Old Pics Of Hamilton

[CaptainKirk]

View from 3rd floor window, 127 Jackson St. W. Pigott Building in background. 1947, car on Bay st.

[CaptainKirk]

1967



1974


1978 That part of Park Street North no longer exists and is now occupied by the Sheraton

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[CaptainKirk]

[CaptainKirk]

This is a 1944 proposal for a 6,000-seat arena at King Street and Melrose Avenue

For more than 10 years, Hamiltonians watched with interest as several groups did battle over a grand proposal to build a massive facility at the corner of King Street and Melrose Avenue.
Starting early in 1940, the Hamilton Parks Board entered the discussion of a $200,000 arena to be built at this intersection.

The Parks Board named a special committee for a feasibility study, and one of the committee members was Samuel Manson, who at the time cited the success of such a facility in other communities.

“They’re encouraging sports overseas and we should do so here,” Manson is quoted as saying in the Globe and Mail. “If we’re going to just listen to the war news we’ll get the ‘jitters’ so let’s have a little pleasure, too, to keep us in line.”

The Globe and Mail report also noted that about 1000 Hamiltonians traveled to Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens every Saturday night, with Manson adding that if Hamilton had a respectable arena it would bring fans into town and patronize the local hockey talent. The new building would also give local figure skaters and badminton players a place to compete.
Nothing occurred for the next few years.

Arena versus hospital and a war memorial

By 1944 the King and Melrose site surfaced again, with the Hamilton Board to study plans for a post-war arena, including one proposal of a 6000-seat arena.

In late 1944 there was talk about incorporating a new arena into a war memorial at a cost of about $1.5 million.

Mayor Sam Lawrence and Controller Nora Frances Henderson were opposed to hitting the citizens with the costs of this project, and felt the new hospital proposal with its $2.6 million price tag was more important.

[The 8,000-seat arena proposed by the Hamilton Junior Chamber of Commerce received opposition when put forward in 1950. It was turned down.

In 1946, the most ambitious proposal for a Hamilton hockey arena was put forth. Still at the corner of King and Melrose, this 10,000-seat arena was also part of a plan to acquire a National Hockey League farm club.

After four years of debate and discussion, by 1950 the facility cost was up to $2,750,000, but was to include not only a rink but an auditorium, gymnasium, and retail stores. It was to be known as the Hamilton Civic Centre.

http://www.bringthenhltohamilton.com...proposals.html

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Somewhat reminiscent of Maple Leaf Gardens.

I don't suppose there was much talk of an NHL team in those days. My NHL history is a tad rusty but I have the feeling the economic situation of the league was likely a bit tenuous - I can't imagine there being much expansion talk during the 'Original Six' days. I could be wrong, however.

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce

Somewhat reminiscent of Maple Leaf Gardens.

Yeah, I agree

MLG

[matt602]

I doubt that stadium would have been an NHL team grabber, considering Hamilton had just lost their team about 20 years prior. It is very MLG-like though, and bloody huge for just a 6000 seat arena.

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by matt602

... bloody huge for just a 6000 seat arena.

From the sourced website:

First proposal:

One of the earliest plans for a new arena was a combined facility that would feature a rink.

In a Hamilton Herald story of November 9, 1935 entitled “Chamber Chief Outlines plan on City Centre,” a combined community hall, hockey arena, and art gallery

2nd one pictured;

New proposal, same location

In 1946, the most ambitious proposal for a Hamilton hockey arena was put forth. Still at the corner of King and Melrose, this 10,000-seat arena was also part of a plan to acquire a National Hockey League farm club.

After four years of debate and discussion, by 1950 the facility cost was up to $2,750,000, but was to include not only a rink but an auditorium, gymnasium, and retail stores. It was to be known as the Hamilton Civic Centre.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

If nothing else, these proposals tell the modern-day Hamiltonian what kind of street Barton was.

As a personal aside, my Great Aunt - long since dead - lived in a grand place on Holton and she loved to talk about how happening a street Barton was - and to a lesser extent King. I mean, this is where all that hard-earned Stelco money was spent so you can imagine. The idea of an arena/ art gallery/ civic centre at Melrose is laughable now, however - it's pretty rough.

Anyway, it's a nice connection to the other thread on this topic.

[CaptainKirk]

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[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk

The Harbour Commission/HPA building is one of my favourites in Hamilton.

If you look at the current port map, you can see the parts in that photo that still exist vs. what was added later. Pier 6 looks like it had some slips but now there's a large marina attached. Pier 7 looks basically the same, with the basin and boathouse now used by the police marine unit. Pier 8 was later built on fill adjacent to the eastern dock/breakwater of 7. The white-roofed storage buildings at waterside are still there too, but the blocks south of Guise St. have really changed (https://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ll...16512&t=h&z=17)


Source: Hamilton Port Authority

[CaptainKirk]

https://twitter.com/HamiltonPolice

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Whoa. Cool.

[CaptainKirk]

Hamilton Fire Department Station 8 - 290 to 294 Balmoral Ave. Later re-numbered as Station 7. Built in 1913. Closed in 1971. Torn down and replaced by houses.

A Hamilton Fire Department horse drawn hook and ladder unit promoting Clean-Up Week, October 7 to 12, 1919. Driver: Thomas Fahey, Tillerman: H. Betwell, Ladderman: D. May, Ladderman: E. Smith.
Photo Source - Hamilton Public Library Archives.

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[CaptainKirk]

1955 view of King Street East at Province Street. The variety store on the right was known as "Joe's Jubilee Variety" (later it would become Babe's Jubilee Variety)..... look closely and you can see a freight train heading up the mountain

and a horse drawn wagon




Gulliver Motors on Cannon Street in 1966

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[Katrillion]

Anyone got any old pics of what the Sandbar Tavern used to look like?

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by Katrillion

Anyone got any old pics of what the Sandbar Tavern used to look like?

Can't find any. I don't think it was the Sandbar for that long, only a few years I think.

Here's what it looks now

[CaptainKirk]

1960 from the top of City Hall looking west along Main. FB-VH

[lucasmascotto]

Overhead view a few days before the official opening of the First Phase of Lloyd D. Jackson Square circa. the Summer of 1972.



Pedestrians waiting for one of the various concerts held atop the Lloyd D. Jackson Square rooftop in the late summer of 1972.



Opening of the Second Phase of Lloyd D. Jackson Square in 1977.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk

1960 from the top of City Hall looking west along Main. FB-VH

It took me a second to recognize that big concrete hulk on the left... the majestic Tower B at Main and Hess

The houses in the foreground would be where the Core Lofts (former Bell Canada building) and BMO branch are?