charles tupper grave site monitoring report 2011

7/31/2019 Charles Tupper Grave Site Monitoring Report 2011

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GRAVE SITES OF CANADIAN PRIME MINISTERSMONITORING REPORT

[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Sir Charles Tupper] Page 1 of 12

SUBJECT: The Right Hon. Charles Tupper Grave SiteGrave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring ReportSt. Johns Cemetery and Columbarium6 Bedford Highway,Halifax, Nova Scotia

TO: Madame Julie Dompierre, DirectorHistoric Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC)

Les Terrasses de la Chaudire25 Eddy Street, Gatineau, 5th floorQuebec K1A 0M5

FOR: National Program for the Grave Sites of Canadian PrimeMinisters

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

CHARLES TUPPER


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PREPARED BY: Janet WrightSenior Conservation AdvisorHeritage Programs BranchHeritage Conservation and Commemoration DirectorateGatineau, QC

DATE: 28 February 2012

1.0 GENERAL INFORMATIONDATE OF INSPECTION: 2 November 2011PC FIELD UNIT CONTACT: Carla Wheaton

Cultural Resource ManagerMainland Nova Scotia FUHalifax, Nova Scotia

CLIMATIC CONDITIONS: Sunny, 10o CelsiusGENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE GRAVE ENVIRONMENT:The gravesite of Sir Charles Tupper is situated in St. Johns Cemetery andColumbarium. Established in 1839, the cemetery is located in the north end of Halifax

overlooking the Bedford Basin and the Fairview Cove Container Terminal. Its slightlyrolling terrain features mature trees, two intersecting circular drives, a columbarium anda maintenance shed The gravestones are laid out in a fairly regular lines that rundiagonally across the cemetery. The cemetery is owned and operated by the Parish ofSt. Johns Anglican Church and it is managed by a small, full and part time staff.

The gravesite of Sir Charles Tupper consists of a finely carved Celtic cross of pinkgranite. The outer boundaries of the site are marked by a low, rectangular granite curb.To commemorate the gravesite three bronze plaques are mounted on simple graniteblocks that face towards the cross on three sides. The flagpole is located behind the125

thConfederation Anniversary plaque and directly facing the Celtic cross. At some

point ornamental shrubs were planted inside the granite curb along the narrow end ofthe rectangular curb. The awareness panel is prominently located just inside the maingate. Although a considerable distance from the gravesite itself, the Canadian flagmarking its location can be seen from this point.


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2.0 COMPONENTS OBSERVATION AND RECOMMENDED ACTIONS

1. Awareness Panel

ObservationThe awareness panel is located just inside the main entrance at the north end of thecemetery and set apart from the lawn by a small pad of slate pavers. The greybackground paint on the sign has been chipped in several places but the stand itself isin good condition. There are also a few paint chips at the base of the black metal stand.These chips were noted in 2005 but there has not been any significant deteriorationsince that time. The 2005 monitoring report noted that the pavers at the base of the

panel had become uneven and moss and weeds were growing between the pavers. Noaction was taken and these problems are becoming more evident.

Recommended Action:Medium Priority: Touch up or refinish the gray background paint on the AwarenessPanel and touch up the black paint on the metal stand.

Medium Priority: Remove pavers, raise and level gravel base, and re-lay the pavers.

Awareness panel located near the Detail of Awareness Panel with stone chips in grey base paint.entrance.


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Granite pavers for the awareness panel in 2005. Granite pavers in 2011 showing continued deterioration.

2. Flagpole

Flagpole with 125th

Confederation Anniversary Plaque Detail of flagpole.

Observation:The flagpole is situated behind the 125

thConfederation Anniversary plaque and facing

toward the granite cross. It is in good condition and the use of a nylon cord to anchorthe bottom of the flag tends to polish rather than wear off the black anodized coating of


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the flag pole. The ornamental shrubs planted on either side of the flagpole now

encroach in the flag pole so its base is no longer visible.

Recommended Action:See Section 6 on vegetation.

3. 125th Confederation Anniversary Plaque

ObservationThe 125th Confederation Anniversary plaque, which is situated in front of the flagpole, ismounted on a low granite block whose front face is canted slightly for better legibility.The plaque and the mounting stone are in good condition although the surrounding

vegetation is beginning to encroach on its space.

Recommendation Action:See Section 6 on vegetation.

The 125th

Confederation Anniversary Plaque.


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4. Prime Ministers Grave Marker

Observation:The principal grave marker is a finely-carved, pink granite Celtic cross mounted on agranite plinth. The angled base of the plinth is inscribed with the name Tupper andincised stone plaque attached to the plinth memorializes Charles Tupper and his wife,Francis Amelia. The stone is level and in good condition. There is some soiling on theflatter areas of the granite base but the rest of the stone shows little sign of wear oratmospheric deterioration.

The borders of the gravesite are defined by a low granite curb which form a rectanglearound the cross. Although it appears to be in good shape, the east and west side of

the gravesite have been completely covered by the ornamental shrubs. Theirsubstantial root systems may constitute a long term threat to the stone although therewas no visible evidence of any cracking at this point.

Recommended Action:See Section 6 on vegetation.

The granite Celtic cross marking the Tupper gravesite. Detail of the carving in the granite cross.


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Detail of granite curb which defines the outside Detail of granite curb overgrown by vegetation.boundary of the gravesite.

5. Other Plaques or Other Grave Markers

Observation:The gravesite features two other commemorative plaques which form a symmetricalgrouping on either side of the 125th Confederation Anniversary plaque and face towardthe grave marker. The first is the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canadabronze plaque to Charles Tupper as a Father of Confederation. The second waserected by the Canadian Medical Association in recognition of Tuppers role as its first

president. Both are bronze plaques with maroon backgrounds. The Father ofConfederation plaque is mounted on a low granite stone identical to that of the 125th

Anniversary plaque. The CMA plaque is mounted on a slightly larger granite stonefeaturing a gently sloped top. Both are in good condition.

Recommended Action: None

Father of Confederation plaque installed by the Plaque erected by the Canadian Medical Association.Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada


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6. Vegetation (trees, shrubs, plant material, lawn)

Observation:At some point in the past 10 to 15 years ornamental shrubs were planted on thegravesite. The flagpole is flanked by a low row of Cinquefoil and a taller row of BurningBush. Two Dogwood bushes have been planted on the other side of the gravesitebehind the Celtic cross. Comparisons between photos taken in 2001, 2005 and mostrecently in 2011 show how quickly these plantings have grown to the point where theynow threaten to overwhelm the site. The flagpole is now completely engulfed bybushes and they are starting to encroach on the 125 th Confederation Anniversaryplaque. The granite curb, which originally defined the borders of the gravesite, arecompletely obscured by the dense growth at two ends of the site. While the Celtic cross

is not currently threatened by the vegetation, it does obscure the view of the site asseen from below. Furthermore, the original balanced layout of the plantings is alsobeing undermined by the vigorous growth of the Burning Bush which is now choking outthe row of Cinquefoil.

Recommended ActionHigh priority: Engage the services of a landscape designer or horticulturalist to assessthe plantings and determine whether they are unsuitable to this location or whethergrowth can be controlled through regular pruning.

Gravesite in 2001. Gravesite in 2005.


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Gravesite in 2011. The Dogwood is located in the foreground, the Burning Bush and Cinquefoil is located on eitherside of the flag pole.

The branches at the bottom of the picture are the Cinquefoil View of the flagpole and 125th

anniversarywhich is being choked out by the Burning Bush. plaque.


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View of the Tupper gravesite as seen from down the slope. The top of the Celtic cross is just visible above theDogwood on the right of the picture.

3.0 PREVIOUS CONSERVATION INTERVENTIONS

2001 Conservation Management Plan for the Gravesite of Sir Charles Tupper, January2001

2005 Evaluation of the Current State of the Gravesite of Right Honorable Sir CharlesTupper, prepared for Parks Canada, November 2005.

4.0 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The Mainland Nova Scotia Field Unit has maintained good and close relations with St.Johns Cemetery but there are no clear guidelines or formal agreement with ParksCanada as to the responsibilities and expectations of each organization. A conservation

plan has been prepared but this has not been given to the St. John's Cemetery.

5.0 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

Awareness Panel

Medium Priority: Touch up or refinish the gray background paint on the AwarenessPanel and touch up the black paint on the metal stand.


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Medium Priority: Remove pavers, raise and level gravel base, and re-lay thepavers.

Vegetation

High priority: Engage the services of a landscape designer or horticulturalist toassess the plantings and determine whether they are unsuitable to this location orwhether growth can be controlled through regular pruning.

Here is a summary of the recommended actions over the next five coming years:

Recommendations 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016Awareness Panel Touch up

or refinishthe graybackgroundpaint on the

AwarenessPanel andtouch upthe black

paint on themetalstand.

Removepavers,raise andlevel gravelbase, andre-lay thepavers.

Vegetation Engage the

services of alandscapedesigner orhorticulturalistto assess theplantings anddetermine


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whether they

areunsuitable tothis locationor whethergrowth canbe controlledthroughregularpruning.

6.0 APPENDIX

Contact:

St. John's Cemetery287 Lacewood Drive Unit 103 Suite 447Halifax NS B3M 3Y7

Tel: 903 457-4757Email: [email protected]

charles tupper grave site monitoring report 2011

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