This is the 150th anniversary of the Halifax Club. Originally a bastion for men only, today women and men are members equally. It is a lovely old building, one of the few in the city that has retained it’s character and is full of history, interesting art and curios.
These chandeliers are made of hand blown Waterford crystal and were hung in 1910, I think. Aren’t they lovely?
I was invited to tea here on Thursday, their first “Afternon Tea” of the season. We had a grand time and the food was delicious. This is the room where we enjoyed our afternoon treat. Very British. There is a piano at hand and visitors to tea are encouraged to play it if they can, and are welcomed to read poetry aloud or tell tales and entertain each other as if it was their own salon.
Doesn’t this plate look good? Asparagus &salmon sanwiches, cucumber & brie, egg salad, and tuna salad. Fresh made scones with pots of clotted cream and jam to slather on. Maccarons, two dainty pastries and some fruit. Your choice of tea as well! (because of my new vegetarian/dairy free diet, I did not have these delectable treats myself but was told they were fab!) They sure looked yummy!
Included in the tea is a tour of the building, with delightful tales about past members and stories about the art and curios. Just after the Halifax Explosion, many doctors from Boston and other places who came to help the injured stayed here. This cracked window was the only thing that sustained damage from the explosion and they have never repaired it, keeping it as a small memorial.
The building is fascinating and there is supposedly a resident ghost 🙂 The sad result of a tragic event that happened here many years ago. You will learn about it on the tour:)
Also, on April the 11th they are having a special dinner in honor of the Titanic with a 5 course meal based on the First Class menu of the ship. I bet that will be quite the evening!
Oh, and as an interesting aside, two of Halifax’s most illustrious citizens were never members of the club, Alexander Keith of beer fame, and Joseph Howe, our champion of Free Speech
(seen reflected below). I actually really like this picture and was trying to think of a way to sneak it in! haha.
