Fairview, Nova Scotia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fairview (pop. approximately 13,000) is a former community and current neighbourhood within the urban core of Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality.

Fairview is named after Fairview Cove, which forms the extreme southern end of Bedford Basin at the northern edge of the isthmus connecting the Halifax Peninsula with the larger Chebucto Peninsula. As such, Fairview sits astride and is bisected by several major transportation corridors:

CN Rail lines from yards in nearby Rockingham to the Halifax Ocean Terminal, as well as to the Richmond Terminals, and to the Bayers Lake Industrial Park.
Highway 102 expressway, crossing through the neighbourhood on the 1960's-era Fairview Overpass (which crosses several major streets and rail lines)
Highway 2, the Bedford Highway has its southern terminus in Fairview along the shore of Bedford Basin
Joseph Howe Drive, running the length of the Halifax Peninsula's isthmus
Dutch Village Road, which has been shortened to operate as a small loop through the old business district in Fairview - it originally ran along much of the alignment for Joseph Howe Drive
Bayer's Road, which used to run from Halifax's North End neighbourhood to Bayer's Lake, a freshwater lake northwest of Fairview - it now runs to an intersection with Joseph Howe Drive

1 History
2 Community facilities
3 Notable Residents
4 Political Representation
5 References

[edit] History

The area known as Fairview was established at the junction of several railway lines operated by various companies in the 19th century. Fairview Station was located in a German settlement known as Dutch Village and the Dutch Village Road still forms the main commercial street in the neighbourhood.

Following corporate mergers, all railway lines in the Fairview area came under the control of Canadian National Railways (CNR) following World War I. CNR established its new locomotive servicing shops and roundhouse for the Halifax area in the community, which was named Fairview Station on March 1, 1921.

Until the 1950s, the majority of Fairview's residents were employed by the railway. Most of the current suburban street network in the area was established in the early 20th century, forming a regular grid pattern up the eastern slope of Geizers Hill, facing toward Halifax and the Bedford Basin.

The community name was shortened to just Fairview on January 19, 1956.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Fairview developed into a major shopping destination after Halifax's first suburban shopping mall, the Bayer's Road Shopping Centre, was constructed. The 1969 amalgamation of unincorporated Halifax County communities such as Fairview, Rockingham, and Spryfield saw the village become part of the City of Halifax. Fairview also became home to one of Halifax's first suburban high schools in 1958 when Halifax West High School opened on Dutch Village Road.

Through the 1960s, Fairview continued to fill in as its housing densified and the last subdivision to be completed in the community was Keystone Court in 1990. Newer residential developments in outlying areas during the 1970s-1990s, such as the modern development in adjacent Clayton Park, along with a demand by families for larger homes, saw Fairview's working class neighbourhoods of smaller homes become a less desirable location over time. Gradually certain streets in the community became known for criminal activity, culminating in the late 1990s when the Nova Scotia chapter of the Hell's Angels outlaw motorcycle gang established a club house in the centre of the old business district. Following police action and a community outcry, Fairview has been gradually gentrifying as urban professionals seeking shorter commutes into Halifax are rediscovering the neighbourhood and its century-old charm.

In 1996, the City of Halifax was de-incorporated as it was merged with all other municipalities in Halifax County to form the new Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). Under HRM, Fairview (along with its 1969 amalgamation neighbours of Rockingham and Spryfield) has been jurisdictionally placed in Mainland Halifax.

[edit] Community facilities

There is a sports park near the centre of the neighbourhood named W. D. Piercey Park.

There are several churches of various denominations

Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 142 is also located in the community.

The following is a list of schools that have existed within the community

Fairview Junior High School (1973-present)
St. Pius X Catholic School
Central Armdale School
- Ecole Burton Ettinger Elementary School
Fairview School (Titus Street)
Halifax West Municipal High School (1958-2000)
- Halifax West High School (2003-present) continues in nearby Clayton Park

[edit] Notable Residents

Well-known natives of Fairview include "The Dutch Village Philosopher", Titus Smith, Jr. (1768-1850), a writer, surveyor, geologist and botanist; and Tim Garrigan, leader of the 1970's rock band Pepper Tree.

[edit] Political Representation

The community is represented by the following politicians:

Halifax Regional Council
- District 15: Fairview-Clayton Park - Councillor Russell Walker
Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia
- Halifax Fairview - MLA Graham Steele (New Democratic Party)
Parliament of Canada
- Halifax West - MP Geoff Regan (Liberal)