Lawlor Island
Encyclopedia
Lawlor Island is a small island near the mouth of Halifax Harbour
. Measuring approximately 55 hectares, it is located opposite MacCormacks Beach in Eastern Passage
and McNabs Island
in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
. The island is undeveloped woodland
and the protected home of deer
and osprey
.
in Halifax Harbour
which later bore his name. Bloss Island was one of many names which referred to the island until the latter part of the 19th century when it became widely known as Lawlor Island. In 1758, the island bore the name Webb's Island. In 1792, it was referred to as Carroll's Island. In 1821, James Lawlor, into whose hands the island had passed, offered a reward for the conviction of persons who had stolen his sheep from the island. In this notice the island is referred to as McNamara's Island. Thomas Chandler Haliburton
, in 1829, refers to the island as Duggan's Island. Shortly afterwards the island was referred to as Warren's Island.
In 1866, the Province acquired Lawlor Island for use as a quarantine station. In 1864, during the American Civil War
, McNabs
and Lawlor islands played a small but important role in an incident involving several ships from the Confederate
and Union navies. One of the most interesting episodes in the island's history occurred in 1899 when 2,000 Doukhobor
immigrants were quarantined there. By 1938, the quarantine
station was no longer needed. The island was subsequently purchased by the Canadian government for use as a medical station during the Second World War. Today it is part of the McNabs Island Provincial Park Reserve.
Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
. Measuring approximately 55 hectares, it is located opposite MacCormacks Beach in Eastern Passage
Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia
Eastern Passage is a Canadian urban community in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality.Located at the southeastern edge of Halifax Harbour, fronting the Atlantic Ocean, Eastern Passage derives its name from the narrow strait separating the mainland from McNabs Island and Lawlor Island, both...
and McNabs Island
McNabs Island
McNabs Island is the largest island in Halifax Harbour located in Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. It played a major role in defending Halifax Harbour and is now a provincial park...
in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. The island is undeveloped woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
and the protected home of deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
and osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
.
History
On September 30, 1750, Captain Thomas Bloss was granted an islandIsland
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
which later bore his name. Bloss Island was one of many names which referred to the island until the latter part of the 19th century when it became widely known as Lawlor Island. In 1758, the island bore the name Webb's Island. In 1792, it was referred to as Carroll's Island. In 1821, James Lawlor, into whose hands the island had passed, offered a reward for the conviction of persons who had stolen his sheep from the island. In this notice the island is referred to as McNamara's Island. Thomas Chandler Haliburton
Thomas Chandler Haliburton
Thomas Chandler Haliburton was the first international best-selling author from Canada. He was also significant in the history of Nova Scotia.-Life:...
, in 1829, refers to the island as Duggan's Island. Shortly afterwards the island was referred to as Warren's Island.
In 1866, the Province acquired Lawlor Island for use as a quarantine station. In 1864, during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, McNabs
McNabs Island
McNabs Island is the largest island in Halifax Harbour located in Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. It played a major role in defending Halifax Harbour and is now a provincial park...
and Lawlor islands played a small but important role in an incident involving several ships from the Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
and Union navies. One of the most interesting episodes in the island's history occurred in 1899 when 2,000 Doukhobor
Doukhobor
The Doukhobors or Dukhobors , earlierDukhobortsy are a group of Russian origin.The Doukhobors were one of the sects - later defined as a religious philosophy, ethnic group, social movement, or simply a "way of life" - known generically as Spiritual Christianity. The origin of the Doukhobors is...
immigrants were quarantined there. By 1938, the quarantine
Quarantine
Quarantine is compulsory isolation, typically to contain the spread of something considered dangerous, often but not always disease. The word comes from the Italian quarantena, meaning forty-day period....
station was no longer needed. The island was subsequently purchased by the Canadian government for use as a medical station during the Second World War. Today it is part of the McNabs Island Provincial Park Reserve.