For
Hamiltonians, and for visitors to the
Ambitious City in the mid-1880s, a day at Dundurn Park was a welcome option.
Dundurn Castle was still a private
residence in July, 1885, and the immense grounds of Dundurn were surrounded by
a high wooden fence. When there was a major event happening at Dundurn,
admission was charged.
Many times in a summer season, the
grounds as a whole were leased for the day by an organization or a company for
the use of its members or employees.
Such was the case on July 19, 1885
when the employees of the Great Western division of the Grand Trunk Railway
held their annual picnic at Dundurn.
It was only one of many such events at
Dundurn that summer but it was a particular success in part because of the
perfect weather that day. It was also a day at Dundurn that was documented in
rich detail by a reporter with the Hamilton Spectator who was invited to the picnic
held at what he called “the beautiful and shady grounds of that magnificent park.”1
1
“A Day at Dundurn : Big Success
of the G.W.R. Picnic”
Hamilton
Spectator July 20, 1885.
It
had been a stretch of unfavourable weather in the days leading up to July 19,
1885 but the day arrived with sunshine and balmy temperatures:
“To
Hamiltonians, the change was pleasant. There was no long ride on the crowded
cars; no return late at night, footsore, dusty and weary, though with many
bright recollections of an enjoyable day.”1
The
man from the Spec sharply observed and recorded how the managers of Dundurn had
recently combined the beauty of the grounds with amenities to make it highly functional
for major events :
“Art
has helped nature, and made the grounds more suitable for holding such a monster
picnic.”
For
the G.W.R. picnic, which attracted employees of the railway from long
distances, and who arrived in Hamilton at the Stuart Street station, there was
a newly built convenience:
“A
landing stage had been erected east of the depot, with stairs running up to the
park. This proved a blessing to the excursionists, saving a long a dusty tramp
around to reach the grounds.”1
Upon
arrival, many of those coming to Hamilton from afar took the opportunity to
visit parts of Hamilton in the vicinity of Dundurn:
“The
city was an object of interest to many of the visitors. Large numbers left the
park and spread themselves over the streets, returning in time to unpack
baskets and witness or participate in the games.”1
Accommodations
had been made to satisfy the hunger pangs of those in attendance at the picnic:
“Lunch
was served to the guests in the magnificent dining room of Dundurn Castle.
Messrs. Crooks and Stroud were the caterers, and they provided an excellent
spread, which was done full justice to.”1
The
attendance was estimated at over 8,000.
While
one of the bigger picnics of the season, it was remarkable in that the talented
wordsmith with the Spectator left the following vivid observation of the sights
and sounds at Dundurn on July 19, 1885:
“The
Thirteenth band had come up and in a shady spot was going though an excellent
programme in its usual excellent style. Mingled with the exquisite strains from
the instruments were the monotonous tones of a hurdy-gurdy grinding out the
same old tunes in an unvarying rotation. Nearby a ventriloquist jumped his
wooden images on his knees to the delight of a horde of children. From afar
came the lively music of a quadrille band. Through it all broke the shouts and
cries of innumerable fakirs; the shrill yells of proprietor of an Aunt Sally
establishment; the laughter from thousands of happy human beings; the buzz of
constant conversation; the clinking of beer glasses.
“Little
groups of two and three were scattered here and there. Thousands of people
wandered about the grounds. The air was redolent of cigar smoke, the scent of
flowers, the odor of ice cream and other things.
“There
was a gayety among all that was infectious. Bright dresses and bright faces
glanced among the green of sward and trees.
“Dundurn
never looked prettier. It was never filled with a happier, jollier crowd.”1
