It's four months into 2021 and the memoir I’m working on about my Grandpa Joe Landry’s family, before, during and after the Halifax Explosion is looking more and more like a book worth publishing in 2022; thanks to weekly meetings with my editor, Sylvia Clark. As you can imagine, it’s taken a lot of research time, many hours of writing, and several edits per chapter to get to this point.
We’re half-way through chapter six with about two chapters left. In chapter five, two ships, the Imo, a cargo ship and the Mont Blanc, a munitions ship had collided. The collision breached the hull of the Mont Blanc, causing sparks, then a massive fire. About twenty-minutes later, the Mont Blanc, having drifted into Pier 6, blew up; leveling homes in the northern sections of Halifax and Dartmouth. In chapter six, there is a threat of another explosion on the Halifax side of the harbor at Wellington Barracks, when the munition shed appeared to be on fire. Panic spread throughout the city, as calls were heard to head for higher ground and that the munitions shed at Wellington Barracks was about to explode.
Members of the Landry and Burke families were scattered throughout Halifax - some at home and others at work or school when the explosion hit. At this point in the narrative, family members were trying to get to their homes to check on loved ones. The panic spreading throughout the city was making it more difficult to get into the devastated area. Amidst the chaos, those who were wounded were taken to hospitals or dressing stations. Roads were closed off. The north end of Halifax was lit up by the flames of overturned coal stoves. Rescue efforts were disrupted and some members of the Landry and Burke families would lose their lives - all were left homeless.
By the end of chapter six, families will be split apart, not living under the same roof, as they were prior to the explosion. A couple of the teenagers wouldn't be reunited with their family for weeks.
There’s still a bit of research left to do, as well as, writing to complete this chapter, but it's moving forward at a steady pace. Right now, the focus is on the various places throughout the city of Halifax and Dartmouth that family members wound up at, like hospitals and shelters. Thanks to the Halifax Relief Commission claims records and Archibald MacMechan's digital collection online, along with books like Shattered City by Janet Kitz and The Great Halifax Explosion by John U. Bacon, the second half of chapter six is taking shape.
Thank you, family and friends for your continued support and encouragement.
