Thread by @NS_Museum

December 1917 - Fully embroiled in the First World War #Halifax was quickly evolving into a world class port and major base of naval operations. /thread #HalifaxExplosion

On the morning of December 6, 1917, railway dispatcher Vincent Coleman goes to work from his home on Russell St in Halifax's North End. He left his wife Frances & their 2 year old daughter Eileen, dressed in a cheerful blue dress handmade by Frances. #HalifaxExplosion

Halifax was a hub of activity. Troops bound for battle swept in & out of the city. The First World War brought activity & prosperity to the port #HalifaxExplosion maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/ha…

7:30 am Dec. 6, 1917 the French ship Mont-Blanc, loaded with a highly explosive cargo, moves to join a convoy in Bedford Basin. #HalifaxExplosion

At the same time the Norwegian vessel Imo, in ballast, set off from the Basin bound for New York. #HalifaxExplosion

At the entrance to the Narrows, after a series of ill-judged manoeuvres, the Imo struck the Mont-Blanc on the bow. #HalifaxExplosion

The collision was not severe, fire immediately broke out on board the Mont-Blanc. The captain, pilot and crew, left the ship. #HalifaxExplosion archives.novascotia.ca/explosion/pers…

Mont-Blanc burned for 20 minutes - the spectacle was thrilling, and drew crowds of spectators, unaware of the danger. #HalifaxExplosion

@NS_Archives Mont-Blanc burned for 20 minutes - the spectacle was thrilling, and drew crowds of spectators, unaware of the danger. #HalifaxExplosion

@NS_Archives Only a handful of naval officers & a railway dispatcher had learned of Mont-Blanc's explosive cargo with little time for warning #HalifaxExplosion

@NS_Archives @ns_mma Railway Dispatcher, Vincent Coleman, was especially worried about Passenger Train No. 10, the overnight train from New Brunswick. It had about 300 people aboard and was due in Halifax at 8:55 am. #HalifaxExplosion

@NS_Archives @ns_mma Vincent Coleman sends his final message. His station 750 ft from the centre of the blast, disappeared. #HalifaxExplosion

Just before 9:05am, the Mont-Blanc exploded. The Halifax city hall clock stopped at the precise moment of the explosion: 9:04:35am December 6, 1917. Today, a replica forever serves as a reminder of the fateful moment. maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/ha… #HalifaxExplosion

Our hero, Vincent Coleman, dies sending his final message. It was received in Truro, Nova Scotia. They filled a relief train & were in Halifax within an hour. #HalifaxExplosion

The explosion destroyed 2.59 sq km, including 1,630 buildings and 7 ships. 12,000 buildings were damaged #HalifaxExplosion

https://twitter.com/NS_Museum/status/1598668605939322883?s=20&t=Wcp2o0tnwFGg-0_4SUS9Ng

The deadly blast instantly killed 1,650 people, injured 9,000 others, leaves 6,000 homeless. #HalifaxExplosion

Injuries were frightful, blindness from the splintering glass adding to the shock and bewilderment. #HalifaxExplosion

Vincent Coleman's home, 2000 feet from Ground Zero, was wrecked & burned by the explosion. The kitchen sink crashed down on two year old Eileen cutting her neck, leaving her little blue dress spattered with bloodstains. #HalifaxExplosion

Coleman's wife Frances suffered serious back injuries. Her two older children Gerald and Eleanor rushed home from school to take their mother & sister to Gottingen Street where soldiers took them to the Camp Hill Hospital. #HalifaxExplosion

Frances Coleman and all four of her children survived and recovered. A few days later, searchers found Vincent Coleman's body in the wreckage of the Richmond rail yards. #HalifaxExplosion

Frances was presented with the telegraph key, the watch and the pen of her husband. The Coleman artifacts form a special part of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic's permanent exhibit on the 1917 Halifax Harbour Explosion. maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/ha…

Rescue began quickly with troops & naval strength. City officials arranged volunteers and relief committees were formed that day. #HalifaxExplosion

News of the disaster reached @CityOfBoston the same morning. That night a train loaded with supplies & volunteers left for Halifax. #HalifaxExplosion

This mug from the #HalifaxExplosion that says "Remember Me" belonged to the Swetnam's, who lived in North End Halifax. museum.novascotia.ca/collections-re…

You can find the names of the Swetnams, in the #HalifaxExplosion Book of Remembrance. Lizzie Swetnam & her son, Carmen.

The Halifax Explosion Remembrance Book contains a list of the known dead from the 1917 Halifax Harbour Explosion #HalifaxExplosion archives.novascotia.ca/remembrance/
@NS_Archives

Halifax is a living memorial to what happened that day & in the days that followed the 1917 Halifax Harbour Explosion. #HalifaxExplosion

Take time to visit the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic to explore Explosion in The Narrows: The 1917 Halifax Harbour Explosion. Open Tuesdays until 8 pm. maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca #HalifaxExplosion