Looking back on 200 years at Province House.

• Author: McDonald, David

More than 200 years ago work began on a building that would become a central part of Nova Scotia's political and administrative future. Province House was not only a functional place where parliamentary debate could take place and government business could get done, but also a work of art. In this article, the author tells the story of its construction and how the province is celebrating its bicentennial.

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The year is 1818. Halifax is bustling with a major construction project on the site of the Governor's original residence. Two men, John Merrick and Richard Scott, watch proudly as Thomas Laidlaw lays the last stone on the building, which they have spent the last eight years trying to complete. This capstone on top of the west pediment is being laid not long after sculptor and carver David Kinnear mounted the arms of George III on the pediment of the east side of the building at the end of March 1818. Merrick and Scott know the amount of work that was put into this magnificent building and they are fully aware of all of the barriers that were overcome to get the project started and to complete it. They know that approval to erect a legislative building was first received in 1787, but Governor Prevost's demand in his 1811 throne speech to build a Province House set their work in motion. They have reason to be proud because their joint project--A Province House--for the citizens of Nova Scotia has just been completed.

John Merrick, a native Nova Scotian and a master painter and glazier, submitted a design in the Palladian style (1) to the joint legislative committee, struck in 1809, to procure plans for the erection of a Province House. His design for a building 140 feet in length, 70 feet in breadth, and 42 feet in height was chosen over Richard Scott's. Prior to working on Province House, he decorated the interior of Government House and the old Legislative Council Chamber. He also worked on the design for St. Matthew's Church and St. George's Church.

John Merrick

Richard Scott was born in Scotland and immigrated to Nova Scotia in 1809. A master mason who supervised the construction of the Halifax County Courthouse, he was appointed by the committee to build Province House according to Merrick's plan. Scott also owned the sandstone quarry in Remsheg (present day Wallace) which was the source for all of the sandstone used in Province House.

Imagine Scott and Merricks' excitement as they watched from the crowd as Lieutenant Prevost...