Swimming in Halifax Harbour and the Northwest Arm
These images from Halifax's past show how the City supported recreational swimming on its ocean beaches with docks and lifeguards, and earlier "Bathing Houses."
Swimming at Black Rock Beach in Point Pleasant Park, 1970s. HMA 102-104-L-7
Beach near the Dingle, 1970s. HMA 102-104-L-7
Sunbathers on Black Rock Beach, 1970s. HMA 102-104-L-7
North West Arm beach in Fairy's Cove at Sanford Fleming Park, 1970s. HMA 102-104-L-7
Kids jumping from seawall below the Memorial (Dingle) Tower, Sanford Fleming Park, 1970s. HMA 102-104-L-7
Earlier "bathing" facilities
With much of the Northwest Arm the preserve of private clubs and estates, public bathing houses were popular recreational destinations. Many city-dwellers took the tram down to the bottom of Quinpool Road to swim off Horseshoe Island.
![Black and white image of Bathers enjoy the waters of Northwest Arm at Horseshoe Island on Regatta Day, 1912 [102-106-1-7 (cropped from original)]](/sites/default/files/pages/in-content/2017-05/102-106-1-7%20Horseshoe%20Island.jpg)
Bathers in Northwest Arm near Horseshoe Island on Regatta Day, 1912. HMA 102-106-1-7
Plans for the Bathing Beach at Horseshoe Island, 1926
Plan for Bathing Beach at Horseshoe Island, 1926. HMA 102-39P-CC-8-5920
The Municipal Archives also holds plans for bathing houses from the 1870s and 1890s at Chain Rocks and off "the North Ferry Dock," where the Dockyards are now. These earlier municipal changing facilities probably encouraged hygiene as much as later efforts supported fitness and recreation.
Architectural plan for Bathing House at Horseshoe Island, 1926. HMA 102-39P-CC-8-5921
This City Engineer's Office plan from 1926 shows the locations of the change rooms, swimming platform with diving tower, and the docking wharves. There was capacity for 50 women's and 50 men's changing rooms.