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At 1:30 p.m., Saturday September 29, 1883, a special train left the Northern and Northwestern railway station on Ferguson avenue, between King street and Main street. The train, heading for Port Dover, contained a member of the British Royal family, George Prince of Wales along with a large party of local dignitaries including John Stuart, president of the railway, Adam Brown, William Hendrie, Judge Sinclair, James Turner and a reporter for the Hamilton Spectator:

“A pilot engine ran about a quarter of a mile ahead. As the train left the depot a faint cheer was heard on board it, a cheer rose from the throats of the crowd assembled on the platform. The prince stepped to the rear of the car and acknowledged the salute by courteously doffing his hat.”¹

¹ “A Trip to Port Dover : With the Young Prince George of Wales.”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 1, 1883.

As the train moved swiftly along the N. and N. W. line towards the mountain, the reporter watched as the Prince was shown various points of interest on that portion of Hamilton. Prince George was particularly interested in the Boys’ Home which he felt was a very handsome building.

The first stop of the trip was at Jarvis where the Prince’s train was the object of considerable attention:

“All along the road crowds, varying in size with the towns, had gathered at the stations and cheered lustily as the train went past; and in the doorway of almost every farm house, members of the softer sex, vigorously waving pocket handkerchiefs, were seen.”¹

The second stop of the trip to Port Dover was unscheduled:

“About two miles this side of Port Dover, the engine gives a couple of shrill toots and the train comes to a sudden stop. Everybody rushes out of the doors and peers anxiously from the steps to see what the matter is. The stoppage is caused by a number of frisky calves, who have planted themselves squarely in the center of the track, and are looking at the train with all their might, trying, probably, to see the Prince. Pardonable curiosity perhaps, but very inconvenient all the same. But the head of cattle still stands there, and the train does not move. At last, the driver puts his hand on a mysterious-looking little brass something, and there is a sharp, shrill ‘whish’ of escaping steam, white clouds rising seemingly from the ground on either side of the engine, and with snorts of fright, the calves kick their heels high in the air and scamper off down the road.”¹

At Port Dover, a crowd, mainly composed of school children greeted the Prince, and followed the party to the wharf where a small steamer was being readied to take everyone to Col. Walker’s lodge at Long Point :

“At the wharf, half of Port Dover is waiting to see the Prince. The gentleman of leisure is there, the irrepressible small boy, the gawky school girl, the unshaved and dirty dock hand, the village storekeeper with an unclean brown Holland apron tucked up around his waist, the simpering young woman away up in her teens, and her older sister who is flirting slyly with the young medical student from the doctor’s office, albeit she keeps an anxious eyes on the Prince.”¹

While the Prince’s baggage was being loaded on the steamer, the Spectator reporter had an opportunity to interview the Prince’s aid, Captain Durrant, who said that the Prince and he were charmed with Hamilton, calling it a beautiful city but the interview was cut short as the boat was ready to depart. With a cheer from the assembled the boat pulls out into the mist towards Long Point.”¹

The crowd at the wharf gradually dispersed, while those from Hamilton who accompanied the Prince made their way back to the train from the return trip to the city:

“The engine flies over the long slips of shining steel, fields, houses, towns and villages go rapidly past. The brow of the mountain is reached and the descent is begun. On the left hand rises the mountain, its surface covered with verdant shrubbery. Far over on the right, the bay’s blue waters can be seen stretching away until they are lost in the distant horizon. Signs of civilization grow nearer. Through a sparsely- populated now along which grimy workingmen are swiftly wending their homeward way. The engine gives a toot, a red brick station is rapidly approached, reached. The train slows up, and we are in Hamilton.”¹

After a few days of rest at Long Point, Prince George returned to the hectic pace of his Canadian tour with a public appearance at Hamilton’s Central Fair, held at the Crystal Palace grounds.

At 4 p.m., the Prince and his entourage arrived at the fairgrounds:

“The roadway leading from the main entrance to the building was crowded with people eager to have a look at the young prince. Shortly after 4 o’clock, Mr. Hendrie accompanied the royal visitor and his party, drove into the grounds, made a brief inspection of the interior of the palace and other buildings, and then took up a position in the center of the horse ring. A bodyguard of six policemen was in attendance. The ring was covered with horses from every class, some prancing around their attendants, and others speeding on the track.

“After a short stay, the distinguished visitors left the grounds, running the gauntlet of a cheering crowd until outside the gates.”²

² “Great Central Fair : The Second Day Opens Auspiciously”

Hamilton Spectator.   October 4, 1883. 

 

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During Thursday evening, August 23, 1883, the members of the Hamilton Corps of the Salvation Army paraded to the Market Square for their usual band concert and gospel preaching.

As they arrived at the large open space behind the City Hall, the soldiers found that their favorite location was already occupied by a street preacher. In an attempt to force the intruder to move on, the members of the Salvation paraded around the square, loudly singing the songs, ‘We Are Jolly Good Fellows’ and “The Girl I Left Behind Me:’

“Apart from annoying respectable citizens, they frightened several horses, and complaint was made to the police about them, and a summons was issued for their appearance at court.”¹

¹ “Death and Glory Boys”

Hamilton Spectator.  August 25, 1883.

When the members of the Salvation Army appeared at the Hamilton Police Court, it was to answer the charge of breaking the city bylaw, which prohibited people from shouting or acting in a disorderly manner on the streets.

When Magistrate Cahill found Captain Ludgate and imposed a fine of $5, one of the female Salvationists shouted out ‘Hallelujah.’ At this point, a group of the soldiers marched out of the court room singing ‘We’re Marching On to Glory.’

Captain Ludgate, who was still in the prisoners’ dock, then informed the magistrate that he would refuse to pay the fine. Magistrate Cahill then delivered a stern lecture to the Salvation Army captain, telling him that he would have to pay the fine or face 20 days in jail:

“The members of the army congregated at the corner to escort their leader to jail, but they were disappointed”¹

Back in the court room, Captain Ludgate had a change of mind and the fine was paid.

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On Saturday, September 29, 1883, the Spectator reprinted a section of a recently published titled Our American Cousins, written by W. E. Adams, a British visitor  to  various North American during his travels in1882.

The section which the Spectator reprinted contained an account of the author’s personal experiences in the city of Hamilton:

“Speaking of Hamilton, Mr. Adams says – ‘Several gentlemen belonging to Hamilton made the few days I spent in that part of the American continent alike pleasant and instructive.

“ ‘Mr. H. B. Witton, who showed me all the points of interest, both in that city and Toronto, was, I believe, the first workingman who ever entered a British, his election for Hamilton preceding by a short time the election of Mr. Burt for Morpeth. The popular party in Ontario is, it appears, strongly imbued with protectionist notions. It was this party which elected Mr. Witton, who, by reason of his ability and accomplishments, was in every respect, worthy of the confidence reposed in him.

“ ‘But there was another party concerned in a recent election about which a gentleman, formerly connected with the Hamilton press, told me an amusing story. The candidate selected by it declared of himself and his friends, ‘We are the people.’ When he was defeated – rather badly too, I believe – he was railed on the subject of his previous declaration. ‘Yes, sir,’ he said, ‘We are the people; but there are too few of us.’

“ ‘Mr. Witton assured me that Hamilton, and indeed all Canadian cities, were not only remarkable for the absence of crime, but for the absence of municipal corruption of any kind.

“ ‘Hamilton has still another claim to honorable respect. It was the residence of  ‘old man Freeman’ – to use a phrase current in that part of the world – who fought, at his own expense, the case of John Anderson, the fugitive slave.

“ ‘The situation and surroundings are remarkably pleasant and attractive. Like almost all other cities on the American continent, Hamilton is entirely free from the peculiar exclusiveness which distinguishes our towns. No man who owns a beautiful garden thinks it necessary to his own enjoyment of it that he should exclude it from the gaze of the public.

“ ‘The view of the city from Hamilton mountain, with the broad waters of Lake Ontario close at hand, is charming in the extreme.’ ”¹

¹“A Traveler’s Ideas : What W. E. Adams Says of Hamilton”

Hamilton Spectator.  September  29, 1883.

In the same issue of the Spectator, a description was carried of a new manufacturing establishment which commenced operations. The F. W. Hore and Son company was engaged in the production of carriage wheels.

Situated at the foot of Elgin street, the company’s yard had a frontage of 1000 feet on both the Grand Trunk Railway line and the line of the Northern and Northwestern railway:

“The immense yards surrounding the factory are filled in almost every available space with all sorts of wood from all parts of the Dominion and the United States, including the famous second growth Ohio hickory, which is reckoned to be about the best wood in the world for carriage purposes. There are thousands of logs cut into various lengths used in the manufacture of hubs, and the way that these rough-looking logs are converted into finished and polished logs in the space of a few minutes is simply astonishing.”²

² “Something New : Carriage Wheels, Etc., Made By Machinery at Hore and Sons.”

Hamilton Spectator.  September 29, 1883

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Hamilton’s Market Square in the fall of 1883 was located to the west of James Street North, and a portion of the square was immediately to the rear of the Hamilton City.

On Market days, the square was filled with wagons, farmers and citizens inspecting and purchasing the produce for sale. On days when the Market was not being held, the square was a vast empty space. It was on a non-market day, when two citizens passing through the area noticed a large circular type of pavement, different than the rest of the surface.

Wondering what the origin of the item was, the men proceeded into the City to ask the City of Hamilton’s eldest employee Charlie Smith, who despite his advanced years still worked as a City Messenger.

A Spectator reporter overheard the conversation and reported it as follows in the September 4, 1883 of the paper:

“ ‘What is that?’ remarked one citizen to another yesterday morning, who pointed to some flag pavement about twelve feet in diameter in rear of the City Hall. The second citizen didn’t know, and, being curious to find out they sought out Charlie Smith, who is supposed to know everything about the city. He was found in the City and shown the object of all the curiosity, and was able to give the following information:

“ ‘It was about 25 years ago, before there were any waterworks or steam engines in use, the water for fire purposes was supplied from tanks situated throughout the city. That piece of paving marks the spot where the largest one was situated. It was about twelve feet deep and the spot has a history.

“ ‘At that time, I was engineer of the fire brigade and was going to my work one morning when I noticed a peculiar smell, as of some dead animal, arising from the tank. On opening the tank, the smell grew worse, and it was resolved to clean out the tank to find its cause. There was a good deal of water in at the time and the men had a sick job of it, and when they got to the bottom, they found the body of a boy about 14 years of age. The boy, I forget his name, had been missed from home for about two weeks and had been advertised for by his parents, who feared something wrong but never suspected the tank. It was only a short time before this tank was filled and those flags placed there, but I never look at it without thinking of the time we found the lad.”¹

¹

  “Those Flag Stones : A Spot in the Market With a History Attached.”

Hamilton Spectator.   September 04,1883.

 Hamilton Market Square - Photo courtesy PreVIEW, Local History and Archives, Hamilton Public Library