Crawley Creek Recreation Period
1915-1942

During the McLennan era at Petersfield (1900-1942), the family allowed Crawley Creek to be used as a recreation area for local residents. Between 1915 to 1942, Sydney residents and Westmount residents were able to enjoy a dance hall and canteen at Crawley Creek. Sydney visitors were ferried across the harbour to Crawley Creek by Jack Strickland on the "Meredith."

The "Meredith"
Courtesy of the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources.
People from Westmount could reach Crawley Creek with an entrance at an access road from Rudderham Road. In the winter months, the dance hall housed Mr. Strickland's ferry. The boat was pulled into the dance hall via a ramp that consisted of a set of railway tracks and a winch and pulley system. The railway tracks extended from the dance hall into the water to guide the boat into its winter shelter.
Boating on Crawley Creek
Courtesy of the Beaton Institute

Leisure time activities spent at Crawley Creek are remembered fondly by many local residents. According to Alice Westcott Thompson, Crawley Creek was a popular spot to spend the day having a picnic or boating on the calm waters of the creek. Bathhouses were also located on Crawley Creek. These lovely pastimes ended with the navy's appropriation of the Petersfield estate in 1942. Today, there are few signs that the dance hall and canteen existed at Crawley Creek.

Crawley Creek today
The dance hall and canteen buildings have virtually disappeared. One corner post that is believed to be part of the dance floor's platform was discovered during the archaeological excavations carried out in 1987. A small depression marks the spot where the boat's ramp existed. The archaeological work carried out in Petersfield also located some twentieth century artifacts and other small vestiges of use. These archaeological remnants include artifacts related to the canteen such as a few glass shards of the recreation period.