“Wonderful
results have been attained by the members of the east end division of the local
police force, in the relief work which the officers have been engaged for the
past three or four weeks.”
Hamilton Spectator. December 14, 1914
In December, 1914, the staff at large
building on Sherman avenue north, just north of Barton, was even busier than
usual. The members of the east end division of the Hamilton Police department
added a major charitable endeavor to their ongoing duties:
“Encouraged by the assistance rendered
by the residents of the eastern section of the city, and spurred on by
conditions in the east end, the Sherman avenue division has done noble work.”1
1 “All Hustling to Relieve
Distress : Poor of Many East End Homes Will Be Helped : Gifts for Kiddies and
Necessities for Adults : Unfortunates Will Greet the King of Yule.”
Hamilton Spectator. December 14, 1914
While the upcoming Christmas season
was definitely in view as regards the efforts to help residents in the area patrolled
by the east end division:
“Using the old clothes donated to them
by the different people interested, they have been able to clothe over two
hundred families. In addition, over one hundred children have been supplied
with new shoes and a great number with new stockings and underwear.
“Fuel has been secured for the most
destitute cases, food for nearly all, while medical attention has been secured
for some cases of sickness.
“The Sherman avenue station, as well
as a couple of private houses, has been turned into a receiving station for old
clothes, food and other donations, and as rapidly as these donations are
rounded up by the police, who have been using the patrol as an express wagon,
they are turned over to those in want.
“Inspector Coulter has every man in
the division actively interested, while Constable Hill has been doing nothing
but relief work for some time and will continue to confine himself to this kind
of work until after Christmas.”1
Christmas
was a definite target date for the policemen and their assisting volunteers
working at the Sherman avenue station :
“Their Santa Claus fund has grown
beyond all expectations.
“Started originally by Sergeant
Hawkins, with the intention of raising enough money to secure a few Christmas
gifts for about 50 children, the fund has grown to such proportions that it is
now expected that nearly 600 children will be looked after.
“Last night there were 567 children on
the police list, and it is quite certain that another hundred will be added to
this list in the next week
“It is the intention to supply each
kiddie on the list with a pair of warm stockings, well-filled with nuts and
candies. Toys will also be handed the boys, with dolls for the girls, while the
whole day will be rounded out by the distribution of a well-filled basket of
food to each family. These baskets will be sent out Christmas Eve and will
contain a hearty, substantial Christmas dinner for each family, with a roast of
beef as the main item on the menu.”1
The
policemen in the east end division were thankful for the generous support their
efforts were receiving from citizens, organizations and businesses in the area:
“For instance, each of the three
moving picture theaters located in the east end staged ‘Santa Claus’ matinees
last week, and turned over more than $30 to the police fund as a result.
“Yesterday, President Atherington, of
the British association, called at the police station with a donation of $11
from the members of the association. In addition, collections have been taken
up by the employees of Westinghouse, Frost Wire Fence company, Moodie’s
knitting factory and other east end concerns, and the money turned over to the
police fund, which is expected to amount to about $250 by Christmas.
“Donations of candies, nuts, toys and
other desirable items have been received, while several of the city’s wholesale
establishments have rendered every assistance on the materials which have had
to be purchased.
This week three loads of potatoes and
a like number of loads of apples, along with a considerable quantity of
turnips, cabbage, etc., are being delivered to the Sherman avenue station by several
Flamboro township farmers who have been interested. These are to be used in
rounding out the Xmas baskets which are to be packed on Christmas eve.”1
The Hamilton Spectator article which
appeared on December 14, 1914 was intended not only to describe what had been,
and was being done at the Sherman Avenue police station as regards, but it was
hoped that the article would spur even more help:
“The police are eager to secure
assistance of any kind. Old clothes, money, food, fuel or anything which can be
used is only too acceptable, and a telephone message or a postcard addressed to
the Sherman avenue station will result in a prompt call being made for the
donation.”
While the policemen were working hard
on the relief effort, they did receive help as well:
“The police are being added in their
work by a large number of ladies, who are doing splendid work, some of them
spending their time investigating the many cases, while others are sewing and
preparing things for the distribution on Christmas day.
“In order that proper distribution of
the Xmas baskets can be made, the offer of some twenty-five autos or rigs for
service on the afternoon of Thursday, December 24, is desired. Those eager to
help are asked to communicated with the Sherman avenue station.”1
(To Be Continued)
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