1711 (Boston, MA) - 1781 (Windsor, NS)

Charles Morris was Nova Scotia Chief Surveyor and one of he first residents of Halifax.


In 1750, on order from the founder of Halifax, Edward Cornwallis, Morris began surveying the entire peninsula, laying out new suburbs and 240 acres of "common land" to be used for firewood and pasturage. A 1762 plan by Morris defined the original Halifax Common, which was officially granted by King George III to the town inhabitants in 1763.


Morris role in the establishment of Halifax went beyond his position as Surveyor - he also served as a member of the Nova Scotia Council, Justice of the Peace and First Assistant Judge of the Supreme Court, a position he held until his death in 1781.


As Chief Surveyor, Morris laid out towns for settlement across the Province, including Barrington, Yarmouth, Liverpool and Lunenburg. Much of his work was done from his office, which stood very near to this spot (and immediately adjacent to his house). A simple Georgian building dating back to the mid 1700s, the office was first located at the corner of Hollis and Morris Streets It moved 30 metres south along Hollis to its 2nd location in 1898 and 50 metres more in 2009. Here it sat waiting for a new home - and another move - as the site at the corner of Morris and Hollis Streets was developed and the building was constructed.


Morris office survives today at 2500 Creighton Street in the city North End due to the work of the Ecology Action Centre, the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia and to generous donations of Nova Scotia Power, Dexel Developments and HRM.

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