1915-07-15ww

“The beautiful Beasley gardens at 435 Main Street East will be opened to the public next Thursday afternoon and evening, when a garden fete will be conducted by the Women’s Patriotic league for the benefit of the Red Cross Fund.”

Hamilton Spectator.   July 10, 1915.

The announcement of the event, inviting everyone to attend, can a week before it was scheduled, but preparations had already been started to make the Garden Fete of July 15, 1915, what the Spectator would be “the most largely attended affair of its kind ever held in the city."¹

¹ “Beasley Garden”

Hamilton Spectator.   July 10, 1915.

The announcement emphasized that “Everyone is invited” and that the nominal admission of 25 cents to the event would include the serving of cake and tea,” and that “every cent will be turned over to the Red Cross for the relief of the wounded fighting men overseas.”¹

Since the war began almost a year earlier, there had made been many fundraising schemes in Hamilton to support the war effort, particularly to help the Canadian soldiers fighting at the front, This event was quite different as the committee had been working on providing an extensive program of entertainments as well as a chance for the ordinary citizens to visit a place that was usually not opened to the public.

The Beasley Gardens, part of the estate of Mr. A. C. Beasley, between King and Main streets, just west of Wentworth streets, and efforts were being made to make the property especially attractive for the event:

“The natural beauty of the grounds will be enhanced through the profuse use of the part-colored electric bulbs in booths, along the paths and in the trees in a dramatic illumination scheme.

The committee of the Women’s Patriotic league worked long hours organizing a small army of, mostly women, volunteers to make the event a success, with the hope that a goodly sum would be raised to donate to the Red Cross Fund. Knowing that every penny raised would go to help wounded soldiers, it was anticipated that the event would be a massive success.

The Hamilton Spectator, published the morning after the Red Cross Garden Party, gave extensive coverage to the event, providing great detail of all the entertainments provided, and gave recognition to the many ladies, and the few gentlemen, who had worked so assiduously help :

“Few homes in Hamilton have surrounding them more beautiful or well-kept grounds than that of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Beasley, which were en fete yesterday afternoon and evening for the mammoth garden party held there by the Women’s Patriotic league in aid of the Red Cross funds.

“At the Main street and King street entrances, Mrs. George L. Staunton, Mrs. George S. Bristol, Mrs. R. Hobson and Mrs. J. G. Gauld received the donations, and from the moment of entrance, charm enveloped everything that appealed either to the eye or the taste.

“Mrs. A. C. Beasley, Mrs. D. B. Gilles, Mrs. D. K. Baldwin and Mrs. P. J. Myler acted as reception committee and committee of management.

“At 5 o’clock, the party from Government House, Toronto, arrived, his Honor and Lady Hendrie, with Miss Enid Hendrie, attended by Mr. Marvin Rathburn, and with them was Mr. Noel Marshall, president of the Canadian Red Cross society, also of Toronto. The honored guests, in company with Mrs. John Crerar, Mrs. A. C. Beasley and Mr. W. H. Wardrope, enjoyed tea under the trees from a small table daintily set with old silver and a large bowl of pink roses.

“The grounds facing Main street had attractive decorations of giant flags of Britain and Canada, with a large Red Cross ensign in the center, and flags were in evidence in other parts of the grounds. Throngs of guests moved about, enjoying to the full the beauty of the gardens, the greetings  with friends and the many forms of entertainment offered.

“On the front porch, Lomas’ orchestra discoursed favorite and popular music throughout the afternoon, while along one of the garden walks the 91^st Highland pipers marched proudly up and down. In a corner of the west lawn, where the Gypsy encampment had pitched their tents, a hurdy-gurdy, played by two dusky-skinned sons of the south, tolled out its tunes, so that all musical tastes were catered to.

“Afternoon tea and ice cream were served at small tables set on the front lawn, from a booth gaily decorated with flowers, in charge of Mrs. Harry Carpenter, with Mesdames Gordon Southam, George Parks, Vaughan Wright, Renison, Langford, Robinson, H. O’Heir, J.M. Eastwood. Misses Marjorie Bristol, Isabel MacDonald, Gwladys Gates, Geraldine Grantham, Ruth Frost, Paulin, Muriel Lee, Macaulay, Ethel McPhie, H. McGregaor, Thoe. Swanson, Marjorie and Grace Homes, Marjorie Brennan, Wilson, Insole, Helen Lowe, Husband, Robinson and M. Judd as assistants.

“The little folks were much interested in the orange trees, which were loaded with fruit, and were looked after by Miss E. Kappele, Misses Walsh, Sabine, Christie, Kilvington, Rand, Kendal, Stewart, Fralick, Norther, McKay, McCollum, Hogson, Smith, Dr. Lewis, Mrs. Long and Mr. Kappele. A slide for the children was in charge of Miss Connie Smith and Miss Vera Phin.

“In the gypsy encampment, business was rushing, and Mme. Brunelli and Wanda, twofamous gypsies from Toronto, and Miss Goering were kept busy telling the future for fair visitors from their palms. Miss Dudley Smith and Miss Mills foretold coming events from the cards, and Miss Correll read the tea cups. An innovation was the Russian tea table, with steaming samovar and all kinds of Russian dainties, in charge of Miss Shacknove and Mrs. A. Goldberg. Others assisting in the encampment were Mrs. Frank Glassco, Mrs. Howard Duffield, Misses Helen Dewar, Nona Gwen (Dundas), Ferrie and Margaret Scott, Miss W. E. Phin being in charge of the entire encampment.

“Clock golf was looked after by Messrs. A. C. Beasley, Harry Patterson, Wil Wilson, Miss Carrie Crerar and Miss Evelyn Gibson. The guessing cake and jar of beans was in the care of Mrs. Thomas Ramsay and Miss Cook, while all the many handsome articles donated for raffling were actively looked after by Mrs. Prentice, Mr. P. J. Myler, Mrs. George Fearman, Mrs. O’Neil, Mrs. R. O. MacKay, Mrs. J. J. Dean, Mrs. H. L. Frost, and Misses Ruth Day, Eva Powis, May Clark, Simpson, V. Simpson, Isabel and Dorothy Land, and Mrs. E. R. Coleman.

“The home-made table with its tall vases of flowers in red, white and blue, was in charge of Mrs. F. A. Merrick, assisted by Mrs. Harry Fearman, Mrs. Frank Walker, Mrs. H. G. Carscallen, Mrs. W. C. Hawkins, Miss Watson and Miss Dewar.

“Three pretty ponies were kept busy all afternoon carrying the boys and girls up and down the driveways, and Mr. Lyn Stuart and Mr. Argue Martin looked after both ponies and little folks. In the large driving house, artistically decorated for the occasion with flags and bunting, Mr. John Hackett and Miss Wynne Jackson gave exhibitions of barn dances and all the new and prettiest steps in their own charming manner.

“The flower and candy booth, placed in a large summer house in the midst of the garden, had to offer many home-made confections and hundreds of exquisite blossoms of every form and hue were for sale, nosegays, potted flowers and single blossoms, the variety offered being both a delight and a bewilderment to the eye. Miss Kate Thompson and Miss Mary Hazlett were in charge and with them were Misses Muriel Cartwright , Vera Millard, Beryl Wood, Frances Scott, Isabel Scott, Elsie McPherson, Dorothy and Mollie Cahill, Ellen Stewart, Isobel Smith, Misses Backus and Mrs. Robert Arkell.

“All the young ladies attending the various booths were picturesquely attired in white, with tiny snow-white caps, and wearing on their arm the Geneva cross of crimson, which is the emblem to all civilized humanity of love and mercy.

“It was a rare pleasure indeed, after enjoying the beauty of the old trees and the velvety lawns, to gaze into the extensive gardens at the rear of the house, and there wander up and down the trim paths beside flower borders unexcelled for beauty and variety in Hamilton every shade of pink, salmon and wine colors seen, Canterbury bells in many shades, and stocks of every delicate tint of pink, mauve and cream vied with each other for attention from passersby; while candy tuft in profusion gazed saucily around heedless of comment or criticism. Pansies were there in their robes of yellow, purple and vari-hued velvet, little flowers with the wisdom of the ages peering from their quaint faces, bringing to mind sweet thoughts of friends far distant. Across the garden were rows of poppies, gay flowers of a brief, summer’s day, whispering even in the sunshine of the sleep they held in their hearts for toil-worn human nature when the day was over. It was by an effort that guests could leave the garden, glorious with its galaxy of gorgeous bloom and riot of color.

“In the evening the grounds were magnificently illuminated with lights supplied by the Dominion Power and Transmission company, making them like a gay, white way. Throngs of people filled in the grounds and everything was in full swing, as in the afternoon. Music was provided by the band of the 13^th Royal Regiment, under W. F. Robinson, and Hamilton Robinson proved a popular soloist, having to respond to several encores.

“The winning numbers for the raffled articles were 103, silver frame; 22, veranda chair; 14, fern basket; 91, electric fan; 3, oleander tree; 120, veranda table; 140, travelling kit; 62, clock; 9, parasol; 45, jewel box; 59, six doylies; 6, lamp shade; 75, fancy work table; 63, centerpiece; 26, travelling kit; 230, diamond bracelet; 54, lemonade jug. Miss Barbara Calvin won the doll.

“The lucky winners can obtain their prizes by presenting their tickets at the office of the Red Cross, James street.”²

² “Red Cross Garden Party Was a Brilliant Success : Government House Party and Many Other Prominent People in Attendance”

Hamilton Spectator.   July 16, 1915