1914-08-17af

“The largest crowd that ever assembled in the city of Hamilton was at Dundurn park last night when the band of the Ninety-First regiment under the direction of Bandmaster Stares gave a concert, the program of which consisted of patriotic and sacred music.”

          Hamilton Spectator.  August 17, 1914.

          It was estimated that over 20,000 people were in Dundurn park on Sunday evening, August 16, 1914 when a patriotic concert began with the playing of God Save the King:

          “The head of every man in the crowd was bared while the national anthem was being played. The people did not join in the singing with as much vim as was expected, but they showed greatest enthusiasm.”¹

¹ “Patriotic Concert : Over 20,000 People Listened to 91^st Band in Dundurn Park”

Hamilton Spectator. August 17, 1914.

The concert had been scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. but long before that time, large numbers of people were making their way along York street to the park as early as 7 p.m.:

“Extra cars which the street railway company put on the York street line were unable to handle the crowds. Every roadway through the park was lined with automobiles and the streets bordering on the park were also lined with automobiles.

“People who had seen gatherings of all kinds in the city for the past 40 years claim that it was the largest by far that they ever saw and one thing is certain, no event in Hamilton drew so many autos.”¹

To help further purpose of the event, which was to collect donation for the hospital ship fund, a large number of boy scouts volunteered their services :

“The boy scouts were on hand early, having paraded from their headquarters at 7:30, and they started on their errand of passing around the collection boxes for the hospital ship long before the band arrived.”¹

After the concert, the huge crowd dispersed in a happily and in an orderly manner:

“York street was thronged with people walking down, the middle of the road proving just as well patronized as the sidewalk.

“It was a truly patriotic crowd that turned out to listen to a program of patriotic music and the thanks of the citizens are due to the members of the band, who gave their services generously for so noble a cause.”¹

There had been a problem at Dundurn Park that evening. The refreshment booth at the pavilion was in charge of the men who had leased it from the City of Hamilton. A number of chairs were set up inside the pavilion for general use.

The operators of the refreshment booth took it upon themselves to decide who and who should not be allowed to use the pavilion’s furnishings:

“During the 91^st band concert, they drove tired women and children from the chairs and tables when they refused to purchase ice cream or other refreshments.

“One case reported was that of two women, one of them being well up in years, who were occupying chairs near the refreshment stand. One of the men from the booth ordered the women to vacate the chairs, and when a man who was standing nearby interfered on their behalf, and advised the women to remain in their seats, as the chairs were the property of the city, the refreshment man became quite insulting and advised the man to mind his own business, stating at the same time that the chairs were the property of the booth owners, and not the city.

“The women, rather than have further trouble, vacated the chairs, and remained standing the balance of the evening. Many others were ordered to vacate their chairs. Some refused, others complied, while some, in order to hold their seats, ordered ice cream or other refreshments.”²

² “For the Public : Chairs and Tables at Dundurn Are Owned by City.”

Hamilton Spectator. August 17, 1914

The morning after the concert, Archie Kappele, secretary of the works department, told the Spectator that the chairs and tables were property of the city, “ ‘and were placed there for the convenience of citizens who visit Dundurn park,’ he said.”²

The ladies in charge of raising sufficient funds for the hospital ship told the press that $122 had been collected at the Dundurn park concert. The major fund-raising effort had been the previous day when “patriotic and loyal women” worked from early morning to late at night, visiting every corner of the city asking for donations. More than $5,000 was raised that day.

One volunteer assisting the ladies on Saturday was a young boy in Gore Park:

“One of the most interesting figures seen in the canvass was Master Reginald Herbert Drayton, a little lad of five years, who was attired as a sailor boy, and presided over a miniature ship near the Queen’s monument.

“All through the afternoon, the little fellow stayed at his post, and at the close of the day, over twenty-five dollars was found in his collection box.”³

³ “Fine Response to Hospital Fund Appeal : People Contributed Liberally to Worthy Cause”

Hamilton Spectator. August 17, 1914