Thursday 3 May 2018

1918-10-29aa


Usually, Richard Butler, aka the Old Muser, confined his writings in the Hamilton Spectator to his weekly column, Saturday Musings.

However, on October 29, 1918, a review of recently-published booklet appeared. The review was not credited to anyone, but the style and reminiscences were completely in the Old Muser style.

Richard Butler had lived in Hamilton in the 1850s, and worked as a printer, before leaving the city soon after the beginning of the American War between the States in 1861. Butler served in the Union Army, and after the war entered in the newspaper publishing field, first as an editor, later as an owner. After his retirement, Butler returned to Hamilton as the American Consul. In the 1890s, not long after returning to the city of his youth, Butler started writing the Saturday Musings column which dealt with aspects of the City of Hamilton’s history, including a number of personal reminiscences.

The booklet review which appeared in October 1918 contained references to the first arrival of a Great Western Railway train to Hamilton (an occasion which Butler surely witnessed), plus a look at a photograph taken in 1864, and finally memories of a Hamiltonian, Jack Quirk.

The Review follows :

“The Trail of the Swinging Lantern is the title of a bright booklet of 150 pages, the author of which is J. Copeland, traveling agent of the Chicago and Northwestern railway, 45 Yonge street, Toronto. Mr. Copeland is one of those Canadian boys who took to railroading with the Grand Trunk company, and whose fund of railroad history and humor makes a charming chapter that one can take up at any time and put in a pleasant hour reading over the names of Canadian boys who have made their mark in the railway world. The names of well-known Hamilton men take one back beyond two generations, when the Great Western was built from the Niagara river to the Detroit river.

“In 1853, Hamilton heard the joyful scream of the locomotive that hauled the first passenger train into the Stuart street depot, loaded with passengers from across the Niagara river and from the towns that intervened between the river and this blessed city, which causes every native-born Hamiltonian proudly to lift his head and throw out his chest when he hears its name mentioned. Those strangers from the outside world wanted to see the town and the people where the first important railway had its inspiration. Every man, woman and child in Hamilton was down at the Stuart street depot that forenoon to cheer themselves hoarse when the signal was given and the smoke of the coming locomotive was to be seen climbing the hill in the east and then descending like a frisky young colt for the home run into the depot. It was a wonder that half the population was not maimed and slaughtered, for they crowded the track and could hardly be entreated to give the locomotive a chance. That was a history-making day for Hamilton and for Mr. Copeland, in the Trail of the Swinging Lanterns, has caught the spirit of it and revives for his readers a delightful picture of an almost forgotten past.

“There are not many of the ancients of the Great Western walking the streets of Hamilton today: probably only two who are prominent in the photograph reproduced of the first mogul built in D. C. Gunn’s railway engine shops. When Sir Thomas Dakin, English chairman of the Great Western, and whose name appears on the mogul, made an official visit to this city in 1864. It was made a gala day down at the shops, and the photograph in question was taken. As a matter of ancient history, we will call the roll of them who proudly stood on and in front of the locomotive that their happy faces might be handed down to prosperity fifty-four years later in Mr. Copeland’s booklet : W. A. Robinson, assistant mechanical superintendent; George Forsyth, general foreman of the shops; Wm. McMillan, fuel purchasing agent; Samuel Sharp, mechanical superintendent; William Paine, locomotive foreman; Dick Furness, conductor; Aaron Penny, messenger official car; Geo. L. Reid, civil engineer; William Wallace, traffic agent; G. Harry Howard, booking agent; William Orr, district freight agent; George B. Spriggs, through freight agent; John Howard, general purchasing agent; Thomas Swinyard, general manager; Brackstone Baker, English secretary; Thomas Bell, treasurer; John Hall, foreman running department; John Weatherston, track superintendent; John A. Ward, mechanical accountant; Peter Neilson, station agent; William Wilson, track foreman, James Fawcett, call boy. They were a proud lot as they stood before the camera, to be handed down with that Gunn engine to posterity as being part of Canada’s first great railway


Of the above list of officials who were alive and active, only two are left – W. A. Robinson and John Hall. Mr. Copeland, the author of the booklet, must have a warm heart for John Quirk, an old Hamilton boy, who was a shoemaker by trade, and who was in partnership with George Steele. They had a shop on York street sixty years ago. Added to his ability to pull a wax end, George Steele was Hamilton’s fiddler in those days, and as there were balls and parties two or three nights a week. George did the fiddling while Jack Quirk took care of the shop. Jack was a stuttering Irish lad, and one of the most genial cobblers that ever hammered a sole of a shoe, and left the pegs sticking up to torment the feet of the unfortunate customer. But we are not writing a history of Jack Quirk; this is only an introduction to the days when he began as a baggage smasher on the Erie and Niagara railway, running from Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake. That was in 1867. After Jack had smashed up about half the trunks on that line, the managers said, ‘Well done, good and faithful baggage master, we will make a conductor of you before you bankrupt the company in paying damages for broken trumps.’ Well, to shorten the story, Jack punched tickets on the Great Western and the Grand Trunk roads till it was time for him to quit, and now he is living a life of leisure at Wingham.



        “The book is a good history of railroading in Canada.”1



1 “Swinging Lanterns : When Hamilton First Heard the Shriek of a Locomotive”

Spectator October 29, 1918.

Wednesday 2 May 2018

1918-10-26




Saturday Musings

Spectator October 26, 1918

   HAMILTON GHOULS DESCECRATE AN ANCIENT GRAVE

        Seventy years ago last March, there passed away in Hamilton a great and good man – eminent in his profession and generous to the poor. Dr. William Case, a native of the United States, settled in Hamilton long before the town had even a name on the map, save the designation, the Head of the Lake. He came to Canada in the days when the United Empire Loyalists were seeking a home where they could enjoy such political rights as was at that time denied them, although they were mainly natives of the United States. Dr. William Case was born in the state of New Hampshire, studied medicine in Philadelphia, and practiced in his native town till about the year 1810, when he came to the Head of the Lake, and bought a farm in Barton township, about one mile east of the then limits of this village, but years ago taken in as part of the corporation of Hamilton, where he practiced medicine, and looked after the cultivation of his farm. There was not much profit or demand in those days for the services of a doctor, and Dr. Case had to do quite a bit of farming on the side to pay the family expenses. Although an American born, he took sides with Canada in the war of 1812, and for two years, his house was converted into a military hospital for the care of sick and wounded soldiers. The patriotic doctor not only physicked the sick and dressed the wounds of his patients, but his good wife prepared the nourishing food that restored them to life and health. This was done without expectation of fee or reward from the Canadian government, but as an act of humanity by the doctor and his wife. Sometime after the close of the war, the government made an appropriation to repay the doctor for his outlay, but the doctor positively refused to accept a dollar more than the actual costs. A few years ago, the ancient home and hospital was torn down in the march of improvement, but fortunately we are permitted the use of a photographic view of the old homestead, taken by Colonel McCullough, of the Ontario Engraving Co., a week or two before the house was demolished.

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          Up on the mountainside, at the head of Ferguson avenue, the Hamilton family had a private graveyard, for in those days such a place as a cemetery was not even dreamed of as a burial place for the early settlers. It was first used as a sepulcher for the wife of Captain Durand, the original owner of what was afterward the farm and homestead of George Hamilton. The Durand farm, of one hundred acres, descended from the mountaintop down to Main street, and in the year 1813 was platted and sold in town lots to comprise the original town of Hamilton. When Captain Durand and his wife, in 1805, were moving from Simcoe to this farm, in driving down the mountainside, Mrs. Durand was upset from the carriage, and the lady killed, dying almost at the moment of the accident. She was buried on the farm in that mountainside graveyard. Captain Durand, some years afterward, had his wife’s remains to the Ancaster graveyard, where he is also buried. After George Hamilton bought the farm, he continued that spot as a family graveyard, and also permitted a few of his personal friends to bury their dead in it. Dr. Case was the Hamilton family physician, and when he died in 1848, the only cemetery in Hamilton was owned by the English Protestant church. For some reason, Canon Geddes, who was then incumbent of Christ’s church, would not give his consent to the burial of Dr. Case in the cemetery, and George Hamilton tendered a place in his private graveyard. It was a costly place in which to dig a grave, as the mountain stone came up close to the surface, with not more than a foot of earth as a covering. So popular was the good doctor case that the people came from far and wide to do honor to his memory.

It was a bright, sunshiny day in the closing days of the month of March when the funeral cortege climbed up the John street hill to the place of burial. Hundreds were there to pay the last token of respect for one who was not only a friend of everybody, but especially to the poor, for no night was so stormy that the good doctor would not turn out to answer a sick call. If the patient was able to pay, the doctor got his fee, but there were scores in Hamilton in those days who were not able to pay much; but they got the same care and attention as the wealthiest class. After the burial service was read and the pallbearers were about to consign the coffin to the rocky sepulcher, the sky suddenly became overcast, the thunder rolled, vivid lightning flashed, and the rain came down in torrents. There was a wild scattering of the audience, and the coffin was left unburied. Some of the superstitious ones attributed the fierceness of the storm as evidence of the Almighty’s displeasure at the burial of the good doctor in unconsecrated ground. When the storm passed over, a few of the mourners returned and consigned the remains of the doctor to his rocky grave. Many years later, the remains of the Hamilton family that had been resting in that mountainside graveyard were moved to the cemetery, where stands a monument to the memory of George Hamilton and his family.

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In that lonely grave on the mountainside, the remains of Dr. Case have rested for seventy years as peacefully as though he had been buried in Canon Geddes’ consecrated graveyard. The passersby are attracted to it and ask many questions about it. Some old Rip Van Winkle, whose head is frosted with a few score Hamilton winters, delights to sit on the stone wall at the head of Ferguson avenue and tell the story of that stormy day seventy years ago and recount the charitable deeds of mercy performed by the good doctor in caring for the indigent sick. As a covering to the rocky sepulcher there was placed a slab on which was carved, ‘Sacred to the memory of William Case, M.D., who died on the 24th of March, 1848, in the 72nd year of his age.’ Only that and nothing more. As the good old doctor was simple in his habits, living only that he might do good in his day and generation, may it be as well that no eulogy should be placed on the stone.

Dr. William Case was the father of the venerable Dr. William I. Case, who died a few years ago. From time immemorial the doctor the later generations knew occupied an ancient frame house on the southwest corner of King and Walnut streets. Old timers involuntarily look across to where the frame building stood in full expectation of seeing the face of the doctor, with his long white beard, peering through the window facing Walnut street. Mrs. Robert Land, who was close to one hundred years old when she died, was the daughter of Dr. William Case and the sister of the Dr. Case that later generations knew. A granddaughter, probably the last one of the family, still survives and makes her home in Hamilton.

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The Hamilton vandals, some of whose grandmothers Dr. Case many a time attended in sickness and never received a penny for his services, cannot keep their vile hands from desecrating the grave that has for seventy years been his resting place. Recently the stone slab was ruthlessly torn from the grave and broken, and leaving a gaping hole in the rocky sepulcher. It is not creditable to the city officials of Hamilton that this condition should exist. The patriotic doctor of the war of 1812, who freely gave his professional services to the sick and wounded Canadian and British soldiers, and also opened his home for a hospital, deserves better treatment from a community in which he spent his life in doing good to the afflicted. His grave should be the care of the city and protected by a substantial mausoleum, carved to tell the story of his life, and so surrounded that the vandal and ghouls of Hamilton can nevermore despoil it.
Case Sepulcher Date of photo unknown


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A GOOD SON PROVIDES FOR THE FUTURE COMFORT OF HIS FATHER AND MOTHER

It is with pleasure that the Muser tells the story of a thoughtful son who has provided for the future comfort of his father and mother. The son is a young man in years and is the loving husband of a dear wife, their joint possession being the sweetest baby that ever was born. Naturally all parents think the same of their babies. We are not going to tell the name of the son, for the reason that we do not think he would like to be made a hero of, though he is a hero all the same. He is not a native of Hamilton, but was born within fifty miles of this town, between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. He was an ambitious boy when in his teens and declared that as soon as he arrived at man’s estate, he would hie him to some foreign country and make a name for himself as well as some money, both of which he has been successful in doing. He is an architect by profession, and in the years of his foreign residence has had charge of the construction of many costly public buildings as well as private residences. That he has made money goes without saying when we consider the handsome provision he has made for his father and mother, as well as laying by for the future of his own family. He has two sisters, one married and one single, the single one holding a responsible position in Hamilton.

The other day, the younger sister was happily surprised on receiving a letter from her brother, containing a foreign draft for $15,000, with instructions that his sister invest in some long-time bonds of undoubted security. Now this dear young lady has all the confidence in the world in the financial standing of the city in which she is making her home, so she called City Treasurer Leckie on Tuesday last and subscribed for $15,000 worth of long-time Hamilton bonds, making them payable to her father and mother jointly or to the survivor, thus insuring to them an income during their lives of $900 per annum. This, added to what his father and mother have laid by for a rainy day, as well as being the owner of a good home in the town in which they live, will make the burden of years fall very lightly on them, and provide them with not only the comforts but many of the luxuries of life.

Then there was no string attached to that splendid gift, for when it has done its beloved work for the care of father and mother, that loving son and brother directed that after their death, the money be divided equally between the two sisters, so that it would continue to be a blessing and a provision for those near and dear to him. On that foreign draft was a premium exchange of $285. The young lady will add to that the balance of $15 and purchase Victory Bonds worth $300, and the interest on those bonds will be payable to father and mother.

Those dear parents can never cease thanking God for being the father and mother of such a son and such loving daughters. This little story is told in the hope that other sons and daughters will not forget the father and mother who cared for them during the years of childhood, providing them with every comfort.

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THE MARCH OF IMPROVEMENT

The T. H.& B. railway company must have more room in its freight yards to accommodate its increasing business in Hamilton. The only that stands in the way is the elegant Aged Women’s Home at the head of Wellington street, and this the company must have to carry out its plan of engagement. Probably it may not be a bad move after all that the managers of the home must search for a new location, for the freight yard is certainly a detriment to the property. There no doubt will be regret that a change must be made, for the home is fitted up with all the comforts to make it attractive and desirable to the dear old ladies who are spending the declining years of life free from care and worry. When Albert Bigelow endowed the Girls’ Orphan Home with $20,000, and which served its day and purpose till there were no orphan girls to need a home in That building, he probably never dreamed of the benevolent use that home was to be put to in the future.

Added to the $20,000 given by Albert Bigelow, there was another good angel to increase the power of the home to do good. When Mrs. John Thompson died, she provided in her will the sum of $10,000 for the Aged Women’s Home, and with this added income the managers were able to make improvements that have added to the comfort of its inmates. The property has largely increased in value in the past twenty or thirty years, and it will be difficult to find another location equal to it before the railway company occupied that part of town. There is one other location that would be desirable if it can be purchased at a price within the means of the managers, and that is the George Rutherford property, on the corner of King street and Sherman avenue. It has all the desired requisites on which to build such a home that would be an ornament to the city.

It may be interesting to give some items from the report of Mrs. W. C. Breckenridge, who had been treasurer of the Aged Women’s Home for many years. Before going into the report, let us state that in addition to the $10,000 given by Mrs. John Thompson for improvements on the building, she also gave $5,000 towards a trust fund, the interest on which was to pay the entrance fee of old ladies without money or friends. William Vallance generously provided in his will the sum of $1,000 to be invested as an endowment fund. No mention seems to have been made of the donation of $20,000 given by Albert Bigelow, and which was really the foundation upon which was built the Children’s Industrial school, the Hamilton Orphan asylum, and the Boys’ home. The Industrial school is now known as the Girls’ home, on George street, the Orphan asylum is now known as the Aged Women’s home, the Boys’ home has kept its original name. To each of the institutions named Albert Bigelow left $20,000.

Let us go back seventy years ago, when the Ladies’  Benevolent society, which was organized in 1846, established an orphan asylum, and I connection with it a day school for the children of the poor. The ravages of the cholera in 1847 left many destitute orphans who found a home in the asylum. A larger building was needed than was then occupied to accommodate the number of orphans and children attending the day school, and in 1851, Mayor John Fisher, the proprietor of the first foundry built in Hamilton, gave his year’s salary as mayor, $400, towards building an orphan asylum, to which was added a number of donations from the churches, and the surplus from a firemen’s ball. The city council voted $3,2000 toward the building fund, but for some reason it was not accepted by the board of managers. The site of the present Aged Women’s home was selected, and it was a lovely spot before the railroad came and despoiled it, and in 1854, the building was finished and occupied, at a cost of $6,408. The government gave a grant of $400 a year. When the Central school was opened, there was no necessity for the continuance of the day school. The home was liberally supported by the contributions of the people. It was in the year 1873 that Albert Bigelow made his will and made glad the hearts of the lady managers of the home by a contribution of $20,000. Mr. Bigelow was a prosperous businessman in Hamilton, being a dealer in china, glass and earthenware. He was a bachelor, but not from choice for it was told of him that in his younger days he was engaged to a beautiful young lady, and that all arrangements were made for their marriage when the prospective bride sickened and died. He had two sisters tgo whom he left $10,000 each, and to his housekeeper he left $1,000. The remainder of his fortune was left to found homes for the unfortunate. From all indications the Aged Women’s home will pass from its present location.  
Aged Women's Home ca 1878