Sullivan’s Pond war memorial to be dismantled, restored

The war memorial at Sullivan’s Pond is getting a facelift this summer.

The 56-year-old structure will need to be entirely dismantled. Restoration work will include rebuilding of the interior supports and upgrades to the flame.

“This is a major repair of the monument,” said Jamie MacLellan, Halifax’s public art facilitator. “A review of the exterior and limited investigation of the interior structure indicates that there has been excessive deterioration of the supporting structure. The restoration work will include the flame and associated electrical service.”

The city issued the tender and had a mandatory site tour for general contractors on April 23. Work will start within one week of awarding the contract on June 1. Work is estimated to be completed three months later.

MacLellan said the last major renovation on the cenotaph was done in 1985.

“At that time it included extensive repointing of the mortar joints and selective stone removal and resetting. The top four to five inches of the concrete base was removed, new welded wire mesh installed and new concrete was place to restore the base. HRM has conducted targeted repair of the structure over the last several years including replacement of the masonry ‘cap’ element of the structure which had deteriorated significantly in 2012 and stabilization of some of the masonry units in 2014 which had showed significant displacement.”

The Somme Branch erected this memorial in 1959 to remind citizens of the sacrifices made by military members and their families in the Boer War, First and Second World Wars and Korean War.

Thousands of residents gather there every year on Remembrance Day.

There will also be landscaping work done at the grounds beginning on Sept. 1. Completion date is Oct. 15. That work is being done to increase accessibility to the site.

“Although the landscaping component is not included in this tender package scope it is indicated in the timeline,” said MacLellan. “It is anticipated that this work will be addressed via separate tender process and will immediately follow upon the conclusion of the structural work. Landscaping consideration is this instance is intended to increase accessibility to the site for veterans, in particular, but also for general use.”

How the landscaping will look has not been established yet, but the city will be talking with representatives of the Somme Branch Legion in the lead-up to the structural work.

MacLellan said their input would be needed so the landscaping would reflect the needs of their membership, veterans and users of the site, particularly those with mobility issues.