1915-05-12ka

 

At a very early hour, May 12, 1915, Hamilton Mayor Chester Walters made his way to the Grand Trunk Railway station to personally greet a new Hamiltonian, in fact a new Hamiltonian for whom the mayor had personally found accommodation:

“Henry, the big black bear that Lieutenant-Colonel John I. McLaren of the 19^th battalion sent from Toronto to Mayor Walters, following the decree of Earl Kitchener that no more mascots would be tolerated, arrived”¹

¹ “Henry is Here”

Hamilton Spectator.    May 12, 1915.

Mayor Walters was not only present at the railway station to greet Henry, but also attempted to interviewed the big black bruin as soon as Henry was trundled from the train:

“At first glance, Henry did not take to his new guardian, vigorously grabbing the Mayor’s coat sleeve, but after a few pats on the nose, the two became reconciled.”¹

In anticipation of Henry’s arrival in his new home city, Mayor Walters had arranged to have the much-prized mascot of the 19^th battalion be given a prime location and a special cage.at the Dundurn Park zoo. Also, Henry would have a silver collar to wear to indicate his fame as a long-serving mascot of the famous battalion, but who, because of a military bureaucratic decision would not be allowed to accompany his soldier friends to the front.