“The old Hamilton
Hospital, now the House of Refuge stands at the foot of John street, fronting
Myles’ Wharf. The situation is a pleasant one. The large red brick building
stands high up in the air, and the fresh breeze that blows pure and sweet off
the bay sweeps through it”
Hamilton
Spectator. July 28, 1883.
The reporter for the
Hamilton Spectator followed up his visit to the Aged Women’s home with a visit
to the House of Refuge, following up on an invitation by Superintendent William
Gilles.
While being shown
through the institution, the reporter had the opportunity of chatting with
several of the inmates :
“George Roots, one of
the oldest patients there is an old Hamiltonian and his memory goes back many
years. He is afflicted with weak ankles and cannot walk, though otherwise he is
hale and hearty. He recalls easily the time when Hamilton was nothing but a
forest almost; when there was only one brick house here; and when the ox was
roasted whole, in a cellar in the place where the Royal Hotel now stands.
“ ‘That was a jolly
time, sur,’ said the old man. ‘It wur the time Sir Allan MacNab wur here, and
wine and beer flowed as free as water, an’ anyone wot wanted a slice of ox cud
go right up an’ cut it off.’
“ ‘Where was that
sinle brick house?’
“ ‘That, sur, wur Dr.
O’Reilly’s, and wur right by the corner of King and Mary. Yes, Hamilton wuz a
queer place in them days, and many’s a strange thing I’ve seen. Why, I could
fill up a whole book about Hamilton in them old days. There’s Ferguson avenoo,
that’s named after old Ferguson, who used to have a farm wot run right back to
Wentworth street from where the avenoo is. Yes, sur, that wur a big farm; and
Ferguson wur a nice man. How do I like the place? Well, sur, well, Mr. Gillies
wur a nice man. How do I like the place? Well, sur, well, Mr. Gillies here is a
nice man, and the missus is a fine woman.’ ”1
1 “The House
of Refuge : A Walk Through the Home of the Aged and Infirm.”
Hamilton Spectator. July 28, 1883.
As Superintendent
Gillies and the man from the Spectator toured the building, they met many of
the institution’s 42 patients. The building, built in 1852 as the city
hospital, had served as the House of Refuge, since the previous October 25th.
The superintendent
told the reporter that most of the patients
were cheerful and happy, but occasionally the ladies are jealous of one
another:
“ ‘Jealous ! What of
? Of you?’
“ ‘Oh! dear me no !
Poor old bodies ! If one of them gets sick and the doctor gives her medicine,
the others all think the doctor ought to give them medicine too, and they get
quite jealous of the sick one. It is in that way, I mean,’ and Mr. Gillies
laughed.”1
The man from the
Spectator ended his report on the House of Refuge as follows :
“The old people there
with the bleared eyes, wrinkled sunken faces, and toothless jaws wag feebly
when they talk, could tell some strange tales if they would. They could tell of
venturesome journeys through life, of buried hopes and loves. And now that life
is in its wintertime with them, they sit there and think of the past. Yet they
go on quietly to the end – to the 31st of some December, when it
will all be over and they will go into eternity.”1
House of Refuge
Image courtesy Local History and Archives, Hamilton Public Library
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