I saw last week that Eddie Carvery, described by an author as the Hermit of Africville, had died at the age of 79. Eddie was the lone Black resident who continued to live on land that once belonged to the Carvery family, a name once synomymous with the Black community which existed on the Bedford Basin adjacent to Halifax.
The city refused to provide proper services such as sewer and water to the village and in the 1950s situated a garbage dump nearby. A rail line was pushed through the community. In 1965 the residents were removed by the city and their community bulldozed, including the Seaview African Baptist Church, established in 1849.
In 2002 Heritage Minister Sheila Copps came to Africville to announce that the park where Africville once stood would be a national historic site and this promise was eventually fulfilled. We lived in Halifax at the time and I was there that day and I imagine Eddie was as well. It was a powerful moment.as former residents and their children and grandchildren sang.
Eddie began his occupation in 1970 and lived to the end in a trailer on the land even though it was supposedly illegal. The historical site was eventually established and a replica of the Baptist church now stands there, serving as a place of worship and interpretation centre for both Black history and the racism that ended the community.
Eddie Carvery was determined to hold on to the claim to this land and as quixotic as his quest was he should be remembered with respect during this Black History Month and beyond.
Here is the link to a blog I wrote about Africville a few years ago
https://lionlamb-bowmanville .blogspot.com/2020/02/africville-black-history-month.html
The Original Seaview Baptist Church
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