1915-03-30oo

As the month of March, 1915 was drawing to a close, many Hamiltonians were looking towards the bay and Lake Ontario looking for the ice to break up allowing navigation to resume.

There were vessels of many shapes and uses being preparing for the upcoming season, including the three large passenger steamers, the Maccassa, the Modjeska and the Turbinia, which provided service between Hamilton and Toronto:

“As soon as the ice has cleared out of the bay, the Macassa will steam through the piers from Toronto and open navigation in Hamilton harbor. This good boat has wintered in Toronto, steam has been up for the last week, and Captain James Henderson is ready for the first voyage of the year

“Percy Grant, manager of the Canadian Steamship Lines here stated this morning that the Turbinia and Modjeska had been in dock here all winter, that both were in first class shape but would not leave until later in the season. “¹

¹ “Vessel Men Look For a Good Season”

Hamilton Times.    March 30, 1915.

As well as the three large steamers on the Toronto-Hamilton service route, another large steamer ran out of Hamilton:

“The Belleville will start her weekly trips to Montreal as soon as the weather gets a little warmer. She has also wintered here. Many new improvements have been made on her to add to the comfort of those who take in that ideal trip down the St. Lawrence.”¹

As well as passenger steamers, two freighters spent the winter at the waterfront :

“Two freighters are being overhauled and cargoed, the Canadian and the Wahcondah. Mr. Grant, when questioned about the possibilities of a good season, was very optimistic. He did not fear a decrease in business.”¹

As well as the freight and passenger business involving large scale vessels, Hamilton was also the home of boat builders manufacturing smaller boats:

“Small craft building has been going on just the same, and the boat house keepers predict a busy year on the bay and along the lake shore.

“George Askew reported this morning the west end of the bay is entirely free of ice, and that it is rapidly moving out of the east end. The water is the lowest it has been in sixteen years.”¹

On March 30, 1915, conditions along the Beach Strip facing Lake Ontario were still less than ideal even though spring had arrived on the calendar:

“Beach residents are sustaining a lot of damage, particularly in the vicinity of the Brant House. Yesterday, a high wind drove the ice up on the shore, and swept away many boat houses.”¹