1915-03-18uu

“ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN TO DO HIS DUTY. IF YOU CAN’T FIGHT, GIVE SOMETHING FOR THE HAMILTON BOYS IN THE TRENCHES”

Hamilton Spectator.    March 18, 1915.

Above was the motto attached to a lot of ballot boxes which were placed in various locations throughout Hamilton on Friday, March 19, 1915, to stay in place until the following Wednesday.

The Soldiers’ Comfort Fund had not been meeting with the kind of support anticipated, so it was decided to try an additional tactic.

At a meeting in Hamilton Mayor Walters’ office, the Hamilton Active Service Fund committee still showed enthusiasm for the fund and expressed determination to work harder:

“It was decided to try and get the people awakened to what the fund was really for. The response has not been as good as it should be, but it is a purely voluntary affair and no canvassing will be done.

“ ‘You’ve got to hit some people in the head with a mallet to make them wake,’ said H. C. Beckett, ‘and I think it is time we followed some such course.’ ”¹

¹ “Adopt Slogan For Soldiers’ Comfort Fund : If You Can’t Fight, You Are Asked to Give”

Hamilton Spectator.   March 18, 1915.

 

The initial thought was that the donation boxes, actually ballot boxes loaned by the City of Hamilton,  would be placed in churches and various stores, but J. Orr Callaghan who attended the meeting announced that he had arranged to have the boxes placed in all the Hamilton public schools so that the children could participate.

          The meeting also read aloud a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Moore who stated that soldiers at the front were in urgent need of funds to defray expenses for necessary items that were not provided by the military. He made full assurances that the funds would be fairly distributed, and that he would personally see to it that the funds were used properly.

A final decision made at the meeting was that no personal canvassing would be done. However, that was changed after Charles Heming, Hamilton Scout Commissioner approached Mayor Walters with the offer that local Boy Scouts would parade in uniform on Saturday March 27, armed with collection boxes. A band would head the parade. The scouts planned to march throughout the city, and had a goal of raising $1,000.

Permission was granted to the scouts, especially as many of the Hamilton soldiers at the front were once boy scouts

“It is worth noting that the local scouts have over thirty representatives with the first Canadian contingent, and that they enjoy the distinction of sending the youngest member that went with the expeditionary force.”²

² “Boy Scouts to Collect for Comfort Fund : They Sent the youngest Member With Contingent”

Hamilton Spectator.  March 19, 1915.

In an effort to raise interest in the public in supporting the fund to provide soldiers with a few extras, the Spectator published some words from a member of the committee, R. L. Smith:

          “”Hundreds of our best citizens have already gone to the front and are now facing death in the trenches for the sake of home and country. Many others are ready to go and Hamilton can ill afford to neglect the present opportunity of contributing to their comforts. A little giving now, even though it may represent a personal sacrifice, is nothing compared with the great sacrifices our brave boys are called to make for the sake of humanity and the motherland. Every Hamilton citizen should contribute to this fund, and do it quick.”³

^{3 “”}Call From the Trenches for Small Extras”

          Hamilton Spectator.  March 25, 1915.

Despite the great enthusiasm and hard work, the Boy Scouts were unable to loosen the purse strings of many Hamiltonians. Only 1/10^th of the $1,000 goal was attained.

Despite parading the city streets from early afternoon until 9 o’clock in the evening, only $100 was raised :

“With the exception of four five dollar bills, a couple of two dollar bills and a few one dollar bills, the money in the boxes consisted chiefly of dimes and a nickels. Also one shirt button.”⁴

⁴ “Gives Button to Comfort Fund : Meanest Man in Hamilton Has Been Found”

Hamilton Spectator.    March 29, 1915.

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One of the most well-known Hamiltonians at the front during March, 1915 was Lieutenant G. R. Forneret, son of Archdeacon Forneret of the Church of the Ascension.

Lieutenant Forneret had been a participant in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, March 10-12, 1915. His parents knew that he had been wounded and was conveyed to the Queen’s Canadian Military Hospital, Beachborough Park, Shorncliffe.

On April 13, 1915 Archdeacon Forneret  received a letter from George McLaren Brown who had visited that hospital.

The letter, dated March 28, 1915, was both interesting and a comfort to the concerned parents of Lieutenant Forneret:

“He was still in bed, looking wonderfully well, and as he said,’ as fit as anything.’ He was struck in one of the engagements and suffered concussion without inflicting any outward wound. It is thought the damage was caused by some heavy particle of spent shell. The doctors and his nurse tell me he is recovering rapidly and will soon be himself again. He temporarily lost the use of his lower limbs, but this he is recovering. He is as keen as mustard to be back at the front.

“Lord Grey and Col. Wm. Hendrie, who came with me to visit the hospital, both had chats with your boy. I had told Col. Hendrie of his being in hospital, and you can imagine his surprise at finding him there. Lord Grey was keenly interested in your boy and spoke of him and you to me several times on our return to London.

“Your son has doubtless written to you of the hospital, which, I am sure he will agree, is comfortable and well conducted.

                                                                   Sincerely yours ,

                                                                   Geo. McL. Brown.”¹

¹ “Is Recovering : Lieut. Forneret Had a Visit from Earl Grey.”

Hamilton Spectator.   April 13, 1915.

During a visit to him in hospital, Lieutenant Forneret was interviewed regarding his experiences :

In a published transcript of the conversation, the young officer from Hamilton articulated his experiences in battle vividly :

“ ‘Three impressions of life at the front remain with me,’ said the wounded Canadian officer. ‘are those of smell, sound and light. The first was sickly had had a tomboy flavor; the second was nerve-wracking for its intensity and continuousness, and the third was remarkable for its weird forms and surprises.’

“A shell crashed off the parapet of the trench, a particle of it tearing a hole in a scarf  that Lieut. Fornert wore rund his head. He assumed that he had escaped unhurt, beyond being dazed, but later, when he started to walk from the trench, his feet gave way, and the doctor ordered him home as suffering from concussion.

“When seen two days ago, he was still in bed, unable to walk, but otherwise appeared in good condition.

“ ‘In the trenches,’ resumed the speaker, ‘one does not get much time to think about the horrors, but the smell does undoubtedly suggest the valley of death.

“ ‘Then the lights are very weird and are of the sort that you see when you have nightmare – sickly blue and green flames. Then there are the little flashes that officers hold as they read almost illegible orders.

“ ‘Another variation is the dull, red glow of the brazier, but more comforting as it suggested warm and cooked food.

“ ‘As regards sound, the bombardment  that preceeded the great advance  at Neuve Chapelle was probably beyond anything heard in battle before. Yet it did not tell on my nerves at the time.

“ ‘One of my sergeants was shot through the head by a sniper. I had warned him not to be careless, and a few minutes after someone said :  ‘--- is gone.’ “Don’t joke, boys,’ I said, ‘or it may be real.’ It was true however, for there was the man, just breathing his last.

“ ‘Going into the trenches for the first time was an interesting experience,’ continued Lieutenant Forneret. ‘We, of course, went in at night. There was a cross road with troops lined up. When we reached that, we formed single file by platoons. Beyond an occasional crack of a rifle, there seemed nothing to suggest that this was the front. We were conducted to our trenches by a guide.

“ ‘The place we arrived at was just a broad, shallow valley with tall, polar trees standing out in the moonlight, and there were also one or two remnants of ruined farmhouses.  Then there passed by us four men bearing a burden covered with a blanket.

“ ‘We lft the road and struck down a slope. As we did so, a bullet whizzed right ahead of us – the noise was like a cat’s meow. The bullet entered the mud and another followed. Then the Germans sent up a flare, just like a brilliant Roman candle. At that moment , we saw a big mound, irregularly cut as if someone had been making a drain. We could see heads and shoulders moving about. We had come to the trenches. We went in as platoons, but a few regulars mixed in with us.

“ ‘How did you get on with the Tommies?

“ ‘Oh, they were good fellows all around. They pressed their tobacco upon us and did all they could to make us at home. It was the greatest demonstration we had since we left Canada, though there was no cheering. There was no attempt to patronize, but there was to fraternize.”²

² “Officer Tells of Big Battle : Lieu. Forneret in Thick of Neuve Chapelle Fight.”

Hamilton Spectator. April 17, 1915.

The conversation over, the lieutenant decided to rest as much as possible. He still had many stories to tell, and over  the next few weeks, while recovering from his wound, he would write to his parents of his time in battle, letters which would be shared with all Hamiltonians in the newspapers.  

 

Hamilton Spectator.    March 29, 1915.

 

 

1915-03-29qi

 

Soon after the mother of Sergeant George Burgess had been officially informed of his death at the front, she received the following letter, a letter reprinted in the Hamilton Spectator of March 18, 1915:

                                                                             "March 2, 1915

“Dear Madam :

“It is with sorrow and regret that I write these few lines. I am Sergeant Anderson, of Hamilton, and my wife lives at 40 Shaw street.

“Your husband and I were pals during the campaign, and up to lately in the same platoon. We used to grub together and look after each other and that last I saw of him while alive was when he brought up with his men some entrenching tools to my trench. We had a jaw about the rum and relations, and he went away laughing in the dark.

“You can understand the shock I got when the officer visited our trench the following evening and told me that your husband was killed. I cannot realize it yet, and I often look round for his cheery face. We often, as married men and comrades, discussed our wives and children, and he loved you and his children beyond all else, and often talked of you all. I have asked my wife to visit you.

“If God spares me to come back, I shall look after your interests to the best of my ability, for your sake and the children of my old comrade. We promised to do this for each other.

“The particulars of your husband’s death are as follows : He was in the supports of the firing line. The firing trench was on my right, which the Princess Pat’s charged and captured from our enemy.

“We had a lot of casualties and they kept crawling in nearly all day. One man shot in three places, got back quite a way, but was practically exhausted and could do no more. Word reached the supports of his condition and your husband and some men volunteered to bring him in. They crawled as far as possible, but at one place had to expose themselves to the enemy’s fire.

“Your husband, like a good soldier, led the way. He was shot through the head. Death was instantaneous and he suffered none.  He gave his life as a soldier and a man to save his comrade.

“Well loved by the whole company and regiment, we buried him like a soldier and a man, and his grave, although on foreign soil, shall be marked and looked after.

“I can only close by adding, may God bless you and the children and comfort you in your trouble. If at any time I can help you, if I live to get back, you have only to call on me.

                                                          “Faithfully yours,

                                                          G. Anderson,

                                                Sergeant 1^st Class, P.P.C.L.L.

          P.S. Enclosed is a bit of Scotch heather that he carried.”¹

                ^{1 “}Burgess Died a Hero’s Death With the Pats : Trying to Rescue Wounded Comrade When Killed.”

Hamilton Spectator.    March 29, 1915.

 

 

1915-03-29io

“Before a large congregation in Centenary church last evening, Rev. J. Woodsworth, B. A., secretary of the Canadian Social Welfare Society, spoke on the ‘Church and Community Problems.’ ””

Hamilton Spectator.    March 29, 1915.

It was an important message given by one of Canada’s most respected speaker on social justice, Reverend J. Woodsworth:

“Mr. Woodsworth is qualified to speak on this subject as he has made this his life’s work.”¹

¹  “Poverty and Social Conditions : Rev. J. Woodsworth,  B. A. On the Church and Community Problems”

Hamilton Times.   March 29, 1915.

The speaker readily admitted that the groundwork for the views expressed in his address came from his work in Winnipeg, but he was sure that the conditions were very similar in a city like Hamilton.

Bascically, Rev. Woodsworth was of the opinion that poverty was the primary cause of most social problems, and the reason for most social eveils:

“ ‘Theology teaches us that we must look after our brother,’ said the speaker, ‘when we do this we are following the first teachings of Christianity. We give a beggar a quarter on the street, but do you not think it is to still our own conscience and not help the beggar?

“ ‘Science has placed the means of dealing with the social problems in our grasp. Years ago, science found the well-known rule of cause and effect. This is particularly apparent in medical science. Smallpox is now practically eliminated, and they say by eliminating the cause, tuberculosis will be abolished.

“ ‘Social work is now being done along business lines. Instead of giving the beggar a quarter if he has lost a leg, as the case very often is, they give him a cork leg and help him to get work. They eliminate the cause of him being a beggar and help him to hold up his head.

“ ‘The same rule applies in sickness. Our sickness, in big cities, is generally caused from poverty and squalor. The social worker improves the dwellings and shows them hygienic methods of living. We find that this tends to lessen crime and degeneracy, and once more, we have the old rule of cause and effect. In Winnipeg, the housing conditions are bad and we are striving to eliminate this evil there.

“ ‘In social work, there should be no denominations. The hospital, recreation rooms, associated charity should be done by all the churches in a community. I see that you have no associated charity in this city, but I believe that it will come here because through this system the relief work is handled much better.’ ”¹

Rev. Woodsworth used charts to illustrate how infant mortality and other major problems associated with poverty could be reduced by either an increase in the wages of the working man, or by a reduction in the cost of the necessities average families needed to live properly and more healthily.

The speaker spoke hopefully of the future, that poverty and its resultant social problems could be significantly reduced, if not eliminated.

 

1915-04-26tt

“The murmurings of city officials against the attitude of Mayor Walters in interfering in department details, which have been quite audible of late, reached a loud and vigorous tone yesterday afternoon.” ”

Hamilton Times.    March 31, 1915.

There’s rarely a dull moment at Hamilton City Hall, especially as regards relations between senior staff and overly-aggressive politicians.

Usually the conflict and hostility were kept beneath a veneer of professionalism on both sides, but on March 30, 1915, City Solicitor Waddell took umbrage to critical remarks made by Mayor Chester Walters:

“The city’s legal representative, whose department is considered most efficient, not only made it plain that uncalled-for criticism would have to stop, but also informed Mayor Walters, in the presence of ten or twelve others, that if His Worship could run the department to better advantage than at present, he was willing to end in his resignation at once.”¹

¹ “Mayor and Official Have Vigorous Clash : City Solicitor Threatens to Resign and Let Chief Magistrate Run His Office.”

Hamilton Times. March 31, 1915.

The issue which prompted the solicitor’s outburst concerned the mayor criticizing the methods which were being used regarding accidents which had to be dealt with at the Claims Committee:

“When His Worship became quite vigorous in condemning this modus operandi, Mr. Waddell took exception to the magisterial utterances, declaring that he would not allow any further interference in the affairs of the legal department, and offering to resign if the Mayor could manage things any better.”

When confronted so forcefully Mayor Walters backed off, claiming that he was not meddling, merely making suggestions. The mayor also stated that he had not meant any offense.

The day following incident, two City Hall department officials spoke to a Times reporter. They asked for anonymity, but indicated that it was their intention to speak to the mayor about his interference into internal staff matters:

“It is claimed that that His Worship entered departments early in the morning and opened letters addressed to various officials on city business.”¹

In the aftermath of the heated meeting in which the mayor and city solicitor clashed, the matter seemed to have been settled, but the article which appeared in the Times prompted the Hamilton Herald to weigh into the matter.

The Herald carried an editorial in which it demanded a formal investigation into the dispute, stating that the matter was too serious to ignore.

The Herald editorial read, in part, “On Wednesday, a local paper said that the city solicitor had threatened to resign on account of the Mayor’s criticism of and interference with the legal department. The City Solicitor gave prompt denial to the story.”²

² Quoted in “The Mayor and Officials”

Hamilton Times.  April 5, 1915.

The Times disputed the solicitor’s denial, standing by its reporting of the meeting regarding that matter:

“Up to the time of going to press, the City Solicitor has not made denial to the Times of the story. In fact, before the Times went to press on Wednesday last, Mr. Waddell sent his deputy over to the Times office to request us not to publish the story. But as the request came too late, we could not, if we would, suppress publication of the matter.”²

As regards the claim that the mayor secretly entered department offices early in the morning and opened departmental mail, the Times admitted that it should not have printed that without firm substantiation of the statements made by the unnamed city officials:

“We confess that it would not have appeared in the Times had we had the opportunity to supervise the copy. But, in the rush of going to press, it slipped through.

“On the day of publication, we conferred with the mayor on the matter, and our explanations were accepted as satisfactory by him.

“The Herald knows as well as we do, the difficulties under which a newspaper labors in gathering its news, and the danger there always is of something getting by the censor. It also knows how unwilling it is itself to give the names of people who may supply it with ‘news’ whether true or false.”²

What irked the Times editorial writer was that the meeting occurred on the previous Wednesday. However, three days later, and two days after the Times had explained the matter regarding the mail opening claim to the mayor, the Herald decided to stir up the seemingly-cooled pot:

“After our explanations, the Mayor was quite willing to let it go at that; in fact, the Mayor called up the Times by telephone and requested that subject be allowed to drop, otherwise we would have explained and apologized before this.

“But as the Herald deems it proper to stir the matter up again, we feel it our duty to express to the Mayor our regret that such a statement should have been made, and our belief that it was a mistake pure and simple.”²

 

 

 

 

1915-04-29oo

“Convinced beyond persuasion that the City Hall  is permeated with politics and corporation rule, Controller T. S. Morris is determined to overthrow these interests”

Hamilton Spectator.    April 24, 1915.

Never shy about speaking his mind, Controller Tom Morris was a bold reformer at Hamilton City Hall, and not always the most popular of the local civic political contingent.

Still, by the end of April, 1915, he had gained the support of Mayor Walters and Controller Robson, so that with his own vote, he had a majority of 3 out of five votes on the board. He then set his sights on getting the Hamilton City Council equally supportive of his efforts:

“He hopes that there will be enough to insist on civic affairs being conducted along purely business lines, and not from the viewpoint of personal party concern.”¹

¹ “ Civic Affairs Are ‘Rotten’ Once More”

Hamilton Times.   April 29, 1915.

Speaking to reporters on the undue private sector and political party influences which successfully seem to have overwhelming influence at Hamilton City Hall, Morris did not mince words:

“In a statement today, the Controller was terse, but emphatic : ‘These interests have the city by the throat,’ he declared. ‘The most recent instance is the most flagrant case of hold up that I have ever known,’ ”¹

Controller Morris was referring to a five-year contract awarded to a friend of an alderman, a contract which had been awarded so quickly that no other firms had a chance to make a bid.

Controller Morris’ analysis of the situation was written up by the Times reporter :

“He figures that there are three ‘bosses’ interfering in municipal doings. One of these, an alderman, is merely a ‘straw’ man. The two others are a ‘corporation’ boss and a ‘political’ boss. The Controller does not care to mention names at this time, although in a safe position in to do so, he says.”¹

In 1914, there had been a major investigation into wrong-doing in the Board of Works department. Cases of theft , overbilling, paybacks to suppliers and more had led to a number of managers to be forced out from their jobs with the City of Hamilton :

“There is a strong feeling, growing around the City Hall that before the end of this year, there will be another investigation into the ways of city officials. The proposed inquiry will not touch the Board of Works, which is now regarded as the most business-like department in the whole City Hall, and which has been undertaking big work during the last year or so for cheaper than ever before.

“It was hinted today, though, that not only would a certain branch of the municipal service figure in this, but also certain members of City Council.”¹

 

 

 

 

 

1915-04-24rr

“With some of the best works of Canadian artists on exhibition, the art gallery, in the old library building, was the Mecca for a large number of Hamilton people last night ”

Hamilton Times.    April 24, 1915.

The Hamilton Art Gallery was host for a major travelling exhibition which provided local art lovers to view a series of exceptional paintings, while also supporting the Patriotic Fund:

“Shortly after the outbreak of the war, the presidents of the Royal Canadian Academy, Ontario Society of Artists and the Canadian Art club, devised a plan by which the artists of Canada might have an opportunity to unite in contributing to the Patriotic Fund.

“Already the exhibition, which is rotary, has been given in a number of the leading Canadian cities, and including the pictures, admission fees and sales from catalogues, about $12,000 has been raised for the fund, free of deductions, as the R.C.A. undertakes all the expenses connected with the transport, packing, framing and exhibition of the pictures.”¹

¹ “Exhibition For Patriotic Fund : Fine Pictures by Leading Canadian Painters”

Hamilton Spectator. April 24, 1915.

The exhibition consisted of 80 paintings and 2 sculptures which the artists contributed to the effort. Each work was to be sold to the highest bidder, all proceeds from the sales for the Patriotic Fund.

The Spectator reporter provided a verbal description of what the exhibition was like:

“As hung in the Hamilton art gallery, the collection has been arranged in good taste, and the many canvases appear to excellent advantage.

“As one entered the gallery, there was first seen the huge poster which as been used exclusively in advertising the exhibition in various cities. The poster was most apt in its subject and execution and was the work of J. E. H. Macdonald, who won first place in the poster contest for the campaign.

“As one wandered around the gallery, canvases by every well-known name in Canadian art greeted the eye, and only admiration could be expressed for the generosity of the artists who had given so bountifully of their work, for the intrinsic beauty and worth of the pictures themselves and for the forethought of the Royal Canadian Academy in affording the public an opportunity to view collectively the productions of home artists.”¹

There was a short ceremony to formally open the exhibition. It was announced that the exhibition would remain in Hamilton for a week up to Saturday May 1, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tea would be served to all visitors by lady volunteers from among the various patriotic organizations in the city.

 

  

 

1915-04-25jj

“The summer drink season is here. Old Sol started it going with a vengeance yesterday by sending down a brand of heat that would do him great credit any time in July or August”

Hamilton Spectator.    April 26, 1915.

Quite abruptly, the usual April weather of spring showers mixed with sunny pleasant temperatures became in 1915 a hot, humid blast of midsummer heat.

There were some hints on Saturday April 24, 1915 that a change in the weather was coming. The afternoon felt a tad warm, even briefly hot, but it was the next day that the late April heat wave arrived:

“The mercury had been sleeping in the lower part of the tube since last autumn and Old Sol decided that it was time for it to waken.

“And awaken it did with a jump that would scare seven kinds of daylights out of a person with a weak heart. It kept on soaring and soaring until it reached 88 degrees, which is some temperature for April.”¹

¹ “Record Heat for April Weather : Temperature Soared Until It Reached 88 Degrees”

Hamilton Spectator.  April 26, 1915.

The reporter for the Hamilton Times joined a throng of Hamiltonians who did what many Hamiltonians usually do what it got hot in the city:

“Sunday was one big day on the Beach. There was a continuous line of autos from early morn till late at night. The Radial Railway gave a half-hour service to the canal, and the cars were crowded on every trip.

“Bathers were noticed in the bay on Sunday. It is rather early for this.”²

² “Early Bathing : Several People Were in the Bay on Sunday.”

Hamilton Times.    April 27, 1915.

The Times reporter did find one aspect of his trip to the Beach to be lacking:

“The only fault people had to find was the inability to get refreshments, none of the canal stores being open yet.

“ William Chance, proprietor of Carson Place, stated to the Times, that he would open about May 15^th. ‘There is no use of buying ice cream until you can depend on the weather,’ said Mr. Carson.”²

Those who remained in the city on that hot Sunday, April 25, 1915, did the other thing that many Hamiltonians did when the weather became too hot to remain indoors:

“Dundurn park was crowded all day long and all evening, and all the other parks that afforded shade were also taken advantage of.”¹

According to a prediction in the afternoon edition of Monday’s Spectator, the unusual April heat wave would linger for awhile :

“Today it is hitting the high spots again, and at noon, it was up to 84 degrees. And the worst is yet to come, for the weatherman’s bet for the next 24 hours is decidedly warm.”¹

 

^{Carson Place, Hamilton Beach}

1915-05-05da

As the spring of 1915 set in, the reality of the Great War became more and more prominent, and unsettling, in the minds of Hamiltonians.

While the events in the Western Front and elsewhere were excruciating to contemplate, even the state of Hamilton’s safety was of concern. Rumors of spies in the city were prevalent.

On May 5, 1915, the Hamilton Times published the following article regarding the possibility of spies operating in the industrial districts:

“That German spies, desirous of doing serious damage to Hamilton factories producing war supplies, and particularly shells, may be in this city, intent on nefarious work, is the belief of the British War Office, for yesterday morning, through the Canadian War Office at Ottawa, they notified every factory in Hamilton to be exceedingly careful as to who were allowed on their plants.

“The warning, which came directly from the Ottawa office stated that spies, in the guise of salesmen, might call at manufacturing plants and through some pretext gain admission to the factory. Once inside, it would be an easy matter to leave behind an explosive, which might wreck the building, probably kill a number of men, and put an end to production of war materials, for the time being, at any rate.

“Most of the factories are engaging the services of special constables. Government detectives, it is declared, are in the city at the present time, in connection with the matter. Around the factories, it is rumored that British secret service men are working as machinists, machinists’ helpers and laborers, and if trouble occurs, they will be right at hand.”¹

^{1  “}Local Shell Makers Warned About Spies”

Hamilton Times.    May 5, 1915

 

1915-05-01ww

“Local fandom is happy ”

Hamilton Spectator.    May 03, 1915

The news from Western Europe in May, 1915 was extremely grim.

 Every day the Hamilton daily newspapers carried many photographs of Hamilton and area men who had volunteered and who had received serious wounds, or who had died in recent battles.

The return of spring weather, and the opening of the local 1915 baseball offered fans of the game a chance to put all the horror aside, if only for a few hours.

On Saturday afternoon, May 1, 1915, Victoria Park was the destination of choice for an estimated 3,000 baseball fanatics who by auto, street car, bicycle or foot power headed towards the west end to catch a doubleheader at the baseball diamond.

As pointed out in the Spectator, “while it was not the professional brand one reads so much about, it was amateur ball of the best brand, and the people who visited Victoria park were well repaid for ignoring the unseasonable baseball weather and watching two well-fought contests, which offered some real good baseball and plenty of excitement.”¹

¹ “Woodlands and Century Club Won Opening Games.”

Hamilton Spectator. May 3, 1915.

It was the annual opening of the Senior City League, and league president Frank Harvey went to great lengths to make it a special occasion:

“For the first time in the history of a city baseball league in Hamilton, a parade was held, and automobiles containing the Mayor and other dignitaries, and also the players of each team, left Dixon’s sporting goods store, King street east, and headed by the Twentieth Century pipe band, paraded up King street to the park, arriving there shortly after 2 o’clock.”²

² “Three Thousand Saw City League Opening on Saturday Afternoon”

Hamilton Times.   May 3, 1915.

Upon arrival, the dignitaries gathered around the pitcher’s mound for the traditional opening ceremony.

After the league president made a few remarks welcoming the fans and outlining the plans for the Senior City League season, a honorary battery was put in place. Mayor Chester Walters was to be the pitcher, George Wild, Chairman of the Parks board consented to be catcher, while George Southam too place in the batter’s box, to “swing the willow” :

“One thing the opening showed was that Mayor Walters will never become a Christy Mathewson. To him was assigned the honor of pitching the first ball, but the first one was so high that a pair of field glasses had to be used in an effort for the batter, G. H. Southam, honorary president of the league, to see it.

“His worship’s second attempt to hurl one over the pan resulted in it being low enough to be seen, and rather than delay matters, it was decided to get a step-ladder for the batter. George Wild, in the meantime, was standing behind the plate fully prepared to grab the ball if it came within reach.

“The mayor finally got his wing working right, and put one in the right place, only to have his pitching reputation shattered by Mr. Southam who knocked the ball into the wilds of Victoria park for what would have been a sure home run clout if he had desired to run.”²

With the opening ceremony concluded, the fans either took their seats in the grandstand, or secured a standing place somewhere around the diamond, to watch the first game between the Erskine and the Woodlands.

It was a tidy, well-played game, taking just an hour and forty minutes to complete, with the Woodlands winning 4-3.

Between games, a draw was made to determine a winner of an expensive bicycle. The draw had been advertised as a way to increase attendance. Each ticket cost 5 cents.

The second game took longer than the first but was equally as well-played. The result being a 8-5 victory for the Twentieth Century Club over the Beavers.

The May 1, 1915 opening day double-header was a much-welcomed opportunity for Hamilton baseball fans to the worry of war events if only for a while.