note: transcription publicly contributed - please contact us with comments, errors or omisions

HALIFAX DISASTER RECORDS OFFICE
CHRONICLE BUILDING
HALIFAX, N.S.

PERSONAL TESTIMONY of Mrs. McKelvey Bell, wife of Lt-Col. in charge of Medical Relief.

At the meeting of citizens in City Hall after the disaster (December 7th, 11 a. m. ) one of the matters discussed was the need of shelters for the unhurt but homeless and for the slightly hurt who were necessarily debarred from hospitals. Mr. Wilson, manager of the Nova Scotia Furnishing Co., offered the whole ground floor of the company's store, 448-450 Barrington Street. Mr. W. S. Davidson sent Mrs. Bell to look over the place on Sunday. She found that some changes would be necessary -- partitions put up -- a bathroom installed -- a gas range put in. Carpenters came from Yarmouth. Farquhar Bros. , 390 Barrington St., did the plumbing etc. All was done in two days. The plumbers worked night and day for two days, at their own suggestion.
Tuesday morning, dec. 11, sixteen people were taken in. Mr. Havill, manager of the Tally-Ho fed these people free for two days. The fourth day the number was increased to 38, and the kitchen was in working order. They have had their maximum number (forty) ever since. Each day people are turned away, as they can only accommodate forty and keep the air good.
The children are sent out every day directly after breakfast and the place is thoroughly aired. A physician inspects and 'makes rounds' every day. When a night nurse has been necessary it has always been easy to procure one. Volunteer aid is splendid. Great credit is due to Mrs. Makins, wife of Admiral Makin, and to Mrs. Chambers, wide of Rear-Admiral Chambers. These ladies



PUBLIC ARCHIVES OF NOVA SCOTIA
HALIFAX

MG 1 volume 2124 number 199