On December 6, 1917 in Halifax, NS almost 2,000 people died and some 5,000 were injured in the aftermath of the collision of the ships "Imo" and "Mont Blanc" - the infamous Halifax Explosion. The effects of that event were extremely far-reaching and many of those from who we are descended or to whom we are related were involved in some way. For example, I have exchanged emails in the past with individuals in the United States whose relatives came to help out with the medical and housing emergencies. Many people who survived chose not to talk about this traumatic event or only shared minimal details. I know, for example, that my mother, at 22 months of age, survived only because her mother, in planning lunch, chose to go to the sauerkraut barrel in the basement just before the explosion and took my mother with her. When they later returned to the kitchen, the small rocker in which my mother had been seated had been crushed by the china cabinet. My mother always loved sauerkraut and said that was because it had saved her life! What I don't know is how long she and her mother were in the basement, how badly the house was damaged, whether or not they had to "camp out" with the thousands who had to live in tents on the Common. Significantly, I know nothing of my grandfather's experiences - he was doing military guard duty on the islands at the mouth of the Halifax Harbour at the time. He never spoke of the event in my hearing. I have read much about this event, particularly recently published accounts of the effects on some families. The A & E video on the event is particularly moving, particularly the stories of some survivors who were children at the time. An article in today's online edition of the Halifax Herald talks about the firemen who responded to the initial call and the memorials planned in the Halifax-Dartmouth area. As the daughter of a survivor (now deceased), I always find this day very significant. Although this is somewhat off-topic, I would urge everyone to take a moment to think of those who suffered on this day and those who may still be living with the residual effects. Thanks! Elizabeth ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ eht@attcanada.net (in Canada's National Capital Region) Researching (primarily): BOUTILIER/BOUTEILLIER/BOUTILLIER, CROW(E), DAUPHINEE/DAUPHINEY/DAUPHINE, MOSER/MOSHER & MARRIETTE in Nova Scotia [GANS & SSGS member]; SPIERS, DUNSEITH, FORSYTHE, HARKLEY, MARTIN & SIMPSON in Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, Ireland; CARDOZA/CARDOZO, GANE, LEVY, HAYWOOD, NUNES-CARDOZA & PAYNE in London/MDX, England [EoLFHS #8061]; and GOVIER, CADLE, HIN(D)E(S), HOLLIMAN/HOLLYMAN, WARR, WEBB(E), WYATT, LAWRENCE, COOK & MUNDAY in Bucks., England [BGS #T52]