1885 - August - 1

Eleven years after the villages of Wellington Square had been combined to create a new municipality, Burlington, the Hamilton Spectator carried the following flowery poem. It was written by 1885 “O.N.” in tribute of Hamilton’s neighbour after a summer day’s visit to that town across the lake.

                                      Ode to Burlington

                             Of Burlington I fain would write,

                             And verses to its praise indite;

                             But then I feel such a theme,

                             With fruitless toil for me would teem.

                             For I’m, ‘tis clear, no practical bard,

                             And thus for me the task is hard;

                             But since ‘fain heart ne’er won the fair,’

                             I must set to and not despair.

                             Now Burlington’s so fair a place,

                             So rich indeed in natural grace,

                             That all must feel that here on earth

                             We have a gem of precious worth.

                             How many here the charms to ‘suage,

                             The cank’ring cares of ashen age!

                             How many here the blessings bright

                             That yield to youthful years’ delight?

                             What flow’ring fields! What pleasant dells !

                             What verdure clothes the lovely vales!

                             What beauty from the bright blue bells

                             That lend their charm to thy fair dells.

                             Thy tree-clad mills afford a sight

                             That fills man’s heart with pure delight;

                             For hills above and vales below

                             With countless charms are all aglow.

                             Thy lake is draped in richest blue,

                             Bright mirror of the skies’ soft hue;

                             How cool the breezes that o’er it plays

                             For those who flee the sun’s warm rays.

                             Yes, Burlington, in thee we find

                             The highest joys that charm the mind;

                             Thy dwellers round true friendship show,

                             Thy cups with kindness ever flow.

                             Farewell, choice spot, I cannot tell

                             How deep o’er me thou’st cast thy spell,

                             Feeling’s last rays must from me part,

                             Ere thy fond mem’ry leave my heart.

1885 - June - 5

It seemed like there was something suspicious when it happened in 1873.

          Twelve years later, further suspicions, and fingers pointed by the Hamilton Spectator.

          In the early 1870s, the Ontario provincial was looking to set up an institution for the care and treatment of alcoholics in the Hamilton area.

          After an extensive search and response to proposals, land on the top of the escarpment, at the head of the James Street Mountain road was the choice.

          Most of the property involved was owned by the Hon. Issac Buchanan whose home, Auchmar, was located on the east side of the road. The property targeted for the inebriate asylum was on the west side of the road.

          Mr. Buchanan was a former provincial politician of considerable fame. In recent years, he had suffered serious business losses so the sale of some of his real estate assets was welcome for him.

          A prominent real estate firm, Moore & Davis, was involved in the deal. In the published provincial accounts relating to the $22,000 plus transaction read as follows :

          Issac Buchanan, land ……………………. $14,863.66

          Moore & Davis, land ……………………….    6,936.34

          Mrs. Gourley, land ……………………………    600.00

          Twelve years later, the inebriate asylum had become the Hamilton Asylum for the Insane. It was by then a huge facility, with so many inmates living there that more land was needed, especially as a farm was planned for the site to help with the food needs. A farm owned by a man named Andrews, south of the original asylum property was purchased

The Spectator, on June 15, 1885, published an editorial terming the land transaction a “swindle”

“The facts respecting the purchase of land for the use of the Ontario asylum near Hamilton are very simple.

“1. The asylum officials reported that more land was needed. The government looked into the matter and approved of the proposition to buy the land.

2. Messrs. Moore & Davis may be regarded as the financial agents of the Reform party in Hamilton.

3. Messrs. Moore & Davis learned that the Ontario government had resolved to buy land for the use of the asylum. They entered into negotiations for the purchase of the Andrews farm, and also of the Muirhead farm. Andrews wanted $150 an acre for his land; did not care who bought it; sold it to Moore & Davis for $150 an acre, and considered that he had got a good price.

4. He did get a good price. Anybody who desires may buy land in the immediate neighbourhood for less money.

5. Moore & Davis bought the Andrews farm because they knew they could resell it to the government.

6. The government paid them at least $50 an acre more than the land was worth. Andrews was under no compulsion to sell – was not forced to make a sacrifice; and his estimate of the value of his farm fixes the outside price the government should have paid for it.

7. The people of Ontario have been wronged in this transaction to the extent of $4,600.

8. That money has gone into the possession of Messrs. Moore & Davis. Whether it is to be retained by them; whether it is to be used for campaign purposes; or whether it is to recoup them for special advances during the campaign of 1883, we cannot say.”¹

¹ “The Asylum Land Swindle” Hamilton Spectator and Tribune. June 15, 1885

The next day, a second editorial on the matter appeared in the Spectator questioning the involvement of the Moore & Davis firm in the purchase of the lands for the 1873 purchase of lands:

          “It is well known that Moore & Davis had not owned any property. We are not sure whether they bought some on the understanding that it was to be re-transferred to the government at an enhanced price, or whether the $6,936 was paid them simply as agents for the transfer of property.

          “At all events, the government had decided  to purchase the property, and Messrs. Moore & Davis, as political agents in Hamilton for the Ontario government, were given a large sum of money, which wrongfully came out of the pockets of the people – money over and above the actual price which the owners received for the land.”²

² “The Asylum Land Purchase”  Hamilton Spectator and Tribune. June 15, 1885

          The editorial went on to claim, quite bluntly, that there was political intrigue, if not worse, involved in the relationship between the provincial government and the particular real estate firm in question:

          “We always knew that the Reformers had plenty of money for use in the election of 1874. Messrs. Moore & Davis were paid in $5,000 at that time. Perhaps we shall be told that the money was merely an advance. Well that is just what we understand it to have been. We do not suppose for a moment that Messrs. Moore & Davis remained permanent losers of the sum. The records show conclusively that the Ontario government has paid those gentlemen sums equal to all the advances known to have been made by them in the elections of 1874 and 1883.” ²

                The editorial pulled no punches in its closing statement :

          “The people of Hamilton pretty well understand the nature of these transactions by this time. The substance of the whole matter is that –

1.   Messrs. Moore & Davis advance money for political purposes.

2.   The Ontario government buys property through Messrs. Moore & Davis in such a way that those gentlemen that those gentlemen get their money back.

3.   The people pay the money.”¹

           

1885 - July Miscellaneous - 2

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

1885 - July Miscellaneous - 1

There was trouble in the local Salvation Army Corps in mid-July 1885. Suddenly and without warning, Captains Dyer and Mottashed left the city causing consternation and confusion among the ranks.

Rumors abounded as to what prompted the abrupt departure of the officers. Collection amounts at the services had dropped and the popularity of both captains was at a low ebb. While it may have been that the men had simply desired to return to England, there were innuendos that something else might have been in play.

As stated by one Salvation soldier, “Them there fellers was too domineerink for hanythink. They wanted hit hall their own way.”1

In an attempt to quell the suspicions, a representative of the Hamilton Salvation Army Corps called at the Spectator office, particularly to deny the suggestions of financial impropriety.

“All they have been guilty of,’ said the Spectator informant, “has been desertion of duty. When they return, they will be received back into the army, but they will first have to come down to the penitent bench and confess their error.”¹

¹ “Without a Head : Troubles in the Local Salvation Army Corps” Hamilton Spectator. July 14, 1885

The next day, the vacuum of the head of the local Salvation Army Corps was filled on a temporary basis:

“There was a large crowd on the market square and in the barracks last night to witness the services conducted under the new (rather old) officer, Captain Joe Ludgate, and his young wife.

“A good muster of soldiers was on the platform and the entire programme was gone through in the happy style which has made Ludgate such a favorite in this city. During the evening, he sang several songs in a good baritone voice, and accompanied himself with a concertina.

“Mrs. Ludgate (Nellie Ryerson) was an object of especial curiosity as she has been so much talked of in army circles. She is a slight, delicate-looking girl of rather classical face and form, the effect being heightened by her dark, blue dress, slightly picked out with yellow. Her face is sorrowful and she conveys the impression that she is overworked. Her style of public talking is gentle and persuasive and commands the immediate attention of the audience. She has a pleasing soprano voice and sang several hymns with piano accompaniment.

“Both officers delivered strong appeals to the people, and during the prayer meeting, one man professed conversion.”²

² “The Sals’ New Officers”  Hamilton Spectator. July 15, 1885.