1916-01-04rr

“After inspecting the quarters of the 120^th city of Hamilton battalion, one is forced to admit that there should be little difficulty in raising men for this unit.”

Hamilton Spectator.   January 04, 1916

In the far west end of Hamilton, near the golf course, a large building, constructed for use as a foundry for the Westinghouse company had been nearing completion when a decision was made to use it for another purpose.

 Generously loaned for use to the 120^th City of Hamilton battalion for the duration of the war, the building soon became known as the Westinghouse armories, or the Overseas Club barracks.

In a report on the building published in the Hamilton Spectator of January 4, 1916, the building’s location was termed as being “without a doubt the most ideally located armories in Canada. Everything is so well appointed out at the links, that the men of the 120^th are better off than they could be at home.

“When Lieut.-Col. Fearman was granted the use of the new building, he secured one of the best arguments for men to enlist with the 120^th city of Hamilton battalion”¹

¹  “Ideal Quarters for the 120^th : The Westinghouse Armories Make Fine Quarters.”

Hamilton Spectator.   January 04, 1916.

The reporter who toured the new building began his description of it with a focus on the lighting, heating and ventilation systems in place:

“The lighting is everything that could be desired, the heating is excellent and the ventilation is the latest invention that makes it imperative that the men breath fresh, warm air. The system in vogue is such that the men cannot tamper with it and the purest air supply flows in the room continually. There should not be a man in the regiment suffer from colds, etc. which are usually caused from poor ventilation or draughts.

“The huge boiler for the heating apparatus is located just under the canteen. This furnace is expected to burn about 100 tons of coal per month, but it will keep the place so warm that the men will sing with truth, ‘home was never like this.’ The heating system is based on the principle that this furnace superheats coils upstairs, and then the heat is radiated out from a fan-like contrivance in the sleeping rooms upstairs, and on all the floors. The heating device is specially noted in the sleeping quarters.

“There will be no stoves of any kind on this floor, but the room will always be warm, and there will always be fresh air. Huge pipes radiate in every direction, all over the room, and open just above the tiers of beds and belch forth warm, pure air.

“In addition, the sleeping quarters are located in what looks like a regular glass house. There are glass windows in the roof and all around the sides. It is simply flooded with light during the daytime. Dotted all around the rooms are sanitary drinking fountains. At the front end of the men’s sleeping room is located the sergeant’s’ sleeping quarters in a partitioned-off portion of the room. At the rear and to the left of the sleeping quarters are located a number of shower baths, and large, clean lavoratories.”¹

Some changes to the building had to be made before the soldiers moved in :

“When the building was erected for foundry purposes, the interior was hollow, as it was expected that the sand, etc. used in the foundry would fill it in. It has been necessary to have the men fill it in and flooring has been built.

“The main floor has a much larger area than the new armories on James street, and there are two full floors in the building, as well as mezzanine floors, so that it can be seen that the Overseas club quarters are much larger than anything in Hamilton. The flooring will be completed on the main floor by Wednesday, when the battalion is expected to go into barracks .”¹

The entrances to the building were then described in some detail:

“Just on the left of the entrance to the building, the guard room will be located so that all desiring to enter must pass the guard. There will be huge doors installed so that the whole regiment can march through.

“Then on the right of the entrance, the large space will be used for church parade service, etc. This large room will take up only half of the second floor, and still give room for the whole regiment.

“Back of this room will be located a wash room, so that the men can complete their ablutions upon their return from a march without tracking dirt upstairs to their sleeping quarters. Then a huge room off the wash room will be located the battalion canteen. To the right of this is a rifle range, in which four targets will be installed.

“These appointments complete the ground floor.”¹

Important parts of the barracks were the on-site hospital and kitchen facilities:

“The battalion hospital is located at the front of the second floor in a bright, sunshiny room. Back of the hospital is a ‘ready-made clink’ consisting of a wired-in room, which was originally planned for a ladies’ rest room. All the toilet requisites are just adjacent to these rooms.

“The battalion kitchen is located in what was intended for the sandpit in the foundry, and is adjacent to the furnace room. The men’s dining room is just off the kitchen in the basement. This room is large enough to seat the whole battalion at one time. It is rather dark, but the electric lighting will shortly be completed, making this room as light as day.”¹

Finally, the barracks included a signallers’ and machine gun room, band rooms and tailor’s shop.

The barracks were located to the east of Aberdeen avenue and the city had laid a cinder walk to barracks from the line of the Hamilton and Dundas radial railway line, located in the middle of the avenue.

The barracks were within easy marching distance from a location useful for drilling practice:

“The 120^th City of Hamilton battalion is in an ideal location regarding drill grounds. The men will simply march out of the barracks and cross the road, and they are on a magnificent field, which was formerly the golf links. An orchard divides the field, which is very suitable for tactical purposes

Also on the former golf course, the battalion staff had taken possession of the Golf club building for offices and sleeping accommodations for the officers. The dining-room staff consisted of Sgt. And Mrs. Thow, both of whom had worked in that facility before the war.

After the tour of the new Westinghouse Armories, Mayor Walters said to the press that “the armories are simply wonderful. Everything is so well-appointed that the men will have more than the comforts of home.”¹