Note: Thursday Doors is a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating and sharing your own Thursday Doors post each week between Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time) by using the blue link-up button below.
The Bank of Nova Scotia – Downtown Halifax
How many places in this world do you know would allow people into a bank to take pictures during business hours?
Of course Honey and I are very polite and always ask permission first, but my camera and I have been shooed away in other lovely bank buildings here in Montréal and other cities on a number of occasions for ‘security reasons’.
Security concerns are understandable I guess, which is why up to now the only bank that has ever allowed me to take pictures inside their doors is The Bank of Nova Scotia on Hollis Street in downtown Halifax.
At first I thought it was because of my honest-looking face 😉 or the fact that we just don’t look like bank robbers, however the security guard told us that because of its heritage building status, tourists come in almost daily to take pictures of this lovely 6-story sandstone structure and its bronze and brass doors.
Built in 1931 this branch situated at 1709 Hollis street was meant to be the new headquarters for what at the time was the fastest growing, and now 3rd largest, of Canada’s Big Five banks.
It was designed by Irish-born Canadian architect John M. Lyle who back in the day was one of the leading proponents of the beaux-arts style. Lyle not only designed the building but also the fixtures, furniture, carvings, and of course the doors:
The entire main floor interior is clad in marble, brass, bronze and wood, with design elements such as castings, carvings, paintings, and frescoes that depict plant, animal, and ocean life representative of Canada’s Atlantic coast and Nova Scotia’s rich heritage and history.
The place harkens back to a time when banks were considered pillars of the community rather than profit centers, and spared no expense at putting their prestige on display as a way to gain the confidence of their customers. Perhaps that was part of what they were trying to accomplish by building this place at the height of the great depression.
I guess I was so surprised by the fact that they actually allowed us in just to admire and take pictures that I felt a little self-conscious about it. I didn’t want to overdo it and overstay our welcome so I really didn’t take as many shots as I should have.
If you ever make it to downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia on a weekday during banking hours, you may just want to take a peek inside this place and admire it yourself:
As always, thanks for looking 🙂
Don’t forget to click on this blue button to add the link to your own Thursday Doors post to this week’s list:
If you share your posts on Twitter and Instagram remember to use the #ThursdayDoors hashtag and please do take a few minutes to visit the Thursday Door posts shared by others.
Beautiful and impressive doors, Norm. 🙂
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What a wonderful building – great captures Norm.
Here are my doors for this week: http://travelwithintent.com/2015/12/14/door-mural-regent-deal/
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Thanks Debbie. Thursday Doors is open for entries from Thursday morning to Saturday noon each week, so you won’t be able to add this one to the link-up list until the 17th. I’ll leave it here in the comments to hopefully bring you a few extra views 🙂
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Some serious doors!
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Thanks. You should see this place – such a beautiful building.
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all beautiful 🙂
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Thank you!
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Lovely building Norm, I almost posted an image of a bank this week too but changed my mind last minute. Hmmm, I might submit that one next week. I took the shot because there was a man in a ‘skirt’ standing nearby.
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Yes Jean please post it next week! Men in skirts are always good for a few chuckles 😀
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Absolutely stunning doors Norm! Can’t help wondering how much of their customers’ money they spent making them though ! 🙂
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So true Jane. Back then though I get the feeling that this was how they reassured customers that their money was safe.
Today we customers see things very differently and with good reason, particularly when we read reports of billions in quarterly profits.
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I’m sure you’re right Norm, I suppose there was also an appeal to basic customer vanity, impressing one’s acquaintance by naming the bank with golden doors as the keeper of one’s fortune! 😀
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that is really beautiful building. good for you to ask a permission to take photos.
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Thanks – it’s always a good idea to ask first. I’ve always found that so much trouble can be avoided by simply offering a little common courtesy to others. It always surprises me how many appreciate it and say yes, just because I took the time to ask first.
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Nice shots and story to go with them Norm. I particularly like the line “The place harkens back to a time when banks were considered pillars of the community rather than profit centers.” Isn’t that the truth!
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Thanks my friend, glad to see you back. That website looks good. I hope you are keeping well 🙂
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Taken with an iPhone.
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Thanks for joining us!
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Norm, I tried to post this last week but was too late. Now my URL is too long and although I see the “Get Short Link” button, I can’t make it work. So, Here is my URL. Don’t know if you can post it or not. http://judydykstrabrown.com/2015/12/06/tile-house-thursday-doors-challenge-dec-32015/
I’ll use a shorter URL next time. Always something new to feel inadequate about! ;o)
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Thanks for coming back and trying again – don’t worry we’ll get it figured out. There shouldn’t be a limit on characters. The order should be 1. post or blog name 2. link to your post 3. email – but I’ll check it again in the morning 🙂
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My friend figured it out!!! and how to do short link. Third time is the charm. I even erased my first two flops. Problem is on my browser, the labels for the blanks are in the wrong place–far below the blanks. Wonder if anyone else has that problem? Hotmail/Outlook coupled with a Mac often causes problems. You are a sweetie for taking the time to respond. I’ll get it right after this! I have more doors coming but will be patient and wait until next week for the next one.
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Your doors this week are impressive Norm. Mine no so impressive.
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The doors were definitely regal and richly decorated in the elaborate engravings. It surprises me that everyday people can stop in and take photos, no problems. Do ordinary people deposit or withdraw $50 there, Norm?
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It surprised us too but the security guard said they were used to it. I don’t remember seeing customers at the counter but I wasn’t paying too much attention, what with my jaw on the floor and all 😉
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I’m so glad they let you in so you could share with us! Love the doors and the textures and richness!
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Me too – thanks 🙂
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Rich looking doors! That must have been a treat. Did you need to ask permission to take pics? (you would have to in California) Have a great weekend!
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Absolutely – I’d never just walk into a bank anywhere and take pictures without asking but because it’s a heritage building said they were quite used to it. Anywhere else though…
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This is my first time at Thursday Doors 🙂
I can’t find my pingback here though I used the link…maybe I didn’t do it correctly, but here’s my entry anyway: https://gitanjalisinghcherian.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/thursday-doors-neemrana-fort-palace/
So happy to have come across this event. And that’s one outstanding door Norm!
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Thank you and welcome! The pingback comes in to me for approval first so sometime it can take a while but if you add your post to the list in the link-up that shows up immediately. So glad you found us 🙂
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Mighty impressive doors! I imagine it costs a fortune to heat that bank though!
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Thanks Jan. I think you might have a point on the heating costs 🙂
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Mercy, that’s just gorgeous on top of gorgeous, truly awe inspiring!
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Thanks – I just couldn’t get over the fact they let us in to take pics
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What a beautiful building! I love to find an old building with loving attention to detail built into it.
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Thanks Marian – Not many place built like this anymore that’s for sure
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They don’t build doors like that anymore. Amazing pieces of work. 🙂
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And they polish them every day to keep them nice and shiney too 🙂
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How grand! Absolutely stunning building. The materials and the craftsmanship used back then *sigh*!! And I love to see an older building still being used for its intended purpose!
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*Sigh* indeed….and as for the use: yes exactly! Even with over 600 billion in assets today, this building is considered one of their crown jewels so I doubt it will be changing vocation any time soon.
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Music to my ears!
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That grand door in the 2nd photo is spectacular. I picture this the type of place you walk into and talk in hushed tones like a church.
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You’re exactly right Joanne – now that I think of it we really did start whispering for no reason 😀
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What a gorgeous building, Norm! In the States there are older buildings like this, with care for craftsmanship and impressive beauty. I really enjoyed this set of photos. It must be a joy to bank there, at least insofar as the feeling you get from just coming into the bank.
janet
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Thanks Janet 🙂
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These are impressive doors!
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Thank you 🙂
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Such beautiful doors Norm. I’m glad you asked and I’m very glad they gave you permission. The craftsmanship in those doors, and the building is remarkable. One of the things that strikes me is that, when your fitting a metal door into a marble opening, there really isn’t any room for error. I really like the picture of the lobby.
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Thanks Dan, I remember thinking the same thing about the metal/marble fit. It’s very rare to be able to take pics in places like that. I just wish I had taken a few more.
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