This "Park" first began to be used as a burial ground in about 1766 and by 1837 was considered to be full. It wasn't until 1865, though, that the cemetery was closed forever, then neglected until 1887, the year of Queen Victoria's Silver Jubilee. It was then converted into a park, "Victoria Park". It remained such until 1958 when, in honour of native son
Sydney Frost who, through diligence and hard work, ultimately became President of the Bank of Nova Scotia, it was renamed Frost Park.
The original grant of land in 1766 included what is now Frost Park, on the west side of Main Street, and Memorial Park, on the east side of Main Street, as a single parcel. At that time the Frost Park section became burial ground and later, when it became full, the Memorial Park section began to be used for burials. In 1784 First Baptist Church was built near the site of the War Memorial, eventually being surrounded by the cemetery. Celebrating its last mass on 31 May 1896, the church stood until circa 1906, when it was demolished. In 1923 the war memorial was erected on the site, near the centre of Memorial Park. All the headstones from Memorial Park have been removed, while a few remain toward the eastern edge of Frost Park.
For photos and descriptions of First Baptist Church, go to
Yarmouth History and scroll down to the First Baptist Church photos.
The park within which the War Memorial stands was originally part of one of the four lots set off for public use in the original grants of the Township of Yarmouth in 1766. The westernmost section of the lot, now called Frost Park, was the first burial ground used by the early settlers in the area, and the easternmost section became an additional burial ground when the first section was filled. On the middle section of the lot, where the War Memorial now stands, the early inhabitants of the area had built a church in 1784. As far as can be determined, this church building stood until circa 1906 when it was demolished, as a new church for the congregation had been constructed elsewhere.
From Historic Places Canada
When it was made a park, a fountain and wading pool was placed in a prominent spot in the centre of the park and several grave stones were moved. That fountain has since deteriorated to the point that it has been replaced with a replica. Either a great many of the old headstones have been removed or they have turned to dust and returned to the earth as there remain only a few headstones scattered about near the eastern edge of the park. Among the many large mature trees are benches and picnic tables on which one may enjoy a leisurely lunch.
A listing of burials compiled prior to 1950 contains only 21 names, and doesn't include all the names on the remaining headstones. Apparently the number and names of all those buried here may never be known.
See
fifteen different views of the park as a slideshow, all taken from the fifth floor of the nearby Grand Hotel. The photos and postcards there were taken over the course of more than a century and show the changes that have taken place in that time, in the park, in the harbour and the surrounding area.
Frost Park
DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC PLACE
Frost Park was the original public burial ground within the bounds of the present day Town of Yarmouth. It eventually was developed into a park named for Queen Victoria and later renamed for Charles Sydney Frost, a distinguished native son. The park occupies about one and a half acres of land on the west side of Main Street in the main downtown district of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Municipal heritage designation applies to the land and the natural and man-made fixtures within its bounds.
HERITAGE VALUE
Frost Park is valued as the earliest public burial site within the Town of Yarmouth and for its use as a public park since 1887. Municipal heritage designation applies to the entire park area within the bounds described.
What is presently called Frost Park was the original public burial ground within the present bounds of the Town of Yarmouth, a part of one of four original shares set off for public use in the Township grants in 1766. This particular section of the granted lot was used for burials by the early settlers until around 1837 when it was deemed to be full, and further burials took place in the easternmost section of the lot, on the east side of Main Street. By 1859 it became apparent to town officials that because of the growing population and for health reasons it was no longer acceptable to continue to bury the dead in what was quickly becoming the centre of town. By an act of the Provincial Legislature in 1864, it was declared that after the expiration of one year, no further burials should take place and it should cease to be used as a cemetery.
Apparently, this cemetery sat relatively unchanged and unused until 1887, the year of Queen Victoria’s Silver Jubilee, when the Trustees decided to develop it into a park. It was named Victoria Park in honour of the Queen, some grave markers were moved and a fountain was placed in the centre, with walkways and benches surrounding it. By an Act of the Provincial Legislature passed April 28, 1893, the former burial grounds were finally vested in and became the property of the Town of Yarmouth and under the exclusive control of Town Council.
In 1958 the name of this park was changed to Frost Park, for Sydney Frost who was born in 1893 in Argyle, Yarmouth County and died in 1985. The inscription on the dedication plaque at the Main Street entrance to the park states; “This park named in honor of Charles Sydney Frost, M.C. native son who, through diligence and ability became President of the Bank of Nova Scotia June 14,1956”. Sydney Frost had entered employment with the Bank of Nova Scotia in Yarmouth at age 14 and subsequently served in positions of increasing responsibility with the bank in Winnipeg, Toronto, Saskatoon and St. John, NB. He had also had a distinguished military service record during World War I, rising in rank from private to captain and winning the Military Cross. As well, he received many other honours during his lifetime including honourary degrees from Memorial University, St. John's, NF and Acadia University, Wolfville, NS and being named an Illustrious Son of Nova Scotia in 1959.
In more recent years further changes have been made to the park with the replacement of the original fountain in 1990 and the addition of the compass rose observation deck and a gazebo/bandstand in the late 1990s. Further enhancements in the locally crafted wrought iron fencing along Main Street and the landscaping of the park make it a much used centre-town site for picnics and quiet relaxation through most of the year.
CHARACTER-DEFINING ELEMENTS
- location on the west side of Main Street and east side of Water Street in the main business district;
- adjacency to Yarmouth Town Hall;
- wrought iron fencing along Main Street;
- land sloping downhill toward the west;
- proximity to Yarmouth Harbour;
- dedication plaque on a vertical granite slab at centre entrance to park on Main Street;
- three-tiered fountain in the centre of the park;
- compass rose observation deck overlooking harbour on west side;
- gazebo/bandstand near centre of park;
- paved walkways.
From Historic Places Canada