1914-08-11a

Although a summer holiday was welcomed, the Civic Holiday of August 1914 had a shadow that made it far less carefree than in previous years.

          The weather of August 10, 1914 almost ideal, although marred by a few brief showers during the day.

          Hamiltonians choose to either spend the day in the city or take advantage of one of the many holiday excursions organized by the railways and travel to neighboring cities or towns:

        “Despite the fact that the war has upset the arrangements of many homes in the city, King Pleasure had his sway, and the outgoing trains to such places as Niagara Falls and Buffalo were all well crowded in the morning.”

          “How Hamilton Spent Holiday : Large Number Enjoyed Veteran’s Parade”

          Hamilton Spectator.  August 11, 1914.

          The T.H. and B. station was crowded at 8 a.m. when a considerable number of army and navy veterans living in Hamilton boarded a train to Buffalo. A picnic in that city had been organized by the Army and Navy Veterans Society of Hamilton:

          “Most of these men have sent in their names to Ottawa for the purpose of rejoining the colors and taking part in the war which is now proceeding in Europe, and many of them were reservists who in a few days will probably be on a troopship en route for the scene of operations.

          “This, therefore, was something in the nature of a reunion, and the cheerfulness which these warriors displayed was indicative of all that is best in British manhood. They went to Buffalo in the heartiest and happiest spirit, and will embark for Europe in an equally enthusiastic vein.”¹

               The interurban radial railways were well patronized during the whole Civic holiday of 1914. The most targeted destination was the lakeside communities at Grimsby and at the Beach Strip.

          Grimsby, in addition to its attractive stretch of beach beside Lake Ontario, had a pleasant village area with shops and restaurants which were heavily patronized.

          At along the Beach Strip people could choose to swim either in the relatively cold waters of Lake Ontario, or go to the other side of the sandstrip and swim in the warmer waters of Hamilton Harbor:

          “Bathing seemed to be the principal attraction for the bay was full of swimmers, while those who conduct a boating business along the beach reaped a rich harvest all day.”¹

               Another mode of transit leaving and returning to Hamilton was steamship travel.

From dawn to dusk, the steamships crossed the lake to Toronto and back:

“The boats to Toronto were freely patronized, but a large number of Hamiltonians were much too interested in the war situation to go far away from the Spectator office, where throughout the day they were well-supplied with the latest news from Europe by means of a special wire service which kept going until well on in the evening.”¹

In many ways, it was a Civic Holiday like many that had been enjoyed by Hamiltonians as before. However, the concern about the developing war situation in Europe and what it might mean for husbands, sons, brothers and friends was never far from the minds of many.

The bulletins posted at the Spectator office were a way to keep informed and those not having to work on the Civic holiday stayed in the downtown area to be able to learn up-to-the-minute developments outside the newspaper office.