1915-05-07

“Dundurn park museum, completely redecorated and generally improved throughout was declared officially opened for the season yesterday afternoon.”

Hamilton Spectator.       May 8, 1915

In the presence of a prominent gathering of local dignitaries, Dundurn castle museum was not only opened for the 1915, but it was a different place than had been seen before:

“For some weeks, decorators, cleaners, painters and mechanics of various kinds have been busily engaged in completing extensive alterations and improvements to the historic old castle.”¹

¹ “Dundurn Opened for the Season : Park Has Been Decorated and Much Improved”

Hamilton Spectator.   May 8, 1915.

At 4 p.m., May 7, 1915, the current members of the Hamilton Parks board hosted a ceremony of Dundurn castle, the guest list including past members of the Parks Board and their wives, Hamilton Mayor Chester Walters, former mayor and current M.P. , T. J. Stewart.

The proceedings began with a recognition of  a long-time supporter of the Dundurn museum:

“The feature of the afternoon was the presentation by Albert A. Lees and Albert Pain, on behalf of the parks board, of a beautifully-worded illuminated address to Mrs. Sarah G. Carry, who in 1902, donated to the museum one of the most complete collections of relics and curios in Canada, the collection being so large that it completely fills what is known as the old castle drawing room.

“Since that time, Mrs. Carry has continually added to the collection, and in numerous other ways has done much to maintain the historic interest of the museum. As a mark of appreciation for her noble efforts, the presentation was made, and to make it more fitting, it was done in the room where Mrs. Carry’s collection is on exhibit.”¹

Both before and after the presentation was made, brief addresses were given, complimenting both Mrs. Carry and the committee in charge of the redecoration project. Harry Marshall, superintendent of Dundurn park, also received recognition to the excellent manner in which he conducted the affairs of the park, and for the splendid condition it was in.

It was announced that plans for the future included the addition of a “monster conservatory, in which all kinds of tropical and native plants will be maintained.”¹

After the ceremony, the guests were given a tour of Dundurn castle, beginning in a place that had been inaccessible to visitors for many years:

“A novel and interesting part of the afternoon was a visit to the underground passageways of the castle, in which the ladies of the party took even a greater interest than did their escorts. On this weird trip, the party was in charge of Harry Marshall, park superintendent, who, with a lighted lantern carried above his head, led the party from cavern to cavern, through winding tunnels, in and out of auxiliary stone vaults at great distance from the point of entrance, finally arriving at a remote and dark dungeon, the iron door of which had to be pried open with crowbars and axes before it swung back on its rusty hinges with a creaking, weird sound.

“Into this black and unventilated underground dungeon, Superintendent Marshall led the way with his lantern, closely followed by the men and ladies. In connection with this trip, it was suggested by some of the members of the party that it would be a novel scheme to install electric lights through these underground passageways and open them to the public for inspection.”¹

After the tunnels, the group visited other areas of Dundurn park:

“”Leaving the underground passageways, the party returned to the upper rooms, and were conducted to the newly-arranged refreshment parlors adjoining the museum building. Here, also, was another surprise. In the past, the refreshment parlors were anything but inviting in their general appearance, but under the master hand of decorators, painters and cleaners, the place has been changed into a veritable little Eden.

“A large table at one end of the parlors, laden with editables of the most tempting kind, was soon occupied by the guests, and under the direction of the Dundurn refreshment department, a number of neatly gowned young ladies were kept busy for the next half hour supplying the wants of the hungry but well-pleased guests.”¹

After the pause for some treats, several of the party ventured to the adjacent part of the Dundurn zoo:

‘”Leo, the big lion, was the center of attraction, and he looks fine and fit after a winter’s solitary confinement. The big king of beasts looked at his visitors with anxious eyes, and when Archie Kappele, secretary of the works department of the city hall, attempted to court an intimate acquaintance my reaching through the steel bars and tickling him under the chin, Leo brought his monster jaws together with a such a sharp snap  that his would-be friend turned pale with fright.”¹

The Spectator reporter who was present for the ceremony, and who accompanied the party on its tour, concluded his article, by noting that many additional Hydro lights had been added to the park, which along with other improvements recently made, all tended “to make Dundurn park one of the most delightful spots in the city.”¹