1887 - Jubilee Procession
1887 Jubilee Demonstration in Hamilton
“Right loyally did the citizens of Hamilton and the surrounding country celebrate the Queen Victoria Jubilee”
“1837-1887 : Hamilton’s Celebration of Her Majesty’s Jubilee”
Weekly Times June 23 1887.
When it came to marking important events or observing significant anniversaries, community leaders in late nineteenth century Hamilton strived diligently to ensure that everything went well.
To mark the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s ascension to the throne, a major parade was planned
The day’s weather conditions would adversely affect the monster procession.;
From the Weekly Times :
“Despite lowering clouds, pouring rain and muddy streets, thousands of people thronged the thoroughfares from early morning until late at night, and though driven many a time to seek shelter under a friendly verandah or awning, in a doorway or beneath a tree, they were not discouraged in their intention of properly honouring the occasion.”
The Times reporter noted that nearly every Hamiltonian, from ‘the youngest child to the oldest inhabitant’ was eager to witness the big parade, no matter how uncertain the weather.
: “the day opened inauspiciously enough with one of the severest thunderstorms that have passed over this district in years. Fortunately it was of short duration, and towards 9 o’clock, the glorious sun began to shed its rays upon the city.
“It was a glorious scene that the sun shone upon and lent a double beauty to. Never since Hamilton was a city did she appear in as magnificent a garb as then. Never had so much time and labor been devoted to the work of decoration and never did the citizens enter unto anything with such unanimity.
“Standing at the corner of King and James streets and looking north, south, east and west, as far as rage eye could reach, could be seen flags of every size, from the three and four inches up to the tremendous sheet which waved lazily in the light breeze, casting a shadow like a cloud before the sun.
“Every verandah was hung with red, white and blue bunting, looped up here and there with bunches of ribbons, flowers and flags. Across the streets, in dozens of places, were stretched streamers bearing various loyal inscriptions.”
The decorations for the Jubilee were not limited to King and James streets, but all over the downtown care as well as on most private residences. All looked gay and gave promise of a splendid day to come.”
Unfortunately the weather turned dramatically:
“Just before 12:30 o’clock, a few drops of rain caused the thicken crowd to look anxiously towards the west and study the sky which leaden and wet-looking, a few minutes later, there came a pretty respectable downpour, and every verandah sheltered as many people as could be got under it.
“The shower lasted but fifteen or twenty minutes, and at 1:15, the Marshalls of the procession were mounted and ready for business. Active preparations commenced for getting the procession into line.”
Even before the parade could begin its journey from Gore to Victoria Parks, one again it did not proceed:
“At 1:45, the pour down of rain commenced, and showed that it was more than a shower. The societies got back into shelter and so did all the people who could, but the majority could not, for by this time not only the sidewalks but the roads were fairly crowded. Such as had umbrellas got beneath their shelter, but very few people went home. They kept as dry as they could. Every time there was a little let up, the throng surged out and walked up and down the streets For almost two hours, the rain continued, but the people did not dive up their intention, though they heartily wished that the clerk of the weather would call in the descending damp.
“About 3:30 o’clock, they had their wish granted and the work of organizing the procession was quickly and cleverly completed.”
The 1887 Hamilton Jubilee Procession was over a mile and a quarter in length and took twenty-one minutes to pass a given point.
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