History

While the Press Block is architecturally modern, it also embodies a unique place in the harbour city’s history. The building contains two heritage properties that have significant cultural associations with the development of the printing and newspaper industries in Nova Scotia. The Dennis building and the Acadian Recorder were home to some of the oldest and finest newsprint publications in the region: The Acadian Recorder, Evening Mail, Mail Star and the current edition of The Chronicle Herald were all once published here.

The Dennis building symbolizes the legacy of the Kenny family, early Irish immigrants and their contributions to the region’s prosperity. They were influential in civic, social and governmental life. Sir Edward Kenny and his son, Thomas, held prominent positions in politics and finance, with Kenny senior having served as Mayor of the city in 1842. At the turn of the century, William Dennis transformed the building into the Halifax Herald’s headquarters, cementing its importance in media and freedom of expression.

The Acadian Recorder takes the title of longest-running newspaper in Nova Scotia and was located at 1724 Granville Street from 1900 to1930. During this time, the Barrington and George sites were occupied by a series of buildings, until 1912, when they were destroyed by fire and replaced by three new builds, including the Cragg building that at the time was the tallest building in the Maritimes. In the 1980’s, these too saw their fate and left a vacant site in their wake. Until now, when a new chapter begins for The Press Block.

Registered Heritage Properties  

Kenny-Dennis Building (c.1841) 1740 Granville Street Acadian Recorder Building (c.1900) 1724 Granville Street

Important Historical Associations

• The Development Site has a rich association with journalism and the printing industry dating back to John Howe’s Halifax Journal in 1780.

• For most of the 20th century, the prominent 7-storey Cragg Building helped define the character of the Barrington and George corner, the public space of Grand Parade, and the view corridor from the Town Clock to the Waterfront. A unified site strategy reflects the historic built character and re-establishes an urban prominence.

• The Site has historically been home to many newspapers and important figures: the Halifax Journal (1780–1800), John Howe; the Acadian Recorder (1813–1930), Anthony Henry Holland; the Halifax Herald (now the Chronicle Herald), William Dennis; and the Evening Mail (later called the Mail Star), William Henry Dennis and Graham W. Dennis.