Homecoming 2021 Retrospective Tour

In celebration of Homecoming, this self-guided tour will lead you to significant buildings and landmarks around campus. On this tour, you will discover the origins of the McNally Building and learn about campus developments in the 1970s, which was a significant time of growth at Saint Mary’s. Huge thank you to Hansel Cook from the Library Archives for providing us with the photos and historical information. If you want to explore more of the history of Saint Mary’s, click here. Let’s get started!

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The McNally Building

The Loyola Academic and Residence Complex

The Patrick Power Library

The McNally Building

70th anniversary

Named after Archbishop John Thomas McNally, construction on the McNally building began in 1949. Archbishop McNally oversaw the construction of the building, which opened in 1951. The building included a library, chapel, gymnasium, classrooms, laboratories, offices and accommodations for boarders and faculty. The new McNally building was home to Saint Mary’s College and High School, with the high school occupying three rooms on the second floor.

In 1952, Saint Mary's was granted university status, and the campus was recognized as having the most innovative design in Atlantic Canada.

Photograph of the construction of McNally Building in its bare beginnings, looking west

Photograph of newly built McNally Building in late winter, with construction materials piled in front of the main entrance.

Photograph of newly built McNally Building in springtime, looking southeast from Robie Street. The driveway is still dusty from wheels of construction vehicles, and no trees have been planted yet except for one tiny specimen at the curb. At left three men are busy with what looks like a tarp-covered pile of rolls of sod.

Photograph of construction of McNally Building taken from Robie Street near Inglis during early winter, looking southeast. Note small shack (not appearing in photos taken early in the construction), likely serving as winter construction HQ and/or a heated meal room for the builders.

Photograph of construction of McNally Building in winter, scaffolding in place, taken from Robie Street facing northeast. There are no shacks in photos taken early in the construction, so likely the one in this photo serves as a winter HQ and heated meal room for the builders.

Written in pink ink on front: 'Crop' and 'Enlarge to 7 inches'. Written in pencil on reverse: 'A-494' encircled. Stamped in black on reverse: '714'. Came in an envelope marked 'Construction on Campus'. From Art Gallery.

Photograph of construction of McNally Building taken from the end of Robie Street (by the present Oaks property) facing northeast. The two shacks do not appear in photos taken early in the construction, so likely they were built as construction HQ and/or a heated meal room for the builders over coming winter.

Photograph of north wing of McNally Building, having it exterior stone cladding installed. There are four men on the scaffold, and a figure standing in the left foreground amidst stacks of stone.

Two men adding stone cladding to exterior wall of McNally north wing. The picture appears to be facing east, towards the current site of the Student Centre. Also shown is a parking lot with five cars. Accompanying note reads: 'McNally building under construction.' Writing on reverse reads: 'Herman Harvey, Paul Laporte [workers]

Photograph of the sign (at Inglis and Robie Streets) announcing construction of Saint Mary's University on former Gorsebrook golf course by MacDonald Construction Builders commencing in May 1950. The trees have all been clearcut. Note the cottage or golf course club house (? unverified) at left (see also 98.03.0041 and 98.03.0042).

Classroom in McNally, ca. 1951

Photograph of a rather austere classroom in McNally Building.

Construction of McNally Building Nearly Finished, 1951

Photograph of the front entrance of McNally Building under construction.

Construction of McNally Building Nearly Finished, 1951

Photograph of north wing of McNally Building, having it exterior stone cladding installed. There are four men on the scaffold, and a figure standing in the left foreground amidst stacks of stone.

The Loyola Academic and Residence Complex

50th anniversary

Built in 1971, the Loyola Residence is an accessible 22-storey high-rise building that houses 433 students each year. Also known as Ignatius Loyola Residence, the building is home to the Burke-Gaffney Observatory, Ralph M. Medjuck Telescope and Saint Mary’s Art Gallery.

Photograph of excavator breaking the sod (for new high rise residence and academic complex) to the south of old chapel. The upper floor space of the chapel was renovated into the McNally Theatre Auditorium which opened on March 1 1982, with the stage moved to the east wall and the auditorium seating in the west wall (adjoining McNally Building). In 1989 the chapel's double-height basement gymnasium was converted into two levels housing the Faculty Lounge, IT office, The Den computer lab, and classrooms while still retaining the external facade of the original 1953 church

Construction of Loyola as winter is ending, photo taken from Gorsebrook Avenue near Oaks property. Sign in front of the construction partially reads: 'Saint Mary's University Academic Residence Complex'

Construction of the pedway between McNally and Loyola buildings.

Photograph of the dining room in Loyola residence, now the Dockside Dining Hall.

Construction worker Martin Lapenat, building site supervisor Mr. Cramaro, and construction worker Laurele Lemay stand alongside the Loyola construction site.

Photograph of the construction of Loyola residence, with Rice and Vanier residences in the background.

Photograph of a double-occupancy room in Loyola residence.

Photograph of the construction of Loyola residence during winter.

Photograph of the construction of Loyola complex in depths of winter, with Vanier residence and the Huskies Stadium in the background.

Springtime photograph of McNally Building and a nearly-finished Loyola residence in the background, taken from Robie Street facing southeast.

Very retro living room in a family apartment in Loyola residence (love the funky coffee table!).

Earl Surette and two female employees stand behind the counter of the Mini Market. 'Grand Opening' signs are all around the store

The Patrick Power Library

45th anniversary

Named after prominent Nova Scotia businessman and politician Patrick Power, the Patrick Power Library opened at Saint Mary’s University in 1976. Before that, the library was located in the Burke Building. With the library collection growing and needing more space, the Patrick Power Library was built. During that time, everything in the library was done by hand because automated systems did not exist.

Quick Patrick Power Library Facts (2019-2020)

696,007 visits to the library
154,858 visits to the library website

366,329 journal article downloads
116,199 print and eBooks circulated
3,920 students were provided with library instruction
5,421 questions answered at the Research Help Desk
Ten professional librarians

28 full-time staff
24 student employees

Photograph of the construction site of future Patrick Power Library in winter, taken from McNally. The Burke Building is at left, part of the Canadian Martyrs Catholic Church is in the upper left corner, and Student Centre is at the top of the photo.

Date Catalogued: 8/18/1998

View of the parking lot (taken from the roof of McNally) which will become the site of the future Patrick Power Library. A corner of the Burke Building (far left) and the Student Centre (upper right corner) are in the background.

Date Catalogued: 2/15/1999

Model of the Patrick Power Library as situated on the campus, showing the eastern side of the library.

Date Catalogued: 2/4/2004

Opening ceremony of the brand new Patrick Power Library. Speaker at podium may be Dr. Keyes D. Metcalf of Harvard University. To right of the podium is Dr. Owen Carrigan (SMU President 1971-1979, wearing light grey suit), Austin Hayes (Commerce class of 1937, Chairman of the Board of Governors), and Rev. Colin Campbell (Arts class of 1952, Vicar-General of archdiocese of Halifax). To the left of the podium is Father Stewart (former head Librarian), and to his left is Keith MacRae (balding, Vice President of Dineen Construction). At far left (chin in hand) is Maynard MacAskill (Minister of Education).

Date Catalogued: 2/4/2004

Group of people on elegantly decorated stage at ceremony to officially open Patrick Power Library. At far left (backs to camera) are library employees Dave Manning and B.J. Frenette. On stage is Rev. Colin Campbell (at podium, wearing white shoes), Austin Hayes (Commerce class of 1937, Chairman of the Board of Governors, wearing black suit), Owen Carrigan (SMU President 1971-1979, with dark sideburns, wearing light gray suit), while other persons stand at the back. The gentleman in the check suit is Guy Noel, Chairman of the Library Building Committee.

Date Catalogued: 8/2/1999

Photo of east face of the Patrick Power Library, taken from corner of Huskies Stadium.

1976

Austin Hayes (left, "Austy," Commerce class of 1937, Chairman of the Board of Governors 1970-1978), talking with unknown man at new library's opening reception.

1976

People milling about at the opening reception of the new Patrick Power Library. Owen Carrigan (SMU President 1971-1979) is fourth from left (with sideburns, in light grey suit). White-haired gentleman in check grey suit is Laurie Smith (Arts class of 1943, here Director, Admissions and Scholarships).

Eastern face of the Patrick Power Library (photo taken from in front of Student Centre). The rectangular opening next to the huge concrete corner leads to the library entrance and lobby (on the north side) with its tiny Check-Out and Security Desk. The grassy area on the north side (mostly out of sight in this photo) was closed in in 2008 to become the skylighted Atrium (connecting the library with McNally, Burke and Science buildings) and its new entrance moved to the east side. From Library fonds, 1999.22. Came with 99.03.0300 and 99.03.0301.Date Catalogued: 8/2/1999

Photograph of the second or third floor, with students working at tables.