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1917-1918 (Creation)
- Creator
- Hillis, George B.
Physical description area
Physical description
6 pages of textual records.
3 photographs: b&w; 10 x 13 cm.
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Biographical history
George Beaman Hillis (1873-1951), President of Hillis & Sons Ltd. iron foundry, was born November 11, 1873 in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia, to James Hillis and Sarah R. Stubbs of Saint John, New Brunswick. George worked at his father’s iron foundry in a section of the north end of Halifax known as Richmond, manufacturing stoves, furnaces, etc. eventually became president after his father’s death in 1919. He married Clara D. Compton (1882-1945) of Summerside, Prince Edward Island and together they raised two sons: Benjamin Franklin Hollis (b.1904) and James Gordon Hollis (1906-1964). George and his immediate family survived the Halifax Explosion of December 6, 1917, but lost their home at 6 Richmond Street. The family resettled at 77 Larch Street, Halifax and George continued with the family business, retired in 1949 and died June 29, 1951.
Custodial history
Were in the possession of George’s niece Eva McPhail, who gave them to her friends and cottage neighbours Elizabeth and Leo “Hap” Duggan. Donated to Nova Scotia Archives by Rita Judge in 2018, in memory of her parents Elizabeth and Hap Duggan.
Scope and content
Consists of a typed inventory of the possessions, furniture, décor, and food supplies lost by the Hillis family in the Halifax Explosion (31 December 1917), a letter to Clara from her eldest son Gordon (23 February 1918), and three photographs taken circa 1940s of George, Clara, and their niece Eva McPhail. Oartially document the economic status of the Hillis family and their standard of living in early 20th century Halifax.