Gravesite in 2011. The Dogwood is located in the foreground, the Burning Bush and Cinquefoil is located on either side of the flag pole.
The branches at the bottom of the picture are the Cinquefoil which is being choked out by the Burning Bush.
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[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Sir Charles Tupper]
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View of the Tupper gravesite as seen from down the slope. The top of the Celtic cross is just visible above the Dogwood on the right of the picture.
3.0 PREVIOUS CONSERVATION INTERVENTIONS 2001 Conservation Management Plan for the Gravesite of Sir Charles Tupper, January 2001 2005 Evaluation of the Current State of the Gravesite of Right Honorable Sir Charles Tupper, prepared for Parks Canada, November 2005. 4.0 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS The Mainland Nova Scotia Field Unit has maintained good and close relations with St. Johns Cemetery but there are no clear guidelines or formal agreement with Parks Canada as to the responsibilities and expectations of each organization. A conservation plan has been prepared but this has not been given to the St. John's Cemetery. 5.0 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS Awareness Panel Medium Priority: Touch up or refinish the gray background paint on the Awareness Panel and touch up the black paint on the metal stand.
[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Sir Charles Tupper]
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Vegetation High priority: Engage the services of a landscape designer or horticulturalist to assess the plantings and determine whether they are unsuitable to this location or whether growth can be controlled through regular pruning.
Here is a summary of the recommended actions over the next five coming years: Recommendations Awareness Panel 2012 2013 2014 2015 Touch up or refinish the gray background paint on the Awareness Panel and touch up the black paint on the metal stand. Remove pavers, raise and level gravel base, and re-lay the pavers. 2016
Vegetation
Engage the services of a landscape designer or horticulturalist to assess the plantings and determine
[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Sir Charles Tupper]
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[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Sir Charles Tupper]
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