We plan to add more information about the history of Long Lake Provincial Park here. Would you like to help?

The Role of Long Lake in Halifax’s Water Supply
Long Lake was the original water supply for the city of Halifax, from 1848-1976. Before Halifax Water Company was established, residents of Halifax had well water access for personal use, and any water needed for firefighting was taken out of the harbour. Long Lake was an average of 50 feet deep and two miles in length, with a capacity of 1,000,000 gallons a day, making it suitable for a water supply system for the size of Halifax at the time.
When the wooden dam was constructed at the outlet of Long Lake at McIntosh Run, the water level was raised by 25 feet. This connected Beaver Lake and Cocked Hat Lake to create Long Lake (Iris Shea). In 1848, Halifax Water Works brought water from Chain Lake and Long Lake to Halifax, which served the city’s needs at the time. For local residents, this was an issue, as 23 landowners lost land in the area.
A channel was dug to connect Long Lake with Chain Lakes, which was then connected to smaller pipes, distributing water to the rest of the city. This lasted for some time before the city would need more water. In 1868, Fosses Hill Lake and Spruce Hill Lake were connected to the watershed to help with increasing the water pressure (Iris Shea). By 1877, Long Lake had been raised by another 3 feet. This was also the year the wooden dam was replaced by the Granite Dam, constructed at Old Sambro Road and Dentith Road, where it still stands to this day. Long Lake’s role in supplying water to Halifax ended in the mid 1970s when the source of water was switched to Pockwock Lake.
Halifax Water Works, Iris V. Shea, Chebucto News
Quarries

There were several quarries located in the Spryfield area. The Kline quarry, (also known as Cline quarry) is located within the present-day boundaries of Long Lake Provincial Park. Operated by John Cline in the early 1900’s, this particular quarry was located roughly 0.2km from the southeastern corner of Witherod Lake. Lots of the granite extracted was used for construction in downtown Halifax for various monuments and buildings. This stone was delivered to Halifax foraround $5/ton in 1912. Some of this granite is found along the trails in Long Lake Provincial Park, which are identifiable by grooves left by the rock splitting process known as “plug and feather”. This was the rock splitting technique used to extract the stone, where metal spikes were pounded into the rock in formation to be split open. Next time you are on a walk within park boundaries, see if you can spot a little piece of history.
A Brief history of the Old Bay Road
This old road is a historic and scenic route that weaves its way from Old Sambro Road just up from the 4 way stop at Sussex Street through Long Lake Provincial Park to Prospect Road. Now abandoned, it is a popular hiking path of about eight kilometers in length. Before Long Lake Provincial Park was established, it served as a rough and rugged trail, utilized mainly for the transportation of goods and timber from the rural areas to the urban center of Halifax.
History
The origins of the Old Saint Margaret’s Bay Road can be traced back to the 19th and early 20th centuries according to Iris Shea from the Mainland South Heritage Society. The communities that were situated along what we know now as the Peggy’s Cove Road between Goodwood and Dover would have used this road to access Halifax, connecting those costal communities. Before highway 333 was built, this would have been a frequent commute for these settlers.
There were three large farms situated within the area that were expropriated in 1954 by the Public Service Commission, and this land is now within the boundaries of Long Lake Provincial Park (Iris Shea). Charles Drysdale, (the son of John and Isabel Drysdale who operated the Darts mill farm for some time), donated land to upkeep St. James United Church Cemetery. This cemetery is the resting place of many original landowners and settlers and can be found within a fifteen-minute walk from Prospect Road past St. James United Church. There are three cemeteries located within the present-day park boundaries. These include the Marriott Cemetery located southeast of Old Saint Margaret’s Bay Road, Purcell’s Ground Cemetery, and the John Umlah Cemetery.
Old foundations
Currently, the road still exists to facilitate activities for hiking, walking, and winter activates, but was never updated for large vehicle use and remains unpaved. The eastern end of the path prohibits ATV use, as this section falls in park boundaries. Old foundations can be found roughly halfway through the route. These are the remains of the Umlah family farm, which was part of the land that would eventually become expropriated around 1954, configuring a significant portion of Long Lake Provincial Park property. An old cement dance floor can be found at this location, amongst trees planted by boy scouts in the 1950’s (Five bridges).Past the remnants of the Umlah farm and approaching Old Sambro Road, another abandoned road known as the “Scar Road” can be found intersecting the path. This was part of a project (now abandoned), for a “campsite” area within Long Lake. The project was never finished, and the route was never paved and remains a narrow dirt path.
The Old Bay Road is an integral part of Long Lake Provincial Park’s history, because it has witnessed the passage of time and was once the only connector in bridging the rift between communities. It provides an insightful window into the region’s past and is a history worth noting.
Resources:
http://fivebridgestrust.ca/publications/WalkingGuide.pdf
A road well-travelled in the 19th century, Iris V. Shea