1885-06-29Gore Fountain Speaks

As the eighteenth anniversary of Confederation approached, a first-term Hamilton aldermen proposed that on July 1, 1885, the Gore Park fountain be turned on and the gates opened allowing everyone access to the park during evenings for the rest of the summer months.

The transformation of the huge unoccupied downtown property, triangular in shape, known as the Gore had happened twenty-five years previously. It had been intended that a complimentary sized and shaped property would be added to the Gore to make sufficient space for a town square.

The Gore had become Gore Park with attractive fountains big and small placed in it. However, the water in the fountain was often, even mainly, not turned on and the park, surrounded by a fence, had it entrance gate only opened to the public on special occasions.

Such a major change being considered, the Spectator felt it appropriate to “interview” the Gore Park Fountain for its views, views which were published in the form of a poem:

 “Dear Spectator ;

As your paper is voted best channel for news,

I have asked your reporter to publish my views.

Your readers have clamored to know of the reason

Why I don’t choose to squirt, when it’s out of season;

I propose to enlighten the public at large

And show them how utterly senseless this charge:

They’ve long-forgotten the ways of the Good Queen Anne days

Urging blame, when I’ve merited nothing but praise.

A fact worth noting of those who should know;

I am not of this age, its inventions and show;

I belong to the times of economy rare,

When pure water was saved with the greatest of care,

When washing was only done one day in seven,

As the waste of the gift might bring vengeance from heaven;

For tho’ free as the air, and with oceans to spare

Then many believed  they must use it with care.

I am not quite at home, as just hinted before,

With the new-fangled actions as seen round the Gore;

Wooden streets, patent sweepers, electric connection

For speaking and lighting; they all throw reflection

On our forefathers’ days, when they toiled and they strained

And tho’ hard was their lot – yet they stoutly maintained

That ‘twere certainly best for the good of the rest

That inventors should hang as of Satan possessed

I must stoutly protest with supreme indignation

Against opening the Gore, and each new innovation

Why should anyone dare to make common the spot

That by lock, fence and custom is not

For mechanics who toil; nor their wives who endure,

Nor their children much needing the air that is pure ?

Tho’ the new alderman’s views I don’t care to abuse,

I will speak for myself – I will squirt when I choose.

So please let me hear of no more agitation

For modern ideas or new desecration;

Let me squirt only once a year, that is all I should try,

Just for Canada’s sake, on the first of July.

But on evenings – oh no; or on hot summer days –

I will stiffen my neck against all such displays;

I’ll economy ply, for the lake might turn dry,

In spouting its water in waste to the sky.”¹

¹ “The Gore Fountain Speaks”

Hamilton Spectator     July 30, 1885.

1883-05-28Ad

With the month of May almost over, the advertisement section in the Spectator of May 28, 1883 had a distinct summer flavor.

From the accompanying portion of that day’s newspaper, looking first at the right column from the top down, the following can be seen:

1.   Ad for D. Dewey, ice dealer. Business was located on George street, between Bay and Caroline streets. The ad claimed that “entire supply harvested this years.”

2.   Ad for a sale of fine silks at Knox, Morgan & Co. store “We keep in stock a full range of Colors and beg to remind City trade of the advantages of buying these goods here.

3.   Ad for W.W. Walton, wholesale and retail dairy, 10 Vine street. Ice was prominently mentioned plus a series of dairy products for sale – ‘Milk, Cream, Butter, Cheese, Buttermilk, and everything in the dairy line. Production of cream was a specialty : ‘Our Cream for Family Use, Ice Cream and for Butter making is separated from the milk as soon as milked, by the very best Danish and German separators and thus given our customers beautiful, thick, fresh Cream immediately after milking.’ And finally, ‘We were the first to introduce the Centrifugal Creaming System in Canada, and one of the first in the world.’

Looking next to the left, top of the columns :

1.   Ad for the third in a series of fund-raising concerts given by the popular 13^th Battalion Band, plus guest vocalists. Money raised to be used to purchase new uniforms for the band. Concert at the Drill Shed on James North. Single admission 25 cents.

2.   Ad for the ‘First Grand Moonlight Excursion to the Beach, Ocean House. The Ocean House and its near neighbor, the New York Roller Rink, on the Hamilton Beach strip, near the Burlington canal were popular destinations for Hamiltonians. A special way to get to them in May, 1883 was via a side-wheel paddle steamer, the Canadian. The schedule for the Moonlight Excursion involved, leaving the James Street Wharf at 7:45 p.m., sharp as the proprietors of the Canadian insisted on keeping rigorously to advertised departure and return times. Both while going to the Beach and while returning, passengers on the Canadian were entertained by the full Independent Band. 20 cents would buy a ticket for the excursion; an extra 15 cents would pay for admission, if desired to the rink where famous trick cyclists, Westbrook & Hacker, were going to give an exhibition of their skills. The Canadian was to return from the Beach, leaving there at 10:30

3.   Ad for the Bay View Pleasure Park, located at the far west end of Hamilton, not far from the Valley Inn. George Midwinter proprietor of  Bay View Pleasure Park, boasted that the roller skating rink at his park was the ‘largest in Ontario.’ The park could readily be reached from Hamilton with departures every half hour by two small passenger steamers, the Shamrock and the Lillie The Bay View Band provided music for the people in the park generally, while the Bay View Quadrille band provided music for dancing.

4.   Small ad for the Lakeside house, on the Beach strip “thoroughly renovated and refurbished. Bar, Bowling alleys and restaurant in connection.

5.   Finally, small ad for the Wellington Street Swimming Baths, on the east side of Wellington, north of King street : ‘now open every day. Water warmed by steam pipes. Ladies’ bath opens June 2^nd.’