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Lawlor Island facts for kids

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Lawlor Island (also called Lawlor's Island) is a small island in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is located near the entrance to Halifax Harbour, close to Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia. For many years, from 1866 to 1938, it was a very important place for checking people who were arriving in Canada to make sure they were healthy. This was called a quarantine facility. Today, the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources owns the island. It is now part of the McNabs Island provincial park reserve, which helps protect its nature.

Island Geography

Lawlor Island is about 55 hectares (136 acres) in size. It sits across from MacCormacks Beach in Eastern Passage. It is also just east of McNabs Island in the Halifax Regional Municipality. The island is covered with thick woodlands. It is a safe home for animals like deer and osprey birds.

Island History

Long ago, the Mi'kmaq people used Lawlor Island during the summer months. After the city of Halifax was started in 1749, the island was given to Captain Thomas Bloss in 1750. For a long time, the island had many different names. It was called Bloss Island, Webb's Island, Carroll's Island, and McNamara's Island.

In 1821, a man named James Lawlor owned the island. He farmed there, and eventually, the island became known by his name. In 1864, during the American Civil War, a Confederate ship called the CSS Tallahassee used a secret passage near Lawlor Island to escape from enemy ships. This passage, called Eastern Passage, was not often used by large ships.

Quarantine Station History

In 1866, a serious sickness called cholera spread from passengers on a ship called the SS England. This happened on McNabs Island. Because of this, the government decided to build a special health station on Lawlor Island. This station was for quarantine, which means keeping sick people separate to stop diseases from spreading.

The Canadian government took over the project in 1867. But it was hard to find the island's owners, so the station did not open until 1870. Many people living nearby were worried about having sick people so close to their homes. They were afraid germs would spread. Some doctors also worried because Lawlor Island did not have its own fresh water. Also, ice in winter made it hard for boats to reach the island.

By 1900, the island had many buildings. There were two hospitals, a building for people getting better, and a place to clean clothes and luggage with steam. There were also labs to check for germs, detention halls for different classes of passengers, and homes for staff. A building from McNabs Island was even moved and rebuilt on Lawlor Island.

Later, a winter hospital and a power plant were built. After World War I, an underwater cable brought electricity from Dartmouth. A large water tower was also built, finally solving the fresh water problem.

As doctors learned more about diseases and new medicines like penicillin were found, the need for the quarantine station became less. By the 1920s and 1930s, it cost too much to keep the station open for minor illnesses. In 1936, the government decided to stop using the island for quarantine. However, in 1938, smallpox was found on a ship at Pier 21. Lawlor Island was used one last time to help stop the sickness. Sailors and medical staff were kept there until they were well. After this, other places in Halifax were used for quarantine instead.

The Canadian government bought the island again during the Second World War. It was used as a medical station for soldiers returning from Europe who might have been sick. Today, Lawlor Island is part of the McNabs Island Provincial Park Reserve.

Sergei Tolstoy's Visit

In 1899, Sergei Tolstoy, who was the oldest son of the famous writer Leo Tolstoy, arrived in Halifax. He came on a ship called the SS Lake Superior from Russia with about 2000 other people. These people were called Doukhobors. They were a peaceful group who had been forced to leave Russia.

When their ship arrived, they followed the rules and raised a yellow flag, meaning they needed to be checked for health. The ship was sent to Lawlor Island. Sergei Tolstoy helped speak for his group. They stayed on the island for three weeks. There wasn't enough space for everyone, so the Doukhobors helped build a new two-story building for patients. Sergei Tolstoy later wrote that the island and Halifax felt comfortable, and the land reminded him of Siberia.

Local people in Halifax found the Doukhobors interesting. They enjoyed the special bread that the Doukhobor women baked. The first Doukhobor baby born in Canada was born on Lawlor Island during this time.

Island Mystery

One mystery about Lawlor Island is that many people died there from diseases like cholera, smallpox, and German measles. But there are only eight grave markers on the northern part of the island. Records for a cemetery called Harwood Cemetery are missing, and there are no maps showing where these other graves might be.

Lawlor Island Today

Lawlor Island is empty now. No one has lived there since the last caretakers left in the 1950s. The old quarantine station buildings are mostly ruins. You can still see foundations and parts of the old water pipes. A large, rusted metal machine called an autoclave, which used steam to clean clothes, is still on the northwest shore. It is next to where the old dock used to be. Nearby, you can find the remains of the bathhouse and office building.

Even though Lawlor Island is part of the McNabs Island provincial park reserve, it is not open for people to visit.

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