Old Pics Of Hamilton

[coalminecanary]

Some info about the film: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Trip_Down_Market_Street

It's interesting, these nerds have placed the date almost to the day based on license plate registrations and other observations.

Also, the cars were actually circling the camera - they hired people to drive in circles so that it would look like more cars than there actually were.

[CaptainKirk]

Sam Manson Sporting Goods, 71 King Street West in April 1963.


Mid 60's view of an HSR trolley, westbound on Main, at a stop in front of Tommy Grant's Variety at the Queenston Road traffic circle.


Sanford Garage Yard in September of 1974

[CaptainKirk]

Ideal Furniture. "King of Chrome", 227 King St. East - 1956


187-? - This residence was located at the northeast corner of MacNab and Herkimer Streets. It was built by Hamilton merchant, James Osborne. Thomas Cockburn Kerr moved here in 1864 and called it Merksworth, in memory of his Scottish birthplace.

Later it was occupied by Frederick Broughton, general manager of the Great Western Railway, and finally by the Crerar family, who lived here for 70 years until 1953, when it was sold and demolished to make way for the Merksworth Apartments.


189-? - Elmhurst, located at 182 Hughson Street South, was built in the latter half of the 1800s for John Calder, clothing manufacturer and founder of John Calder & Co. After his death in 1901, the estate was purchased by the James Person family, who lived there until 1914 when it was purchased by C.W. Moodie. This picture was donated by William Gage in 1996.



The stately residence "Highfield", located at 362 Bay Street South, sat on 13 acres of property south of Aberdeen Avenue and was built by wealthy businessman, John Brown, using Ohio free stone with walls three to four feet thick. The architect of the project was F.J. Rastrick. In 1874, the property was purchased for $45,000 by Senator James Turner. Later in 1890 "Highfield" became the residence of Lord and Lady Aberdeen until his appointment as Governor General in 1893. In 1901, the house became a school for boys. It was destroyed by fire in 1918.

FB - VH

[CaptainKirk]

Originally the Sun Life Assurance Building, 1899, later the upper floors were added and it became the Federal Building - 72 James Street North, in 1947


It's a garbage strike in 1950.....Caption: "Pickets at Hall--Civic workers picketed the City Hall today as the strike moved into its third day. Signs carried by pickets blamed Mayor Lloyd Jackson for the strike". Hamilton Spectator, Saturday August 12, 1950

The strike of the Local Five bargaining unit lasted five weeks (August 10th-September 15th) in 1950 and involved over 1000 men "outside workers": garbage men, water and sewer maintenance, grave diggers and others.


A picketer and a truck with signs supporting the striking workers of the Hamilton Spectator parked in front of the Spectator building on King Street East in 1946. The Connaught Hotel is across the street. This photo also gives you an idea of what buildings were located beside the Connaught compared to todays parking lot. Coach entrance in between.


This is a shot from the Royal Connaught's penthouse floor pre-1970s.

[mattgrande]

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk

187-? - This residence was located at the northeast corner of MacNab and Herkimer Streets. It was built by Hamilton merchant, James Osborne. Thomas Cockburn Kerr moved here in 1864 and called it Merksworth, in memory of his Scottish birthplace.

Later it was occupied by Frederick Broughton, general manager of the Great Western Railway, and finally by the Crerar family, who lived here for 70 years until 1953, when it was sold and demolished to make way for the Merksworth Apartments.

Wow, this is neat to see. I used to live in the Merksworth Apts. I would've rather lived there, though!

When I lived there, I was told the apartments were originally built as nurses' residences for St Joes, although I can't verify the accuracy of that statement.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk

Ideal Furniture. "King of Chrome", 227 King St. East - 1956

^What a great sign!

It doesn't look terribly different today.

[CaptainKirk]

Looking west down King St. W. from James St. - 1899. None of the buildings in this photo are still standing.


Looking east down King St. E. from atop the old Bank of Hamilton building, with the old post office, First Methodist Church and the new Royal Connaught addition with the Circus Roof Dining/Dancing room. - 1930s

Facebook - Vintage Hamilton

[lucasmascotto]

October 20, 1990: Beginning of the removal of Lloyd D. Jackson Square's front entrance signage.

[CaptainKirk]

1937 and this is Main Street East near the "Delta"....way back then various parts of the city had their own little shopping district.


King East & Lawrence Road., 1955

FB - VH

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk

King East & Lawrence Road., 1955

In the mid/late 1980s I used to walk into the valley there every day on the way to and from school (but just east of this point, along Mt. Albion and King St. eastward). It's not easy to remember what it looked like, but this sort of brings back memories.

I took some pictures when they were just starting to construct the new King St. bridge over the valley in anticipation of the highway. I should see if I can scan or image them to share.

[CaptainKirk]

[CaptainKirk]

Who can guess location?

[CaptainKirk]

1940 - St. Peter’s Hospital / Infirmary for Incurables was founded in 1890 through the tireless efforts of Reverend Thomas Geoghegan. He believed Hamilton needed a hospital for people with chronic medical conditions and purchased the Springer Homestead, a brick residence originally built in the 1830s.

[matt602]

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk

Who can guess location?

First one is Main and Macnab, second is the beach strip toll booths.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk

Notice the detail above the windows at Kresge's. Perhaps it's an illusion.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce

Notice the detail above the windows at Kresge's. Perhaps it's an illusion.

Maybe it's still there under that awful flesh-toned paneling.
https://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ll...,,0,-9.97&z=19

[Dr Awesomesauce]

^I have the feeling it's gone forever but perhaps you're right.

[palace1]

When I saw that photo of Kresge's on the Vintage Hamilton Facebook page I was also surprised to see that the ziggurat-shaped tiles above the windows had a pattern originally.

The photo also shows the effect of inflation on the five-and-dime store concept. The Woolworth's sign is "5-10-15 CENT STORE" and the Kresge's sign is "5-10-15-25 ¢"

Similarly today Dollarama is now a $1-$3 dollar store and other dollar stores have had to change their signs to 'nothing over $1.25".

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by palace1

When I saw that photo of Kresge's on the Vintage Hamilton Facebook page I was also surprised to see that the ziggurat-shaped tiles above the windows had a pattern originally.

If you move around in the streetview, along Hughson, there is a worn pattern on the paneling that is there today but it's kind of mis-aligned and inconsistent... I doubt it was intentional though, probably something that was painted over when installed and it's weathered.

[palace1]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

there is a worn pattern on the paneling that is there today but it's kind of mis-aligned and inconsistent...

Those patterns are reflections of the Right House building across the street.

The tiles appear to be smooth in pictures from the 1960's so maybe the 1930 style was changed in 1949 when the back section of the store was constructed.