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Nova Scotia·ILLUSTRATION

Nelson Carvery talks about his past, present and future in Africville

This story is part of a CBC Creator Network series from artist Jon Claytor that explores how parks and gardens have affected individuals in unique and personal ways.

Series from artist Jon Claytor explores personal connections to parks and gardens

Jon Claytor · For CBC ·
A graphic image of a wooded area with a bridge in the background
'Before the Halifax community of Africville was demolished in the late 1960s and replaced with what is now a park, it was Nelson Carvery's hometown,' writes artist Jon Claytor. (Jon Claytor for CBC)

This story is part of a CBC Creator Network series from artist Jon Claytor that explores how parks and gardens have affected individuals in unique and personal ways. 

A graphic image with a old Black man in the middle. The text reads "Before the Halifax community of Africville was demolished in the late 1960s and was replaced with what is now a park, it was Nelson Carvery's hometown. And although Carvery's life has brought him across the country and back, his heart had never left Africville. At 80 years old, he still plans on seeing Africville returned to his community." Two text bubbles read "I would like to get all the land in Africville being used (back) for the Black community. Build new houses. Build a new community."
(Jon Claytor for CBC)
A graphic image shows an older black man looking into a koi pond and standing beside a tricycle. The text reads "As you will see, Carvery has always found joy on or near the water. Even now, he keeps a koi pond in the backyard of his beautiful house on Creighton Street. For 40 years, the house has been full with children and grandchildren. He told me than many Africville families lived on Creighton Street as well as Uniacke Square." The text bubble reads "I wish my children could have grown up in Africville."
(Jon Claytor for CBC)
A graphic image of a young Black boy wearing a hat. The text reads "As we walked through the open fields of the park, memories came back to Nelson Carvery of his childhood. I could picture a young Carvery full of energy and looking for adventure." The text bubbles read "My first memories of Africville were always by the water. I wore a sailor's hat. They nicknamed my Hoy, like ship a'hoy. I was always around water; on a raft, fishing or swimming. And we had a huge barn (with) cattle, pigs, horses, goats, chickens (and) geese. My job was to look after them but they mostly chased me around. But it was fun growing up and for them to take it all away..."
(Jon Claytor for CBC)
A graphic image of an older Black man. The text reads: "Carvery had been adopted as a baby by Aron (Pa) Carvery and Liza Carvery. His father was the very last person to leave Africville in 1970. He learned to drive the truck and did all the snow shovelling by the time he was 11. Carvery only retired last year at 79 years old." The text bubbles read: "My father was a business man. Kinda strict. He had a cnady store in our house. Bread milk chocolate bars. This that and the other. My job was to unload the truck."
(Jon Claytor for CBC)
A graphic image of an older Black man and a church in the background. The text reads: "Even when Carvery was young, things were already changing. He told me how the train tracks were put right through Africville. The dump was located beside them around 1952. The school was closed. This all happened years before he evictions began. "The text bubbles read: "I grew up jumping on trains through the neighbourhood to get around. (Church was) very religious, lots of music, good music. Everybody sings, everybody moves. You don't just sit there and listen. And we had baptisms right in the water here. The church was rebuilt in 2011. It now houses a museum. No other buildings and homes remain."
(Jon Claytor for CBC)
An older Black man in front of a boat. The text reads "Carvery's first home away from his parents was on a boat moored at the Africville wharf." The text bubbles read: "I lived on the boat for two years. Winter and summer. Once when I was jumping from boat to boat, I fell overboard. I got out so fast (my) cigarettes never even got wet! It was in April! It wasn't swimming time!"
(Jon Claytor for CBC)
A graphic image of a young Black man surrounded by different hats. The text reads "In 1962, carvery left the boast house to head out west. From Toronto, to Thompson to Vancouver he wore many hats. He worked as a porter, a miner, labour jobs and as a truck driver. Carvery would go on to become a very successful entrepreneur in the north end of Halifax. The text bubbles read "The boat wouldn't sail. We were going to sail south. If we had gotten the boat to sail, I might still be down there."
(Jon Claytor for CBC)
A graphic image of a wooded area. The text reads "When Carvery returned from out west in the early 70s, all of the home in Africville were gone. His father, Aaron (Pa) Carvery, was the last resident to leave. He satayed in his home for as long as he could. It's strange to walk through this large empty part that has replaced the community of Africville.
(Jon Claytor for CBC)
A graphic image of two people getting married. The text reads "Nelson met Lindo Gordon after moving back to Halifax and they were soon married. Together, they raised a large, ever-growing family. The house is always full of life. the kids kept them busy and happy. Linda Carvery is an incredible singer who has received a doctorate from Saint Mary's University and its a retired citizenship judge." The text bubbles read: "I had a man cave but the kids took it over."
(Jon Claytor for CBC)
A graphic image of a hand opening a lock box. The text reads "Several years after being forced from his home, Carvery's father died. Carvery found a mysterious document in a safety deposit box. It looks like a deed to a very large part of Africville in the name of his father and grandfather."
(Jon Claytor for CBC)
A graphic image of a hand holding a sheet of paper. The text on the paper reads in part "To have and to hold the said lands unto the grantee, his heirs, and assigns forever. Given under the great seal of Canada." The text reads "Carvery wonders if this document could have helped his father keep his home. He wonders if it could now help in the return of land to Africville's descendants. He hopes to find legal help to get to see what can be done with it. The full story of this document involves the history of the Maroons in Nova Scotia, 110 acres in Preston that had belonged to the Carvery's grandfather and a treaty signed in 1738. All of this could be a novel on its own.
(Jon Claytor for CBC)
A graphic image of an older Black man with his arm outstretched. The text reads "Carvery took me on a tour of his family's land as described in the deed. Every inch of the land had a memory. And he told me how his father had refused to leave until the very end." The text bubble reads; "My dream would be to get Africville back and get the community back. I want (a tiny home) by the water and one where my father lived."
(Jon Claytor for CBC)
A graphic image of a older Black man sitting on a chair in a grassy area looking out toward the water. The text bubble reads "I find it peaceful here. I can think clearly here. This is home."
(Jon Claytor for CBC)
A graphic image of an older Black man standing in a grassy area in front of a boat. The text reads "Five years ago, Carvery parked his boat close to where he lived on a boat 60 years ago. He says it makes a statement. It's parked close to where his cousin, Eddie Carvery, has been protesting for decades." The text bubble reads "I put it here. Bring it home! This is home!"
(Jon Claytor for CBC)
A graphic image of an older Black man. The text reads: "I asked Carvery what he wanted people to know. Will this quiet park be returned to the people of Africville?" The text bubbles read: "I want to honour (my father). Keep it alive. Who we are and what we did. Maybe people can understand why we did not want to leave. I would have built my house right next to my father's. Let us move back in our community. I think the public would assist us in that because (Africville was) wrongfully taken.
(Jon Claytor for CBC)

 

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.

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