Built in 1889, the 2½ storey Italianate style St. Mary's Girls' School educated hundreds, possibly thousands of girls during its active years, those years coming to a close in 1975. Well before the school's closing it had been merged with the next door St. Mary's Boys' School to become a coed institution. The original St. Mary's Schools had been overseen by the Sisters of Charity, established in Halifax, in 1849.
After standing vacant for a few years both buildings were renovated by the diocese, the boys' school being reopened as the Catholic Pastoral Centre on October 19, 1980, with the Archbishop of Halifax, Rev. James M. Hayes doing the honours. Until 2016 both buildings were owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Halifax, NS. As of Thursday, June 30, 2016 the buildings were sold to Oakport Ltd., a privately held company, based in Halifax, who are focused on property acquisition, development, and management. This building has been repurposed as commercial/retail rental space, the ground floor currently occupied by
Maritime Hobbies & Crafts Ltd, a hobby and crafts outlet which happens to be the Oldest Hobby Shop in Canada.
Not only are they Canada's oldest, they may be one of Canada's
best stocked, carrying a full stock of Model Railroads, Plastic Models, Radio Control, Crafts, Scratch Building Supplies, Puzzles, Toys, Slot cars, Rockets, Kites and much more.
Maritime Hobbies was started by Terry Ahearn as Popular Specialties in 1946 on the corner of Agricola and Almon St. From there it moved to downtown Halifax and had various locations over the years including Granville St, Hollis St, Barrington St, Scotia Square, and now Grafton St. In the early 90's John Hatt and Mike Larisey bought the business from Terry, and now John's son Greg is managing, and will eventually take the reins.
Canada's Oldest Hobby Shop! Est 1946
From Maritime Hobbies & Crafts Ltd