new images and information can be found on "Vintage Hamilton's" Facebook page. Hundreds of people rehashing their experiences, pictures and stories everyday!

Sometimes I go to the forum when I want to cry :)

I remember being quite confused when I first saw this photo. What threw me off is the road running off to the west which is, I later found out, Longwood road. Must have been a beautiful drive in spite of the little shanty town down at the water's edge.

Found this web site of old Hamilton pictures.

http://jimbos.bravepages.com/

Some great pictures! And not the usual ones we see recycled over and over again. Good find!

Totally unrecognisable photo here. Looks like it was taken, perhaps, in the 1950s. $100 to anybody who can guess this location.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/a...psa4c45c28.jpg
source

Chop Suey House. Part of Hamilton's previous Chinatown centred around John N.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/a...psa3c9a582.jpg
source

.

Not so fast!

Main Street West, looking west from Caroline Street. The building with the round front is the Elmar House. They tore it down and the new building became the Elmar tavern. Used to drink there when they served 20 cent drafts. It is now an East Indian Restaurant I think called Modern. Kitty corner to it is the federal building. The next street is Hess. The building on the corner is still there minus the porch. Across is the city run high rise at 181 Main Street West. The next street with the Texaco station is Queen with the jog that is still there today.

A quick way to find out where it is, is to save the image. Sometimes the name of the intersection is the image files name. If not, you can do a reverse google image search and you can find websites where this image was posted and it will most likely tell you where it was taken...

I saved the Main and Caroline image and the file name was "MainandCaroline_zpsa4c45c28.jpg". Voila!

Or in this case, if you don't know where it was taken but really want to know, simply look at the link to the source. ;)

^I know the location! I was asking whether anybody else might have a go at it. ;)

And, yes, LikeHamilton got it.

Just look at the damage we did the south side of Main. Terrible...

Now, here's a case where I don't know the location. I've never seen this shot before or the buildings, so I can't place it. The caption says 11 James S but that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. That address would put these buildings on the east side of James between King and Main, roughly between the Birk's building and Landed Banking and Loan building. I don't think that's right. Perhaps somebody can confirm or deny that label.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/a...psd0e406ce.jpg
source

On the Vintage Hamilton Facebook page (this post) they correct it to 11 James N, though that's a 13 above the Robert Ward shop entrance so if that refers to the address how could the Jet Restaurant be 11?

But if you look at the streeview it's hard to pick out matching buildings -- was there a facade in the late-60s that got removed? Is it even the same address on the same street?

James N makes sense even with the Jet Restaurant being #11. That would place it where Jackson Square is now, west side of James N.

Even numbers are on the east side of James and odd on the west side below King. These building had to be where Jackson Square is now.

Ah - forgot about the flip in odd/even numbering between south and north. Thanks CaptainKirk and LikeHamilton. :cheers:
(if I'd been more observant in street view, one of those businesses has #10 on its sign)

Thanks for the clarification. That location makes a lot of sense, though I still don't recognise any of the buildings in that shot.

That website has several photos of the old market area, particularly of York St. A lot of character, though definitely a tad run-down in its dying days.

That neighbourhood was also the centre for the old Jewish community in this city. Architecture aside, a great deal of culture was lost in that urban renewal project. About the only evidence that remains in the area is an old synagogue at the corner of Hess and Peter.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps6ad496e7.jpg
source

This is the first time I've ever seen a photo of this section of James South. So peculiar: a million pictures of the Birk's building; a million pictures of the Landed Banking and Loan building, and so few of those beauties in between. Again, such a shame they're gone. That's a big city photo right there.

gentlemen start your engines!

Found this on a Toronto website

http://losttoronto2.files.wordpress....-sixty-620.jpg

Here's a very similar pic, also found at a Toronto website

http://losttoronto2.files.wordpress....le-page-81.jpg

Somebody's gonna come along and treat the old Kresge's building properly soon. I feel it.

I do hope whatever gets put up where the Zellers was takes advantage of being a corner lot. That's one thing modern buildings don't seem to typically be as good at.

I think I see the word "EATON'S" (second floor) beside Zellers, never knew they were in that building. Perhaps their catalogue department? Or maybe it's a reflection from the Eaton's building across the street.

It's graftons

^ Yea I see that on the 4th floor. But the second floor looks like Eaton's sign.

That is a Grafton's sign on the second floor too. The first few letters are a bit distorted because of the window frame

I think it's Grafton's too. It has too many letters to be "Eaton's" (which would also appear reversed if it was a reflection)

Nice find Captain. That's quite a clear photo. The old city hall is one of our greatest losses downtown.

Like Beedok, I too hope that whatever gets built across from the Lister makes good use of the corner. But imagine what could have been done with that Zeller's as a base - I love that second floor facing.

It deserves something way better than bingo.

Finally found a pic of The Cinema theatre

http://transit.toronto.on.ca/images/...ar-4751-02.jpg

Grafton's fire February 12, 1917

http://henleyshamilton1.files.wordpr...agraftons2.jpghttp://henleyshamilton1.files.wordpr...pg?w=450&h=561

Check out this film about Hamilton in 1965.

Sights and Sounds of a City https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151742289326305

Awesome!!!

It plays funnily got me in both IE and CHROME.

The player goes to only 14 seconds, even though it plays for about 10 minutes after that,and them it ends abruptly as I see the Tiger-Cats running out on the field.

"There are 80,000 people living on Hamilton mountain... including... boys" :haha:

That was so cool to see the city on the cusp of all that apartment building development. Love all the neon along King St. too. There is so much that's interesting from this film.

There always seems to be so much enthusiasm from this era. I wasn't alive yet back then. Was that really the case, or is this a rather idyllic depiction of Hamilton in the mid-60s?

That was an awesome video in 1965. Definitely during Hamilton's prime.

Hi all. This is my first post and I found this site while searching for ... well you know what I have spent so much time today looking at old images of Hamilton I have forgotten where I started from. I think I started with the video Portrait of a City and went from there but I honestly can't be certain. Meanwhile allow me to add my two cents with this post. Here's something my daughters and I rediscovered about 13 years ago. It was badly run down and overgrown with grass but the shape could still be seen. They called it their secret garden never once realizing that is exactly what it used to be. It is situated on the Cootes side of York Blvd and Hamilton side of the High level Bridge. Also there is a grave of some unknown soldiers from the war of 1812 on the same side with a very large strangely shaped boulder as the grave marker. Pretty neat actually. Good day of exploring if you are so inclined. We also got the tour of the old cemetery on York street as well as the old house which was once a church we were told and you can still see some of the battlements that were built in 1812.

Here is what it used to look like.

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8303/58dd.jpg

It had an eerie feel about it almost as if we weren't supposed to be there. Anyway if anyone has some better images of it I would be most pleased as it really was even in it's totally run down state quite remarkable.

EDIT: Just read the rules. This image came from this site. It is from a postcard that is or was for sale from 1941 Here is the link: http://www.playle.com/listing.php?i=HOMERBOB9375.


Cheers

Has the sunken garden site been restored?

Hi ...

Not that I am aware of.

cheers

The Burlington Stone
 

Hi all and now for my second post.

During the same time period I was "driven" to visit LaSalle park where as a child I had taken the boat over from the James St North docks for the annual Dominion Glass Picnic which was held on Labour Day at LaSalle Park. I still remember being strangely frightened by this place and walking on that ridge overlooking The Bay still gives me the creeps. Anyway my daughters and I decided to do some exploring and it was then that I chanced upon this large boulder which I have named "The Burlington Stone". It was the strangest boulder placed upon three small piles of stones almost like a dolmen. On it was a plague dedicated to LaSalle and his arrival back I think in 1669 or something like that. I will check the exact date later. Strangely when I did a search of LaSalle on the internet it was strangely silent about his discovery of Burlington Bay and Hamilton but did mention that he had visited Paris, Ontario. Hardly a memorable event as I see it. I tried to find out who and what had laid this unusual boulder (you will see why in a very short while) and was unable to do so however I am certain it had to do with Thomas McQuestern who was basically into everything in this area and from what I have learned was probably a Mason. I believe the stone is dated 1923, I think but this date sticks in my mind. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_McQuesten

I don't want to prejudice you when you watch my video so I will not tell you what I see in the boulder. However my guess, failing any definite data on where this boulder came from, seems to me to maybe have been a sacred stone of the local Indians and may have been incorporated into the park by those early masons who knew of the real history of this area. To put it in historical perspective Louis XIVth, The Sun King, was on the throne at the time (1669). So here is a website I did on the subject. To the best of my knowledge no one else has ever commented on this boulder and how and when it was laid and most importantly why and where it came form.

Here is my website: http://donbarone.selfip.net/The_Burlington_Stone.HTM

The plague:

http://donbarone.selfip.net/Stone/pague.jpg

and just another boulder ?

http://donbarone.selfip.net/Stone/cross3.jpg

And my video of that day.

• Video Link

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5054/5...d206c273_z.jpghttp://farm6.staticflickr.com/5059/5...cacaa563_z.jpghttp://farm6.staticflickr.com/5094/5...1acf2687_z.jpg



Is that it, just above and to the right of the circle?
http://www.thekingshighway.ca/PHOTOS-3/hwy2-193_lg.jpg

^That's it. It's a shame they've allowed it to fall into disrepair. I guess it wasn't getting much traffic - or not the kind they wanted, at least.

Wow great pictures. I went in April of 2000 so the foliage was a little thicker. Thanks so much ! Did you take a picture of the grave of the unknown soldier ? It was just a little to the left and a little further back in.

The bottom image looks like it is but I thought the garden ran vertical or 90 degrees to the road, not horizontal to it so unless the road has been completely changed ...

Wow this site is quite impressive !

I have always told myself if I win "The Big One" I will spend some of it on restoring this sunken garden.

Cheers

From the prespective of Google Earth
 

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/722/3o61.jpgCan't believe how much they had to fill in.
http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/4103/kz3i.png

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/1558/tnbb.png

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/4448/3lkd.png

It still looks like the City is looking after the area as the area appears to be getting the grass cut. Who know with the work they are doing on Gage Park they might just decide to reopen this great feature for the entrance to Hamilton one day.

I am certain that little white dot in the middle of the large green area is the grave of the unknown soldiers of 1812.

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/4164/wr6x.png

cheers

Unknown soldiers of 1812
 

Hi all I just went to Google again and they are definitely maintaining this area now. In 2000 it was completely hidden from the road and there were a lot more trees around it and The Sunken Gardens. I can only assume with the bi-centennial of The War of 1812 they decided to clean it up. Not nearly as scary and ominous as when we visited it completely hidden within a dense over growth. I will have to dig out my video of the days adventure. It is now easy to see from the road but when I "discovered" it in 2000 it could not be seen at all until you had gone through as I have said a dense bush and overgrowth.

The view from York Blvd.

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/2374/mg4c.png

Not my pics. Just pulling them off of the net

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5136/5...2b143cee_z.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5012/5...1dc57b3b_z.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5091/5...6c1704fb_z.jpghttp://farm6.staticflickr.com/5251/5...460d312d_b.jpg

The sunken garden is a hidden gem. A restoration would be terrific! Wonder how to stir up interest?

were there 2 sunken gardens in Hamilton then? I am a bit confused. I thought the sunken gardens were on the property where McMaster is situated. They were demolished to make way for development of the hospital and further parts of the campus?

Yes, you are right. Wish i knew how to cut and paste on my android tablet. I'd post a pic
http:// http://www.hamiltonpostcards...ges/parks.html