1915-01-02ab

New Year’s Day, January 1, 1915 was a holiday for most Hamiltonians.

A Times reporter had been sent out to hunt up some news but found things to be very quiet:

“ The first day of 1915 passed off quietly in the city of Hamilton.

          “All day long, auto after auto could be seen conveying the electors to the polls, and on the downtown streets, knots of men could be heard discussing the elections and the bylaws, and conjecturing as to the outcome of the day’s voting.

          “Those who left the city went on the eve of the New Year and there were only a few belated travelers at the stations yesterday. The theatres were all well-attended, especially at night.

“The hotels being closed, few inebriates were to be seen upon the streets yesterday, and evidently the citizens of Hamilton chose to pass the holiday with due decorum.

“Quite a number of soldiers who obtained leave from the military camp in Toronto were noticed upon the streets with their friends, and this reminded many of the citizens that at the opening of the new year, the empire was plunged into the biggest war in the history of the world.”¹

¹ “Happy New Year : Day Was Quietly But Well Celebrated in Hamilton”

Hamilton Times.   January 2, 1914.

Over at the Hamilton Y.M.C.A., at James street south and Jackson street, the officials and the staff of the Y held a well-attended open house:

“Throughout the day, there were great activities in every branch, and a large number of interested friends and well-wishers were present to witness the exhibitions of the various games and exercises which have been instituted there for the benefit of the members.

“Special interest was centred in the physical department, and a large number were present to inspect the new ideas which have been introduced into that branch of the work since the new staff came into office.”²

² “Open Day at Y : New Year Events Proved Highly Entertaining”

Hamilton Times.    January 2, 1915.

An ongoing display of drills and exercises was put on for the benefit of visitors in the gymnasium. At four o’clock in the afternoon, Robert McBirnie, the swimming class instructor, aided by members of his swimming club, showed visitors their abilities in the Y’s large swimming pool. In the latter part of the afternoon, the ladies of the YMCA auxiliary served light refreshments in the parlor for visitors.

It was felt that the open house had been a decided success:

“Fully two hundred persons took advantage of the invitation to attend, and all through the day, the members, together with their relatives and friends, made tours of inspection through the building.

In the evening, a special programme of indoor team sports was held, including a basketball games, and an indoor baseball game:

“This year, the parents of the boys showed  great deal more interest in the work, and the means used to build up the boys, and the attendance was much larger than in former years.

“It is expected that the membership will be greatly increased, as all saw the excellent means used to develop the better part of the boy and young man.”²

Things remained quiet in downtown Hamilton. . Although it had been a municipal election day, there had been no untoward incidents :

“The absence of the ‘Black Maria’ also spoke well for the day, and the police did not appear to be overworked.

“In the evening, Mayor-Elect Walters, in an automobile, addressed the electors in different parts of the streets and was cheered to the echo wherever he appeared.

“The rinks were well-patronized.”¹