1941 Queen Elizabeth HS to be demolished

[Dinerman]

Another interesting old building in Halifax will be coming down this coming year. The current plan is to replace Queen Elizabeth High School, built 1941, with an "urban farm" or community garden, but as it's not really in the middle of a neighborhood (its bordered by the commercial strip on one side, a hospital on the other and the commons on the other), chances are it will become yet another vacant lot. Time will tell.

A view of the school from shortly after it opened. Found this at a thrift shop.

This shot gives a sense of the size of the building.

The more recent (Ugly? Cool? Certainly interesting) addition.

Boys

Girls

 

[dhermann1]

Interesting, named, like the original Cunard ship of the same name, for the present queen's late mother, aka "The Queen Mum". She was very popular.
A nice late Deco, Streamline modern building.
It would be nice to preserve the main section of the structure at least. Like most old buildings, adaptive reuse is the challenge.

 

[Professor]

Gorgeous design, though the structure appears weathered and compromised. What's the reason given for demolition?

 

[Dinerman]

They built a newer one, and this is taking up space.

 

[Marla]

Are those separate entrances for Boys and Girls?

 

[Vintage lover]

Here in New Mexico, someone recently bought the old, run down, abandoned, Albuquerque High School and turned it into lofts rather than allowing it to be demolished. I thought it was a pretty good idea. Take a look: http://www.abqhigh.com/

 

[MisterCairo]

Are those separate entrances for Boys and Girls?

Yes, there are many schools throughout Canada where you can see the separate entrances. I lived near on in Ottawa which is still quite active (they no longer actually separate the sexes though!).

My parents often told me of bars having separate male/female entrances in the 1950s in "Toronto the Good". Interesting times indeed!