Most influential Hamiltonians...ever!

[Dr Awesomesauce]

If you had to choose Hamilton's, let's say, five most important figures of all time, who would they be? Feel free to go back to pre-George Hamilton days if you're so inclined. Just to be clear, I'm not looking for lists including Martin Short and Eugene Levy, though I am a fan of their work. I'd like to know who you think has shaped this city, in one way or another, over its history: politicians, business leaders, athletes, white, black, indigenous, men, women, etc. Aside from mentioning George Hamilton, I'm not going to start you off - I want to hear what you think without me influencing your ideas. Go for it.

[ihateittoo]

Rick Campanelli takes all 5 spots.

[Frankenrogers]

Thomas Baker McQuesteen. Oddly enough my wife is doing some reading about him (former owner of Whitehern) and she told me that he is now her favourite Hamiltonian. He started RBG, established some of the highways leading into Hamilton and was generally a community building visionary. I'm interested enough to read a book that she was given about him.

[Jon Dalton]

Pigott family - founder of the company was Joseph Pigott(?) Built a lot of the great buildings and infrastructure that continue to define our city including obviously the pigott building, city hall, the burlington skyway bridge and, for better or worse, Jackson Square.

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by Jon Dalton

for better or worse, Jackson Square.

I believe Pigott Construction subsidiary First Wentworth Development Company won first crack at helming the Civic Square development, but eventually passed the torch to Yale Properties, which developed Jackson Square.

Under Joseph M. Pigott, Pigott Construction also gave the city much of its architectural iconography: Cathedral of Christ the King, Westdale Secondary, the Armoury, the Main & James Bank of Montreal and the original buildings for McMaster.

The Skyway also owes a debt to Joseph Tanenbaum.

[matt602]

Don't forget the Lister Block. Pigott had a hand in that one too.

If we're going down the architectural vein, James Balfour should probably get a mention for Treble Hall. I *think* he was also the original City Hall but I may be confused.

Not sure if Balfour was actually FROM Hamilton though... think he was from Europe...

[Dr Awesomesauce]

^James Balfour was in fact born in Hamilton. Not only was he a great and prolific architect but his father, Peter, was a well-known master carpenter in the city.

James Balfour left his legacy all over Hamilton. Off the top of my head, we can attribute to him the following buildings:

- Treble Hall
- Old City Hall
- Ravenscliffe (that massive pile in the Durand)
- The Tuckett Mansion (Scottish Rite)
- 250 James South (that beautiful Second Empire home at Herkimer)
- the old Bell building on Hughson (now occupied by LIUNA)

and so many others.

He is definitely one of Hamilton's greatest born and bred architects. Good call.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

T.B. McQuesten is another great choice. Of course, most will be familiar with the family estate at Jackson and MacNab, Whitehearn.

Again, off the top of my head (because I can't be f*cked right now), T.B. was the grandson of Calvin, a wealthy industrialist (and doctor I think) who made his fortune in the foundry business. Thomas' father, Isaac, is best known for being a drunk and amongst other things, a bad businessman. He died, as I recall, rather abruptly from a drug overdose (perhaps intentionally); he did owe various lenders lots and lots of dough, after all. The family managed somehow without him, however, holding on to that beautiful home until, I think, the 1950s when it was donated to the city.

Anyway, Thomas was a lawyer and politician (shocking combination, I know). Perhaps his greatest legacy to the city was bringing McMaster to town in the late-20s. I think he's responsible for the long-gone Sunken Gardens on the same site, too. He's also responsible for the High Level Bridge, The Rock Garden, Gage Park, Chedoke Golf Course and likely lots more - feel free to fill in the blanks. He also left his mark on Niagara but I'm gonna stick with what he accomplished in the Hamilton area.

He was also a 'confirmed bachelor.' There's likely a lot more to that story, I'm sure.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Getting into history and some prominent Hamilton names a little more, here's a great excerpt from the book 'A history of the city of Hamilton' attributed to John Ryckman about the area then known as the Head-of-the-Lake:

"The city in 1803 was all forest. The shores of the bay were difficult to reach or see because they were hidden by a thick, almost impenetrable mass of trees and undergrowth...Bears ate pigs, so settlers warred on bears. Wolves gobbled sheep and geese, so they hunted and trapped wolves. They also held organized raids on rattlesnakes on the mountainside. There was plenty of game. Many a time have I seen (sic) a deer jump the fence into my back yard, and there were millions of pigeons which we clubbed as they flew low." http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/200/301...ks/hamhist.htm

My, how things have changed!

You'll be familiar with the name Ryckman from Upper James and Rymal fame. How would he feel if he could see it now with the McDonalds and the other sh*te? The countryside it is no longer. Anyway, the Ryckman family is a prominent family from the days before Hamilton was, well, Hamilton.

[ScreamingViking]

James Durand. Sold 257 acres to George Hamilton and used his influence in the House of Assembly to establish Hamilton as the district capital.