History of Greenvale copper-beech trees in Dartmouth

To the editor:
A friend of mine, Mrs. Margaret George, recently asked about the trees on the east side of Greenvale School in Dartmouth. (At this time there is great interest in the renovation of the old school into rental units.) She was told by her father (Ralph Fielding 1885-1946) that he remembered the trees were there when he was young. The writings of John Martin in his book The Story of Dartmouth contains the history of these trees.
This property was purchased by David Falconer in 1847 from Thomas Mitchell. It was described as being on the "south side of the road leading to Truro in continuation of Ochterloney Street, commencing 371 feet from East Street"(now Victoria Road). It extended to the foot of Maple Street. The property contained houses, buildings, distillery, foundry and finishing shops. The price was 1,300 pounds.
David Falconer also owned the area around Lyle Street as far as Wyse Road. Faulkner Street was cut through this property and is probably an example of misnaming. The land jutting out from the shoreline at the foot of Lyle Street was long known as Black Point or Falconer's Point. It was long used as a shipping pier.
David Falconer built his mansion on the present school property. Behind the fence fronting the residence were beautiful flowers and shrubbery, while on the lower level vegetable gardens and fruit trees flourished. In shade trees near the house, plumaged pheasants roosted amid the branches which were covered with protective netting. The only remainder of this once attractive and colourful estate is the exotic copper-beech tree still standing to the east of the school. This tree and one other copper-beech tree was heavily damaged during Hurricane Juan in September 2003.
David Falconer died at his residence in 1888 at the age of 73. In 1890 the Dartmouth School Board purchased one and a half acres from the Falconer estate for $2,400. Pine Street was extended to meet Quarrell Street (now Queen Street). The Falconer house was bought by A.M. Beck for $4,225 on condition that it be removed or demolished. If it was to be moved, it had to be done in such a way so as not to destroy the copper-beech trees. The house was moved out to Ochterloney Street and moved east to the next lot. It remained there as the Greenvale Apartments. Although registered as a historic property, it was demolished in the past decade. The first Greenvale one-storey wooden school opened on the site in 1890.
So today, we have this lovely copper-beech tree as a reminder of the beauty of the past that was evident in the Greenvale estate of David Falconer.
Carmen Moir,
Past president-Dartmouth Heritage Museum Society, Past President-Dartmouth Historical Association