1914 - Jan 26 Richard Pim

“The announcement of the death of Richard Pim at the asylum for the insane last night will recall to many Hamiltonians the eccentricities of this old veteran, who for many years was a familiar figure on the streets of this city.”

     Hamilton Spectator. January 26, 1914¹

Hamilton has never had a lack of colorful figures on its downtown streets, and certainly that was the case in the late 19^th and early twentieth centuries.

One of the most prominent of Hamilton’s street characters during that period was Richard “Old Dick” Pim.

Born about 1844, Richard Pim had music in his soul. Daily, he would be and his accordion would be heard, along King or James streets, and on market days, he would entertain the shoppers on the square.

Not only would Richard parade the streets, squeezing out sounds from his wheezy bellows, he would also sing with a booming voice. Not all that able to remember the popular tunes of the day, Richard specialized in presenting his own musical compositions to the public.

When Richard was 60 years old, he entered the annual Around the Bay Road Race.

As described in the Hamilton Spectator :

“Though sadly outdistanced, he gamely plodded his way around the 19 miles of the course. Dick’s running costume consisted of an ordinary suit of underwear, with a Union Jack tied around his waist, and the cheers of thousands greeted him as lined up with the best Marathoners in the country.”¹

¹ “Richard Pim Died at the Asylum : Eccentric Old Character Was Familiar Figure : Battered Old Accordion Was Sole Companion”

Hamilton Spectator. January 26, 1914.

As the years passed, Richard’s behavior grew progressively problematic.

During the 1906 Hamilton Street Railway and the accompanying rioting, Richard decided to show his support for the strikers by attempting to set fire to a street car. The police caught him but rather than being sentenced to a term in jail for his actions, Richard was declared to be insane and was sent to the asylum.

After eight years in the asylum, he died in that institution after an attack of apoplexy. He was 70 years old.