1914-12-24aggge

Christmas eve, 1914 had arrived.

          Throughout the wintry morning and afternoon of December 24, 1914, an ever-moving line of autos and horse-drawn slowly moved forward towards the front door of the Sherman avenue north police station.

          The distribution of such a bounty of items to help many families residing east of Wentworth street was underway.

          What began as a modest idea had grown into something that the originators never envisioned :

          “When Sergt, Hawkins first installed the box in the entrance of the station asking for contribution to make Christmas brighter for a few who otherwise might not be able to celebrate the day, he expected that perhaps forty or fifty dollars might be raised.

          “As the idea grew and publicity was given to the plan, donations of money, food, toys, clothing and vegetables began to pour in, and before long a corpse of policemen and helpers were required to handle the offerings.

          “With the generosity of the friends and donors made manifest, the plans of the workers grew apace; the acorn had verily become a sturdy oak.”¹

               ¹ “Christmas Cheer for City’s Poor : East End Police Are Making Distribution Today : Over 300 Families to Receive Baskets : And Santa Claus Will Call on 900 Kiddies”

          Hamilton Spectator. December 24, 1914.

          A Spectator reporter visited the east end police station the night before the scheduled distribution of the Christmas baskets and recorded what he saw:

          “The police station on Sherman avenue was a hive of bustling activity last evening, when the men of the station and their wives, who have added materially to the good work, were making up the final baskets for today’s distribution.

          “Every spare foot of space in the station was crowded with baskets. In several rooms long tables had been placed, and these were packed closely with well-filled baskets.”¹

               Each of the 300 Food baskets contained the following provisions : sugar, butter, cake, canned fruit, oranges, vegetables, apples, potatoes and a large roast of beef.

          The distribution began at 9 a.m. and continued until the supper hour.

          A happy little incident occurred during the day, when the policemen brought in bouquets of roses which they presented to the ladies who had worked so hard on the project for several weeks.

          On Christmas day, the work of the east end police and volunteers continued. All the baskets had been distributed, but there were still many toys left.

Many children, from the youngest upwards, visited the station in hopes of receiving a gift. They were not disappointed as the workers, including Hamilton Mayor Allan, were kept busy:

“The mayor became a real Santa and put in some of the busiest hours he has spent this year. There were so many little folk – and big ones too for that matter – to be looked after that the distribution took quite a long while. But eventually all departed, smiling and happy.”¹

¹ _“Mayor Allan Put in a Busy Holiday : Attended Many Distributions of Christmas Cheer.”

Hamilton Spectator.   December 26, 1914