1895 - Beach Strip

Just four days before June was about to turn into July, on June 26, 1895, both the Hamilton Herald and the Hamilton Spectator carried extensive articles about the Hamilton Beach Strip.

When the month of July arrived in 1895, the attention of most Hamiltonians turned towards the strip of land which divided Lake Ontario and Hamilton Bay.

Already before 1895, the Beach had numerous camping areas, cottages and summer residences, hotels etc. on the Beach Strip as well as a small collection of year round residences.

The spectator article focused on the changes which the Beach had undergone since the previous summer:

“People who have grown used to the beach as it was last year, and for many years past, will be surprised at the change the removal of the old frame shanties opposite the Lakeside House has worked. The opening of six avenues through to the lake, and the planting of trees on each side of them is another vast improvement, and the additional park property secured adds further charm. In fact the beach is now beginning to be what it can and ought to be – a well-planned, well laid out summer resort, in everything restful to the mind, body and eye.¹

¹Hamilton Spectator.    June 26, 1895.

As was often the case when it came to covering local matters, the Herald carried longer, and much more descriptive articles than the two older established city newspapers:

“Summer having made its appearance this year earlier than usual, the annual exodus to the Beach began a couple of weeks sooner than it did a year ago, and already there are hundreds of people enjoying the invigorating breezes of Lake Ontario at the popular Hamilton Beach. From year to year, the fame of the Beach extends further and further and it is rapidly becoming not only the breathing place of tired citizens of Hamilton, but the resort of health and pleasure-seekers from many points in the United States, as well as from numerous sections of the Dominion.

         

“Never did the Beach look more attractive than at the present time. This is especially the case in regard to the north side of the canal on the lakeshore, where the sandy barrenness of years ago, has, in many instances, given place to shrubbery and shade trees, and on the south side, numerous garden plots of flowers set off handsome cottages in a manner that is refreshing to the eyes of the Beachers.”²

² Hamilton Herald. June 26 1895.

The tone of life at the Beach in recent years was very evident:

“In addition to the pretty cottages which have been built at the Beach in recent years, there are several very attractive summer residences now going up there, and a noticeable change is taking place in the tone of the place. Inside of the old-time lounging place, the Beach is developing into a Saratoga, and the rough-and-tumble style of the Bohemian out for a genuine holiday rest is giving place to the manners of fashionable folk who feel that they have a duty to perform to society and must dress for it three or four times a day.

“I met one of the old-timers down there yesterday afternoon, and his voice was lifted up in lamentation because ‘sussiety’ was making at each year harder for people to cut loose from fashion, and go for a free-and-easy time of it.”²

In the vicinity of the Burlington Canal, there was the Royal Hamilton Yacht Clubhouse, some hotels, park lands and stores, in addition to the stock of cottages. Further away, both north and south of the canal, campers’ tent communities and modest shacks were the norm

South of the canal, near Dynes’ Hotel, was a community of campers, the location was known as Shackville:

“It is a little early It is a little early yet for the tents at the Beach, only two or three having been pitched on the south side of the canal and none on the north side but next week will see a change in this respect if the weather continues warm. The celebrated village of shacks near Dynes’ Hotel is already astir with life, and Shackville will doubtless be as lively this year as ever. The village compromises twenty-two shacks, each of which are new. Some of the shacks are arranged for comfort, and with other insects the inmates enjoy life very much therein.

“In Shackville, there are many more wells than there were formerly, and as the water is low at present at the wells are about eight feet deep. Cute little iron pumps bring the water to the surface, and well-filtered water it is after coming through the sand.

“Besides the numerous wells, there are many ice-boxes sunk in the sand, and the Shackvillites are enabled to keep their food and drink ice cold in the hottest weather. The sanitary arrangements are much better than was the case last year, and as Chairman Morris of the Parks Committee, is a temporary resident of the village, it is likely the sanitation methods will be well-looked after this season.”²

North of the canal, the Herald reporter observed the following:

“On the north side of the canal great changes have taken place, and it looks as though that will be, more than ever before, the popular portion of the Beach. A number of new cottages and shacks have gone up since spring, and fresh coats of paint have added considerably to the appearance of the old buildings.

“There are no tents yet on the lake shore, north of the canal, but in a few days they will be there by the dozens, as that is the great resort for campers, and no better place for tents could be found on the strip of sand which divides the lake and the bay. Along the lake side, the trees are growing nicely, and over toward Burlington the shrubbery and vines are very attractive on a hot day.

“The roadway, along which most of the cottages face, has been improved by a narrow bed of hard blue clay, but the clay should be wide enough for rigs to pass on it. At that point, the sand has been so deep and soft as to make the roadway almost impassable, but the clay has improved matters in this respect.”²

 The Spectator reporter  learned that, north of the canal there was a community of young people who seemed to be out for a good time at the Beach :

“One of the features of the north side is the Lily club – composed of all the young people of the neighborhood. W. H. Irwin, whose blindness will not allow him the pleasure of reading, has presented each of the club’s members with a testament, and each day some one of the club reads a chapter to him. The rest of the time, it is said, the president of the club, Miss Lillie Campbell, has all her time taken up clubbing the club members, who will be unruly Below civilization on the north side are a few tents, run by the bicycle boys.”

In conclusion, the Herald reporter vividity caught the atmosphere of the Beach Strip as the summer of 1895 was about to change as the vacation season began:

“While the scene at the Beach yesterday, both north and south of the canal, was attractive and betokened the presence of two or three hundred people, the great majority of them being from this city, the next two weeks will witness the advent the advent of about a thousand people in search of renewed vigor and health. It is expected that during July hundreds of people from outside points will be attracted to the Beach by its fame as a summer resort.