James Street (Hamilton, Ontario)
James Street is a Lower City arterial road in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It starts off at the base of the Niagara Escarpment from James Mountain Road, a mountain-access road in the city. It was one of many arterials in the central business district converted to one-way operation in 1956 when the city retained Wilbur Smith and Associates to develop a Traffic and Transportation Plan. Parts of it were restored to two-way operation in 2002. It extends north to the city's waterfront at the North End where it ends at Guise Street West right in front of the Harbour West Marina Complex and the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club.
History
James Street was named after one of Nathaniel Hughson's sons. Hughson was one of the city founders of Hamilton along with George Hamilton and James Durand.[1] Originally, James Street was called Lake Road because it was the road that led to Lake Ontario to the north. Then it was renamed to Jarvis Street after city founder George Hamilton's wife (Maria Jarvis) and then finally changed to its present-day James.[2]
George Hamilton, a settler and local politician, established a town site in the northern portion of Barton Township after the war in 1815. He kept several east–west roads which were originally
James Street was the Lake Road and in 1835, James Street was extended south, but was interrupted by a bog at Hunter Street which eventually (1844) was drained out and graded.[2]
In 1872, the Bank of Hamilton was established. It had its head offices at the corner of King and James Streets and lasted until 1924. The Bank of Hamilton merged with The Commerce (later to become the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, or CIBC) on January 2, 1924. It was one of the last surviving banks in Canada that was not headquartered in Toronto or Montreal.[4]
On June 20, 1877, the first commercial telephone service in Canada began in Hamilton, Ontario.[3] Hugh Cossart Baker Jr. learned of Alexander Graham Bell's invention in 1877 at the Philadelphia International Exposition and from there decided to test the communication tool in Hamilton.[5] Hugh Cossart Baker Jr. is credited with making the first telephone exchange in the British Empire from an office building at the corner of James and Main Street East which still stands there today (March 2007).[5]
In 1890, the first Bowling alley in the City opens at back of the J.W. MacDonald Tobacco shop, (66 James Street North).[6]
Architecture
In 1929, the Pigott Building was built for $1,000,000. Known as Hamilton's first
The
The Federal Building on James Street North was built in 1856. It was first home to a post office which eventually moved to the corner of
One can reach the Bruce Trail via James Street South. The trail cuts through the city along the Niagara Escarpment (mountain) and used by many locals for a full day's hike. The trail is 430 miles (690 km) long and starts at Niagara Falls, passes through Hamilton and ends at the Bruce Peninsula. Hikers are led to scenic gorges, hidden waterfalls and places of quiet charm.
Lister Block building
The Lister Block, first built in 1886, was destroyed by fire in 1923 and the second building was erected in 1924. This classic
The Lister Block is named for Joseph Lister, the original owner, who was a merchant, clothier, member of the city's Board of Water Commissioners and school trustee. His goal was to build a "most modern and central accommodation" for small merchants at modest rent.[1]
It was the centre of community life in Hamilton for much of the last century. It was built with excellent materials and workmanship during prosperous times in the city before stock markets crashed in 1929. One of the few buildings of its type in Ontario west of Toronto, its style is more frequently seen in American Great Lakes cities.[13]
In 2004, the then-abandoned Lister Block was used as a filming site for a music video for the song Home by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace.
James North Art District
Growth in the arts and culture sector has garnered high level media attention for Hamilton. A 2006 article in
The Hammertheatre Company, founded in January 2007, is a company devoted to theatre research in Hamilton and also devoted to the plays of artistic director Sky Gilbert whose plays will deal with issues of gender and sexuality. Gilbert is also the founder of legendary Toronto theatre, Buddies in Bad Times. There, Gilbert's iconic gay plays found an enthusiastic, vast audience. The theatre is at the old Ancient Order of Foresters building in the James Street North neighbourhood where Hamilton's Art scene continues to grow and where Sky has been living since 2004.[22][23]
Museum
On Friday October 26, 2007 a new Museum opened up on James Street North near Cannon called, Hamilton HIStory + HERitage, the future of the past. The owner Graham J. Crawford shares the story of Hamilton in a multimedia exhibition space celebrating the lives of the men & women who have helped to shape the city. The space is also available for special meetings, presentations, book launches and school visits. There is no charge for the exhibitions. The museum's first presentation topic was that of James Street North and based on the works of local Hamilton historian Bill Manson which includes historical musical videos.[24]
Time Capsule
A time capsule was buried beneath a marker on the north-east corner of James & Wilson Streets on Wednesday November 16, 1988 by the Jamesville Business Community under the aegis of the city's Business Improvement Area (B.I.A.) programme. It commemorates the completion of the James Street North streetscape project (1986–1988), which marked the renaissance of this historic link between the Hamilton Harbour and the City Centre.
James Street has always been the focal point for new Canadians arriving in Hamilton, first by ship from overseas docking at the foot of James Street, later by train at the CN Railway Station. The first arrivals were English, Scottish and Irish; later came Italian and German; more recently Portuguese and then Greek. All in their turn have added to the cultural richness of the street. The capsule is to be opened on Tuesday, November 16, 2038, by the mayor, alderman and business Leaders of James Street North on that future day.
It was a bright, warm, Indian summer afternoon when the capsule was buried; It is hoped it will be the same when the capsule is raised 50 years hence. Those that were in attendance in 1988 when the time capsule was buried include Bob Morrow (mayor), Sidney H. Leon (president of the Jamesville B.I.A.), Jerry Sherman (vice president of Jamesville B.I.A.), Vince Agro (alderman Ward 2), Filipe M. Vianna (treasurer) and William M. McCulloch (alderman Ward 2).
Transportation
In 1931, trains no longer blocked traffic as the James Street underpass was completed. (3 December 1931).[25]
Westend incline railway
James Street, at the base of the Niagara Escarpment (mountain) was the site of the city's first
In 1924, following the city's booming development in the east, there was some serious discussion regarding the addition of a third incline railway. The 2 locations be considered at the time were Sherman Avenue or Ottawa Street South. The population of Hamilton Mountain at the time was 6,000.[28]
In 1929, the city's brochures were using the motto, "The City Beautiful and Hub of Canadian Highways" as well as "The City of Opportunity". In regards to the
Waterfront Shuttle
The Waterfront Shuttle is a free service offered by the
Waterfront Trolley
The Hamilton Waterfront Trolley is a narrated tour along the 12 kilometre Hamilton Waterfront Trail. The main stop and departure spot is at the Hamilton Waterfront SCOOPS Ice Cream parlour, which provides the famous Stoney Creek Dairy Ice Cream. There are a dozen stops along the way between Princess Point at the western-end of the route to the eastern-end, the site of HMCS Haida. Also near this eastern-end route is the site of the Hamiltonian Tour Boat, which is a 12-passenger tour boat that offers a leisurely guided tour of Hamilton harbour with the captain providing interesting stories and history of one of North America's most noteworthy harbours. In addition to this there is also the Hamilton Harbour Queen Cruises which is another ship that offers 3-hour tour of the harbour along with Lunch, Dinner or other special events like Dance parties. This Harbour Queen Cruise was also the 2005 winner of the Hamilton Tourism Awards for "best tourism idea."[30]
Images
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Classified Federal Heritage Building 1986 on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings.[31]
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John Weir Foote V.C. Armouries
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Hamilton City Centre clock tower &Stelco Tower
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FormerOrange Hallon James Street
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James Street is home to many fine restaurants
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A typical James Street North European-style restaurant/ cafe
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Courage, Hopes & Dreams statue @ Immigration Square, LIUNA Station
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Bailey, Thomas Melville (1981). Dictionary of Hamilton Biography (Vol I, 1791-1875). W.L. Griffin Ltd.
- ^ ISBN 1-896899-22-6.
- ^ a b "Chronology of the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Ontario". Retrieved 26 March 2007.
- ^ CIBC "Mergers and Amalgamations, The Canadian Bank of Commerce". Retrieved 26 March 2007.
{{cite web}}
: Check|url=
value (help) - ^ ISBN 1-55028-804-0.
- ^ "Fast Facts from Hamilton's Past". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
- ^ "The Pigott Building- 1929". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
- ^ a b "The Hamilton Memory Project;" (Press release). The Hamilton Spectator- Souvenir Edition page MP38. June 10, 2006.
- ^ Johnston, Bill. "Hamilton Spectator article: "Lament for a Downtown"". Archived from the original on 13 August 2004. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
- ^ "Birk's Building demolished-1973. (www.raisethehammer.org)". Retrieved 26 March 2007.
- ISBN 0-9697255-0-7.
- ISBN 0-921055-03-X.
- ^ a b McNeil, Mark (9 January 2008). "'Missing step' with Lister". The Hamilton Spectator.
- ^ Foley, Doug (April 16, 2007). "A Tale of Two Stations (Doug Foley)" (Press release). The Hamilton Spectator.
- ^ "CKOC Radio Official web site". Retrieved 10 January 2008.
- ^ "James North Art Crawl". Retrieved 10 April 2007.
- ^ "DESIGN STUDIO: Angela DeMontigny – West of the City". www.westofthecity.com. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
- ^ "The Factory: Hamilton Media Arts Centre". Retrieved 3 April 2007.
- ^ "Downtown Arts Centre, Hamilton, Ontario". Archived from the original on 13 August 2006. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
- ^ "Community Centre for Media Arts". Archived from the original on 12 December 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
- ^ Invest in Hamilton, Economic Development Review 2005, Wednesday, 28 June 2006, "City Remains Committed To Growing Arts & Culture" Page H20
- ^ "Sky's the Limit" (Press release). The Hamilton Spectator Pg: Go12. 21 February 2007.
- ^ "CBC News: Sky Gilbert plans new Hamilton Theatre project". 29 January 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
- ^ "Hamilton HIStory + HERitage Museum". Retrieved 27 October 2007.
- ISBN 1-896899-39-0.
- ^ a b "Hamilton Street Railway History". Retrieved 26 March 2007.
- ^ "Inclines prove equal to their important task" (Press release). The Hamilton Spectator. 29 February 1924.
- ^ "Inclines prove equal to their important task" (Press release). The Hamilton Spectator. 29 February 1924.
- ^ "The Waterfront Shuttle- HSR". Retrieved 5 June 2007.
- ^ "Hamilton Waterfront Trolley". Retrieved 5 June 2007.
- ^ http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/beefp-fhbro/FHB_Rech_Search_e.asp[permanent dead link] Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings.
- MapArt Golden Horseshoe Atlas - Page 647 - Grids H12, G12, F12, E12