1914-03-20a

“Announcement was made this morning that the Bristol property at the corner of Bay and Herkimer streets has been purchased by a syndicate of prominent business men of the city, who intend to erect a first-class, up-to-date apartment house on that corner.”

          Hamilton Herald. March 20, 1914.

          In the Hamilton of early 1914, it was a wise real estate investment on a corner that was sure to attract significant interest.

          The corner of Herkimer and Bay streets was within easy walking distance of the city’s downtown core, and, at the same time, had the Hamilton Street Railway’s electric street car route readily accessible.

          The Hamilton daily newspapers gave some prominence to the announcement, giving considerable detail to the type of building planned for that corner.

          The Herald described the plans prepared by the firm of Stewart and Witton as follows :

          “The building will contain sixteen suites, will be fireproof and have all the modern conveniences. There will be an elevator for passengers and a small electric service elevator for each suite.

          “The basement will contain doctors’ and dentists’ office, janitor’s quarters and baths; also a billiard room for the use of the tenants.

          “Each suite will be made up of a living room, two bedrooms, a dining-room, kitchen and a bathroom, a maid’s room and a maid’s bathroom.

          “A roof garden will be on top of the building, where the tenants may spend the warm summer evenings. On the north side of the building will be a garage building large enough to hold ten large cars.”¹

               ¹ “Big Apartment House to Be Built : It Will Be One of the Most Up-to-Date in City and Cost $100,000 : Building Will Occupy Bristol Property on Herkimer Street.”

 Hamilton Herald. March 20, 1914.

The Spectator reporter located Mr. Stewart of the architectural firm hired to design the apartment house.

Stewart provided extra detail about the plans :

          “He said it would be the very latest design in buildings of this nature. Such conveniences as vacuum cleaners, a refrigeration plant, laundry with dryers and a dumb waiter which will run to a central delivery room in the basement by which all tradesmen will deliver their wares to the occupants of the suites will be installed.”²

               ² “Big Apartment House Planned : Bristol Property Purchased By Local Capitalists : Will Make Way for a Modern $100,000 Building.”

          Hamilton Spectator.

Further elaborating, Stewart provided the Spectator will more on the plans:

          “There will be a storeroom for each suite for the packing away of unused trunks. Another feature in connection will be the installation of a glazed tile chute, by which garbage may be shot to the basement for disposition. On reaching the basement, it will be taken by the janitor to an incinerator which, in turn will heat the water supplied to the suites.

“There will be a small room outside each kitchen for the refrigerator.

“For connection with each suite will be a large balcony, which will be converted into a sunroom in winter.”²

Stewart concluded his interview with the Spectator by declining to name the local investors in the project.

The newspaper accounts of the proposed luxury apartment building all pegged the cost to be in the $100,000 range and that the wrecking of the former Bristol residence would be commenced immediately.

The target date for completion of the Herkimer Apartments was ambitious. It was to be ready for occupancy, hopefully, in just seven months, November 13, 1914.