1890s Hamilton

The 1895 civic election in Hamilton was highlighted by the campaign performances of mayoral candidate Michael Joyce.           A familiar character in Hamilton’s downtown core, Michael Joyce, whose face was often referred to as looking like a road map of old Ireland, was well-known for his love of whiskey and clay pipes.           The Tuckett Tobacco company had painted a huge portrait of Michael’s face on the wall of the Foresters’ hall, at the corner of Gore street (now Wilson Street) and James street north. Shown holding his clay pipe, the caption beside Michael’s face repeated Michael’s familiar expression, “Phwat’s that?”           Michael Joyce’s ready Irish wit was a constant source of amusement around Hamilton City Hall, where he spent much of his time.           Especially amusing was Michael’s decision to run for mayor in the 1895 campaign.           The first major appearance of the Joyce campaign was scheduled for the evening of November 1, 18

“The only Michael Joyce has given way to the earnest entreaties of his friends and consented to become a candidate for alderman in Ward 6 as the workingman’s representative.” 1 1 “Ald. Michelangelo Joyce : A Talk With the Coming Statesman of Ward 6” Hamilton Spectator. September 15, 1891.           One of the most familiar characters in downtown Hamilton during the 1880s and 1890s was an Irishman by the name of Michael Joyce.           A carter by profession, Michael joined his fellow carters at the Carters’ stand near the court house, where those in need of a wagon and driver would go to hire someone to pick up and deliver whatever needed to be picked up and delivered.           While awaiting to be hired, the carters, at their stand, engaged in raucous discussions on the issues of the day, among themselves and with passersby who might want to join in the debates.           Issues relating to the operations of Hamilton’s mayor, aldermen and city staff were amo

When the men who had gone on wildcat strike were informed of the results of the meeting between Alderman Stewart, Rev. Dr. Burns and HSR President Charlton, the men decided to stand together and not return to work unless all five of the discharged employees were reinstated. The men took the position that the company was not justified in dismissing any employee without stating the reasons why they were being dismissed: “Mr. Griffith was questioned about this. “He said : ‘It is a great mistake to suppose that these five men were dismissed because they came to us as a deputation. That was not the reason. Before they came to us, it had been determined to dismiss for we were acting upon information already in our possession. These men were considered to be chiefly responsible for the whole trouble, and we had decided not to keep them any longer in our service. “ ‘As for the claim that we should always state the reasons why we dismiss men,’ continued Mr. Griffith, ‘a