1883-08-18ii

          On Friday evening, August 17, 1883, the summer residents of the Beach decided to hold an ‘at home’ collectively, with most residents agreeing to illuminate their cottages for the occasion:

“The Beach looked beautiful. Not at any time in its history has it looked so beautiful. All along, the rows of cottages were brilliantly illuminated by thousands of Chinese lanterns, both on the lake and bay sides. The effect was magnificent. From Hamilton, the long row of soft, mellow light could be dimly seen, and as the Beach was approached from the bay, and drew nearer and nearer, the radiance of the white light waving to and fro on the gentle evening breeze was reflected a thousand times over in the tiny, laughing, foam-crested wavelets.

“The affair was in every way a great success. The weather was glorious, the Thirteenth band eclipsed itself to do justice to the occasion Beach was honored as it has never been honored before by a vast assemblage of youth, beauty, wealth and wisdom.”¹

¹”The Beach Last Night.”

Hamilton Spectator.  August 18 1883