The Smells of Hamilton

[astroblaster]

Based on the recent discussion of smells in the Hamilton Census thread, and on FairHamilton's suggestion, I am starting a dedicated stink thread.

I want to determine if the argument that "hamilton smells bad" is valid, because my nose is apparently immune to hammer stink and I can't make a proper assessment.

[SteelTown]

Bring a lawn chair and sit at the corner of Victoria and Burlington St and report back to us if you smelt anything lol.

[FairHamilton]

Great one astroblaster. I think we should have a template of info to report. I don't think there's anyone else out there collecting this type of info, and I think it's valuable.

Example:

Location: i.e. King & Wentworth
Smell Description: i.e. Sulfur, Oil, Sewage, etc
Date: (including day of week)
Time of Day:
Weather: i.e. Wind direction, sunny, cloudy, cool, humid, etc.

Any others?

[astroblaster]

Location: Red Hill Bowl baseball diamonds, near the old combined stormwater overflow area
Smell Description: Sewage
Date: the 90s
Time of Day: evening
Weather: after rainfall

Me and my friends got so used to this smell, that we started to like it.

I'm not sure if the expressway related re-construction has improved this.

I think the same smell is produced at any of the overflow sites.

[realcity]

I'm used to the smell too. But I notice it when I'm away for a while a return to the Hammer.

In fairness, visit a large European city, Athens, Istanbul, Rome and you'll smell some bad odours too. But I guess the visual sites, architecture and liveliness more then make up for it.

[the dude]

i won't tell you what saigon smells like...but it rhymes with sit.

[raisethehammer]

I just returned from a week in Mexico and I've been amazed at the beautiful smells of fragrant flowers since returning. I was in the desert in Cabo, so no fragrance there.

In the spring, the entire west side of downtown smells like lilac. It's amazing. Come along Cannon and once you pass James St it hits you. It's beautiful.

Bunge smells downtown on days with a NE wind and 'inversion' - cool air staying in the lower city.
I've smelt manure and other farm smells at my folks place on the Mountain.
Yes, Stipley and central Ham can taste the sulfur when the wind blows properly.

As a kid I used to LOVE the smell by the Lifesavers factory on Cumberland.

The grain elevator in town is on Eastport Dr...don't think you could smell that downtown.
Strongest of all is the brewery. Again though, only with a NE wind or if you live right near it.

I must also add that the last time I walked in downtown TO it smelled like a vomit/pee combo. Quite gross.

[ihateittoo]

Originally Posted by astroblaster

Location: Red Hill Bowl baseball diamonds, near the old combined stormwater overflow area
Smell Description: Sewage
Date: the 90s
Time of Day: evening
Weather: after rainfall

Me and my friends got so used to this smell, that we started to like it.

I'm not sure if the expressway related re-construction has improved this.

I think the same smell is produced at any of the overflow sites.

i used to hang out here after rainfalls in the 90's. I'd play tennis.

[Jon Dalton]

The world's great cities smell worse than here. London absolutely reeks of diesel because all the cars there run on it. I don't smell anything living downtown, only the hops from the brewery towards the north end, which is not unpleasant. If anyone here has tried Mill St. Organic, it has such a raw flavour I say it tastes like James and Burlington smells. And somehow not in a bad way.

[BrianE]

On most days in the summer while traveling up or down the 403 between Ancaster and Hamilton you can smell it when you hit the layer of smog that hovers over the city. It's quite noticable even without your windows open. That smell is straight up vehicle exhaust, nothing else.

[flar]

I honestly don't find Hamilton smelly. All cities have smells. I used to get nauseated by the smell from the Labatt Brewery in downtown London when I lived there, and it was frequent. I've never smelled anything that offensive here, even in industrial areas.

[FairHamilton]

When I suggested a separate thread it wasn’t my intention to have posts saying Hamilton smelled/doesn’t smell, or that other cities smell better/worse.

I’d envisioned a thread that people would post to when they smelled something that wasn’t localized (i.e. smell of vomit/pee in a laneway, or sewage from a sewer grate would be considered localized). Sulfur, oil, brewery smell in a neighbourhood would be post worthy. I’ll happy transpose those posts into a spreadsheet, and map on Google Earth, and after a period of time, say 6 months, send it to the city.

Location:
Smell Description:
Date:
Time of Day:
Weather:

I think some of those smells are just smells (i.e. brewery), but I think other smells like sulfur could potentially pose a long-term health risk. As I mentioned in the other thread, I could smell it during the thunderstorm on Sunday night and last night when I wiped down the patio table the paper towel turned black.

Flar, I agree breweries can be nasty. One of the worst days of my life was hung-over during Froshweek in Waterloo when both the Seagram’s distillery and Labatt Brewery were in operation……….

[astroblaster]

yah i'm right near the molson brewery by the 427.. its pretty nasty some days

[raisethehammer]

I think Ancaster smells.

[astroblaster]

Originally Posted by FairHamilton

When I suggested a separate thread it wasn’t my intention to have posts saying Hamilton smelled/doesn’t smell, or that other cities smell better/worse.

I’d envisioned a thread that people would post to when they smelled something that wasn’t localized (i.e. smell of vomit/pee in a laneway, or sewage from a sewer grate would be considered localized). Sulfur, oil, brewery smell in a neighbourhood would be post worthy. I’ll happy transpose those posts into a spreadsheet, and map on Google Earth, and after a period of time, say 6 months, send it to the city.

We can use it for both, no? both general smell discussion, and stink reports.

[DC83]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

As a kid I used to LOVE the smell by the Lifesavers factory on Cumberland.

Wow, me too (for the most part).
I went to elementary school right down the street (Notre Dame, on Cumberland just west/ Gage) and we could smell Lifesavers everyday! In the summer, when our windows were opened, wow. Delish. HOWEVER, I HATED the smell of the butterscotch ones. They smelled like rotting vomit :s

Growing up in Upper Stoney Creek, even the residential areas, all I could ever smell was manoer (sp?) b/c of the Mushroom Farms in the area. Damn it stunk.

Now I live in the Wind Tunnell of Hamilton (Charlton Ave E), and don't get a chance to smell much as the wind blows everything away. However, I can smell Bunge (Canola Oil plant) every now-and-then if I'm walking at street-level.

edit: Sorry FairHamilton, I just wanted to document the smells I've smelled in the various areas of the city I've lived.

[SteelTown]

I love going to the Fortinos at Main St W because it's right next to the Cadbury factory. You could smell the chocolate, I think they make those little chocolate eggs.

[astroblaster]

that cadbury factory smells awesome. i thought they made Winegums there

[flar]

Ah yes, the Cadbury factory, that's a smell I'm familiar with when I go to Fortino's. It's very localized and not a bad smell.

[SteelTown]

Another favourite smell is when McDonald's was around at Limeridge Road before relocating. I love the smell of McDonald's fries.

Now the new McDonald's must have better filters because you can't smell the fries from outside.