#halifax explosion 1917

From volcanic eruptions to nuclear blasts and asteroid impacts, this image captures some of the most powerful and deafening events ever recorded on Earth. Introduction Sound is a powerful force—capable of traveling vast distances, shaking the ground, and even altering history. From massive volcanic eruptions to man-made explosions, some sounds have reached such extreme levels that they were…

The Halifax Explosion 1917 • A Personal Story

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We’re less than a month away from another anniversary of the Halifax Explosion of 1917. Last year was the 100th anniversary!

I’ve been thinking of Dad lately and looking back on what he had to have endured over the years growing up Chinese in Halifax during the early 1900’s. Some of my friends know that GrandDad arrived back in 1906 to start a laundry business with his…

Luckily, I never had to read this novel in school and so was able to enjoy Hugh MacLennan's spare and remarkable storytelling.  Written in 1941, the action takes place in Halifax, Nova Scotia during a condensed time period--8 days?--most notable for the explosion in Halifax harbour on December 6, 1917. Over 1,900 people died in the catastrophe which MacLennan used as background for his first novel, variously categorized as "social realism" and "compelling romance".

This is actually my second time reading Barometer Rising. I first read it almost 20 years ago. I enjoyed it then and even more so now. This time, I was able to appreciate the philosophical musings of the characters and MacLennan himself.  I still remember this sentence from the Aeneid that MacLennan quotes: Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit. Which is: " Perhaps one day it will be pleasing to remember even this."

Or in a new translation by Robert Fagles: "A joy it will be one day, perhaps, to  remember even this." 20 years ago I wished those words were true but had no experience to confirm it.Today I understand them as hard-earned wisdom not to judge and dismiss the unwanted content of a particular moment or day or time....