1914-03-19

In March 1914, the roadway linking Queen Street South with the top of the escarpment, Beckett Drive, was still owned privately. The roadway had been built in 1893 using private funds

For many years was a toll road, Beckett Drive was a toll road, although the level of revenue expected never materialized to a sustainable level. By 1914, there were considerable public pressure for the city to purchase the road and make available for motorists, and horse and carriage traffic at no charge.

One of the problems in making the purchase of Beckett Drive was the fact that Mr. Beckett ran out of funds to pay the workers, so in order to get the road completed, workers were given stock on the toll road company, and so had some title on the property.

At a March 18, 1914 meeting of the Hamilton Parks Board, another effort was made to have either the Hamilton Parks Board or the City of Hamilton itself purchase Beckett Drive.

Adam Hope was the main advocate for the purchase :

“He (Hope) announced that Mr. Beckett was asking $15,000, and that the city had offered $12,000. Four citizens interested in the project had offered to give $1,000 among them, and he suggested that the board give the other $2,000 and close the deal which has been long pending and which would benefit the city in every way.”¹

¹ No More Crows for West End : Parks Board Balks at Zoo Donation : City is Urged to Buy Beckett Drive”

Hamilton Spectator. March 19, 1914.

The City of Hamilton had been offered Beckett Drive a few years earlier for $8,300 but indecision and delay had resulted in the price being asked to escalate.

As the meeting was about to close discussion on the matter, a message was received that the city had increased its offer to $14,000 and that the whole matter would be addressed at the next meeting of the Finance Committee.

(To Be Continued)