1890s Hamilton

When the summer’s heat was up, it was not unusual for a large number of people to be encountered in the waterfront area of James Street North. Especially in the vicinity of the dock of the Hamilton Steamboat Company, there was usually a crowd when the passenger steamer, Macassa, arrived back in the city after a trip from Toronto, or when the Macassa set off from Hamilton to her outward destination. During the morning of Thursday, August 12 ,1892, passengers for the trip to Toronto had embarked on the Macassa. Friends, family and general onlookers watched when the big boat started to move out towards the bay Those people saw something that afternoon which many would not soon forget : “A young man named Harry Brothers was employed on the steamer Macassa as a kitchen helper, and while the boat was at the dock at the foot of James street, he was working in the cook’s gallery cleaning vegetables, and just as the steamer was leaving and when she was about 200 feet from the do

On a chilly Saturday afternoon, October 21, 1889, nearly 1,500 people from Hamilton boarded several open cars of the Hamilton, Grimsby and Beamsville Electric Railway to be transported to the Stoney Creek battlefield. The attraction was an event organized by the Women’s Wentworth Historical Society to mark the formal opening of the public park and museum on the grounds. The guest of honor was Lady Aberdeen, wife of Canada’s Governor-General. There was some delay before the ceremonies could begin. The cars of the H.G. & B. electric railway had been forced to stop several times on the way because of power shortage, much to the annoyance of the many Hamiltonians on board. “The ladies of the historical society had put together a well-rounded guest list of prominent people to witness the opening ceremony at Battlefield Park: “British nobility was represented by the Countess of Aberdeen; Canadian letters were looked after by O.A. Howland, of Toronto; the patriotic spirit

From just after dawn, Wednesday, August 9, 1899, the bee in aid of the Stoney Creek Battlefield project was in full swing: “At an early hour, and later during the day, as required, twelve teams, loading plows or scoops, and a contingent of thirty-six stalwart men, many of whom were the representatives of U.E.L. families   in the county, set to work to transform the fruit orchards surrounding the old Gage homestead, of 1812-13 memory into a public park. “All small fruits and undergrowth have been cleaned and, when entirely completed, there will be three natural terraces, from which, as a crown, the site in pre-eminent and commanding fitness, will raise its head, a spot from which at night the electric lights of Hamilton, Guelph, Toronto and St. Catherines are to be seen exchanging friendly greetings with one another.” 1 1 Citation incomplete –need to check with HPL – from one of the Gardiner Scrapbooks. The day before the Bee, there was nearly a second major battle on t