1914-09-19aa

“Two interesting letters have been received by the Herald from Joseph Tinsley, who is well-known to Herald readers as Jaques. Mr. Tinsley is in London and writes of incidents arising out of the war that he has witnessed. Both letters arrived in the same mail.”

          Hamilton Herald.   September 19, 1914.

          While the Hamilton Spectator had Richard Butler, aka the Old Muser, whose popular column “Saturday Musings” was an ongoing look at aspects of Hamilton’s local history, the Hamilton Herald had Jaques.

          Jaques’ approach was slightly different that the Old Musers’ style, but both were both informative and passionate about the history of the city they loved.

          Joseph Tinsley’s vacation plan to visit England had an unexpected twist as he just happened to be there in the earliest days of World War One.

          Being a talented writer, Tinsley did what he did best, put down in words what he was experiencing.

          His two letters to the Herald from England in August 1914 were combined, and, referring to himself in the third person, follow:

          “The other day I was at Whitehall for the purpose of attending a session of parliament, Ere the commons was entered, crowds were noticed going through the portals of the Horse Guards – in spite of the stately guards on duty, augmented by soldiers in various uniforms – into St. James park. Upon reaching the grounds, three large tents were erected for the purpose of receiving the names of men who were willing to enter and thus help grant Kitchener’s request for 100,100 men.

          “The tents were quite a distance from each other. In a short time, Jaques was at the front of one of the recruiting places, which were roped off and carefully guarded. Having taken up a good position, my whole attention was concentrated on the remarks of the various men who were eager to fight for King and country.

          “Said one man : ‘If Canada can send men, so can England. Let us fellows show that we appreciate the zeal of the Dominion by giving our services.’

          “At the sound of ‘Canada’ there was a cheer, and about twenty young fellows passed under the ropes civilians and returned soldiers. This was kept up all afternoon.

          “After returning from Buckingham palace, a short distance from the scene, it was noted that about 300 men were in the ranks ready to pass on to further quarters and complete the ‘red tape’ procedure.

          “When in the Allan company offices – where all clerks were busy – the manager informed me that the government commandeered three of the company’s vessels that morning. Indeed, all tickets sold were bought with the understanding that the Allans do not guarantee the sailing of any boat on the date listed.

          “The G.T.R. company are making a display of wheat fields in the northwest, and the windows command much attention. The colonial office, where emigration particulars are given out, is not overcrowded nowadays. On the other hand, in passing to and fro, the ‘Dominion of Canada’ is frequently heard.

“When I ‘bumped’ into a banker, close to the Cecil Hotel, he shook me warmly by the hand and spoke in glowing language regarding the handsome assistance the British colony was giving to England. ‘Not alone,’ said he, ‘in the products of their country, but in the flesh and blood of the their men.’

“Could I resist imparting news to him of the country of which he knew so little? Would I not have been a traitor to Hamilton had the opportunity passed by to speak of the achievements of Hamiltonians with the rifle in taking the much-coveted Queen’s cup? Nay, what of your Marathon winner at Greece? And so on and on.

“Just as the banker and the scribbler were shaking hands, it was observed that a crowd was gathered around a store window. ‘Bumping our way in, it was found that a photograph of Hon. Sam Hughes, Canada’s minister of war, was side by side with Kitchener, French and other war notables.

“It was the first day the pictures had been offered for sale, consequently the enthusiasm of the spectators was roused.

“All the newspaper offices are crowded with people anxious for the latest news. Here I stand in the Strand watching the crowds of people gathered around the respective publishing houses – men, women and children.

“Here comes a policeman. And one more policeman. What went they off their beats to see ? To see the bulletins and learn results. Not one official attempted to ‘move on’ the crowd. Upon several occasions, this fact was noted. Storekeepers displaying war pictures in windows sufficiently attractive to hold a crowd in the vicinity were allowed to do so unmolested!

“When Napoleon lost the battle of Waterloo, he remarked, ‘What will they say in England?’

“As day by day, and night by night, the newspaper offices were surrounded by citizens, the words came up : ‘What would Chief Smith say in Hamilton?’

“For the nonce, Kipling’s words about ‘cricketeers and flannels’ has escaped memory. I heard Lord Roberts yesterday address nearly 1200 men – in Temple gardens. The band of the Grenadier Guards was present.

“At the conclusion of his remarks, he said: ‘I respect and honor you more than I can say. My Feeling towards you is one of intense admiration. How very different is your action to that of the men who can still go on with their cricket and football, as if the very existence of the country were not at stake! This is not the time to play games, wholesome as they are in the days of piping peace. We are engaged in a life and death struggle, and you are showing your determination to do your duty as soldiers, and, by all means in your power, bring this war – a war forced upon us by an ambitious and unscrupulous nation – to a successful result. God bless and watch over you all.’

“This is being written under difficult circumstances. My desk is a stone of a bridge and a man on duty is looking suspiciously at me.

“ ‘I wish, sir, you would consent to speak from our platform and inform the ignoramuses of this country concerning Canada,’ said Mr. High-Up yesterday.

“ Reply – ‘You have Moses and the prophets in the shape of emigration offices, you have the Colonial office, you have the Canadian department all at your doors; why not consult them?’

“ Another Mr. High-Up – ‘All true. The trouble is that our inquiry for information at these places is answered by bundles of pamphlets thrust over the counter by pert clerks. If you were to consent and speak to the people in the straight forward and undoubtedly true way you are speaking to us, then we should learn facts now held back by agents of various companies.’

“And so it is. The people of London and the provinces – insofar as my personal observations go – are in ignorance of Canada and its resources.

“But all classes are in possession of one fact – and never hesitate to applaud the same – and that is the Canadians have done, are doing and will so continue to do their share for the support – both by sending men and produce – to bring about a successful termination of the present struggle with the enemy.

“A queer place to find Jaques. But there he was, with a few shillings in his pocket and a one pound bill sewn up in his inside pocket. For notices are to be seen on all sides warning people against pickpockets and confidence men. Just think of it – ‘confidence men’ in the precincts of stock broking offices !

“ ‘You’re from Hamilton, I think,’ remarked a bystander.

“ ‘Yes, and proud of the fact.’

“ ‘I’ve been to Toronto. That’s a busy center. A fine hotel is about to be constructed there.’

“ ‘That is correct. In Hamilton, a large hotel is being erected also, that will, when finished be one of the best equipped in the Dominion. It will be known as the Connaught. And, by the way, his royal highness, our governor-general turned the first sod.’

“At this juncture, regrets were experienced, that I had not in my possession, a bundle of literature devoted to Hamilton and its environments.’

“ ‘Well, I’ll remember your city when next my men are across the seas in search of orders. With the resources at your command, Hamilton should be better known. Go into lace making. Half the lace sold in the States, said to be Nottingham, is made in Germany. So with other lines of goods. This war is bad for us now, but when business is again restored to normal condition, England and her colonies will reap a bountiful harvest in the way of securing many branches now held by Germany. Never again will our empire stand to be depleted of her trade by that nation.’

“But time is precious. There is so much more to see so much to write about that only the merest glance at the aftermath can be touched upon at this writing.

“My readers have doubtless seen in the Herald columns that a Belgian mission is now on its way to the United States to lay before the government particulars of the atrocities perpetrated by the Germans on the innocent inhabitants of Belgium.

“A meeting was held in the Cecil hotel, addressed by members of the mission. I endeavored to gain admission, but either through want of influence or lack of confidence on my part – it is hardly thought the latter was the cause – the effort was useless.

“Well, let us fall back upon memory. As a lad, I remember the barbarous way the British were treated during the Indian mutiny. Children were torn from mothers’ breasts. Then the infants, in the presence of parents, were thrown in the air and caught on bayonets in the hands of the enemy.

“Mothers and daughters were brutally assaulted before fathers and horrible deeds committed in the presence of all. I am not writing history today, but when the spring of memory is tapped, there flows incident upon incident of similar horrors.

“And so it is written that today – after more than half a century of civilization – that to a degree history is repeating itself.

“Renewed energy is being put forth. Members of parliament are at work in certain districts to increase the number of men for the front.

“Today I witnessed a number of men being enrolled under the very shaow of Nelson’s monument. A dreamer could not help but recall the truism of the hero – ‘England expects that every man this day will do his duty!’

Calling around towards the close of the afternoon, I learned from the officer in command that four thousand men had come up to the necessary requirements and were now soldiers of the king. The best of spirits prevailed. Enthusiasm pervaded the surroundings. When they marched away to various quarters, a volume of cheers went up.

“Church doors, stores and theaters have bills posted up calling for recruits. The bill posting places are all covered with notices explaining where the work of recruiting is going on.

“Yet in spite of all the appeals from pulpit and platform, from parliament and stage, there is general complaint that so many neglect to respond to the call.

“Judging from the Herald reports from Hamilton, no such conditions exist in Hamilton. When so many men are willing to fight for the safety of empire, the ladies must have acted their part nobly.

“In the last paper received, it is noted that ‘two examples of fine spirit animates young men as shown by Capt. Grafton, of Dundas and Lieut. Norman Leslie.’

“Well done, the captain. Well done, the young lieutenant. May the sound of hurrahs reach you over the seas. And not only the two mentioned, but all who are willing to leave their own homes of peace in Canada to fight for the maintenance of others in a foreign country.

“This letter is being written within the sound of martial music and the tread-tread of men off to Aldershot.

“By the way, I am endeavoring to find out if Hamilton men will go to Aldershot. If so, then a visit will be paid to the Canadian ranks by

                              JAQUES.”¹

¹ “Jaques Writes From Old London”

Hamilton Herald. September 19, 1914.

While Joseph Tinsley just happened to be on vacation and in the city of London in the early days of the Great War, he could not help but don his pseudonym of Jaques and share with his readers his experiences and his advice.

         

 

1914-01-27all

One of the Hamilton area’s most individuals in the early 20th century was a resident of Rockton, in the northwest portion of Wentworth Country.

          His real name was Robert Kirkland Kernighan, but across Canada and even internationally, he was better known by his penname, The Khan.

          Back in the 1870’s Kernighan was a reporter with the Hamilton Spectator, and was well-known, not only for his journalism but also for his “Bohemian” flair as regards his appearance. Longish hair and a taste for dramatic capes were part of his persona.

          By 1914, The Khan had published a widely sold collection of his poetry and homespun tales of country living. He no longer had to support himself as a journalist, but made his living by writing poems and short stories in the Wigwam, the old log house, located behind the newer Kernighan residence in Rockton.

          Once he finished his poem or story of the day, he would simply mail it to Hamilton Herald office, for inclusion in his “Chronicles by the Khan” feature. After appearing in the Herald, the Khan’s latest chronicle would appear in newspapers all across Canada.

          A typical Khan chronicle appeared in the Hamilton Herald of January 27, 1914 – a humorous view of a January thaw:

 

HAW, HAW, HAW

          Oh, the squirrels they are laughing and the jay birds they are chaffing,

                    And Daddy Crow is hollering ‘Caw, caw, caw!’

          For look and see old winter’s all busted into splinters

                    By the January thaw – haw, haw, haw.

 

          In a week from now old Bruin he’ll get up to see what’s doin’

                    And the hens they are a-laying in the straw – aw, aw;

          The rooster shakes his noodle too – Cock-a-doodle-doole, do!

                    There’s nothing like a January thaw – haw, haw!

 

          Another splendid omen : the kids are making snow-men,

                    The awf’lest looking objects e’er you saw, aw, aw;

          And the girls with many graces snare the boys and wash their faces –

                    For isn’t it the January thaw – haw, haw?

 

          The groundhog he rolls over in his burrow lined with clover –

                    He’s been living on his paw (see the joke?) – haw, haw, haw!

          So he’s out to stretch his limbs, the nicest of his whims;

                    He’s tickled by the January thaw – haw, haw!

 

          And the old folks chill and wizened in the winter kitchen prisoned,

                    They were up against old Winter and his jaw, aw, aw;

          Now they can have some fun themselves,

and go and sit and sun themselves,

          Delighted with the January thaw – haw, haw!

 

          The Lord He gives us autumntide, He also gives us spring beside,

                    And the winter and the summer are His law, aw, aw;

          Then to overflow the measure He gives us to us a treasure,

                    And we call the gift the January thaw – haw, haw!

                   

1914-12-26aass

“Controller Gardner, who has taken up the cause of the east end people who have been complaining about the car service in that section, produced statistics this morning to show that he had dealt promptly with the matter”

          Hamilton Spectator. December 27, 1914.

          In 1914, complaints piled up constantly regarding the service provided by the Hamilton Street Railway, particularly between the downtown core and the far east of the complaint.

          Early in December, 1914, the Hamilton Board of Control addressed the rising number of complaints by giving Controller Gardner the task of investigating the matter.

Controller Gardner, a mayoral candidate in the municipal election to be held at the end of the month, appeared to be spending more attention on his campaign than on his current duties.

 

 

Several weeks passed before Gardner made any report to the Board of Control about what he had learned about the street car service, and he was receiving heavy criticism for his inattention to the matter.

Finally, after Christmas, Gardner contacted the Hamilton Spectator to present some statistics on the street car service, statistics the controller had amassed:

“On Wednesday, Dec. 16, he stood at the corner of King and John streets and, for one hour personally checked every car that passed between the hour of five o’clock and 6:10 p.m. This is supposed to be one of the busiest periods of the day.”¹

¹ “What One Hour Check of East Cars Showed : Controller Gardner Kept Tab Himself : Finds Service Averages About Four Minutes : Presents Figures in Reply to His Critics”

Hamilton Spectator.  December 27, 1914

 

Hamilton Mayor Allan had been asked by Controller Morris, at a recent Board of Control meeting, whether anything had been reported about Controller Gardner’s assignment regarding Hamilton Street Railway service. As Gardner was not in attendance, the mayor said that he had not but would follow up on the question.

When Gardner heard about the criticism he was receiving, he did not immediately reply to the mayor or the Board of Control, but went to the Hamilton Spectator, the newspaper which incidentally was supporting his candidacy in the upcoming election:

“The controller explained today that he had no desire to carry on a controversy through the newspapers in regard to the matter. What he is interested in is seeing that the citizens get the best possible service.

“His only object in making public the figures is to reply to a member of the board of control, who, in his absence the other day, tried to make it appear that he had done practically nothing, although it was left to him to try and get the service improved.”¹

The Hamilton Herald, which perhaps not coincidentally was supporting Controller Gardner’s main opponent in the mayoralty race, was quick to criticize the release of the figures to the Spectator, and not to the other two Hamilton daily newspapers, or to the Board of Control itself.

The Herald also challenged Gardner’s assertion that the Hamilton Street Railway was actually better than was required on an agreement between the company and the city :

“Those people who have been complaining about the poor street railway service will be surprised to know that they are getting far better service than they should receive, according to the published statement of Controller Gardner.

“He was appointed several weeks ago to look into the matter, and while he has not reported to the board of control, he reported a schedule of figures which shows that instead of the railway giving poor service, it really excelled itself and almost gave twice as good a service as is required.”²

² “Street Railway Has Champion : Controller Gardner Says Service is Better Than City Demands : He Made Discovery on Dec. 16 But Has Not Reported to Board”

Hamilton Herald. December 28, 1914.

Controller Morris, contacted by the Herald, said the following in response to Gardner’s self-gathered statistics and conclusion as to the quality of the street car service provided :

“ ‘If Controller Gardner says that he got his figures from personally watching the cars, I have no real reason to doubt his word. If he got them on December 16, he should have presented them to the Board of Control. There have been three meetings since that time, but we have not heard of the report. Perhaps he will report it tomorrow, and then we can discuss it.’ ”²

The Herald stated that there was not a little unbelief regarding Gardner’s contention that Hamilton Street Railway Company service was not only excellent, but exceeded the requirements of its agreement with the city:

“ ‘He seems to favor the spectacular methods rather than doing business in a business-like way,’ said one well-known businessman who hardly thinks the street railway service the best in the world.”²

The Herald reporter, also reacting to Gardner’s support of the Hamilton Street Railway, had the following to say:

“To date Controller Gardner is about the man in the hundred thousand odd persons in this city who has discovered that the company is giving such an excellence service.

“Everybody else in the city is complaining that the service is bad, very bad. The principal complaint is that the schedule is not maintained. An official of the company admitted last week that the company found it impossible to run the cars according to schedule.

“But Controller Gardner says the cars are running ahead of schedule. He produced his little tabular record to prove how well the company is serving the public.

“Everybody in Hamilton who uses the street cars has complained that they are overcrowded at rush hours. This is the result of the schedule being shattered.

“But Controller Gardner says the cars are away ahead of schedule and his tabular report is produced as evidence.

“But in spite of this evidence, the complaints continue to be made by nearly every person else in Hamilton’s population who uses the cars.”²

With the mayoral election just days away, Controller and Candidate Gardner’s support of the Hamilton Street Railway was ill-timed to say the least. As he based his support from the results of his own recording of street cars passing him as he stood at King and John streets, his credibility was damaged.

When Gardner finally presented his statistics to a Board of Control meeting, he tried to dodge the torrent of criticism he had been receiving. He admitted that he had only been counting cars, and not noting how crowded they were.

The controller agreed that the overcrowding was not acceptable:

“ ‘ We are not getting the service, we should get. I think the incoming council should appeal to the railway board for better service.”³

³ “Gardner Would Appeal to the Railway Board : Not Satisfied With Street Railway Service”

          Hamilton Spectator. December 30, 1914.

Gardner then moved a resolution that the matter of poor street railway service be deferred to the new council about to the elected. His motion passed.

A local lawyer, present at the meeting, loudly objected to the deferral. After loudly reading his own resolution asking for better street car service, the mayor told him that the lawyer could not move any such thing as he was not even an elected official.

The lawyer hotly replied that he had no intention to wait for the new council and would lodge a group complaint about the inferior service directly to the Hamilton Street Railway company himself immediately.

“ “All right, do as you please,’ the mayor said.”³

Mayoral candidate Gardner’s backtracking on his claim the street car service in Hamilton was excellent did not help his campaign. He was soundly defeated by Chester Walters who would formally became Hamilton’s mayor early in January 1915.

1914-12-25aa

Christmas day, 1914 was marked by many traditional activities, family get-togethers, exchange of presents, special meals, and, of course, church attendance.

          Even on Christmas day in church, the increasingly disturbing news coming from the war in Europe, and other places, was present. Most priest, ministers and pastors included the message of Christmas peace being more important than ever in light of the horrors being enacted in the war.

One heart-warming Christmas story was recounted in the Spectator :

          “Earlier in the week, a letter was published in the paper from a man whose outlook for Christmas was particularly cheerless. He was out of work and out of funds. He said that he had been refused bread tickets at the relief association because he was single, preference being given to families. He had be forced to live on dry bread – once in a while a bit of jam with it.

          “The sympathy of a great many people went out to this unlucky one, and he could have had a score of Christmas dinners yesterday. Some of the people who wrote in promised other assistance, and so Christmas for this unlucky one was no so cheerless after all.”¹

               ¹ “Not So Cheerless : Many Willing to Look After Man in Hard Luck”

          Hamilton Spectator.   December 26, 1914

   

          The weather had taken a significant change as Christmas day approached. Temperatures dropped precipitously. Although relatively little snow fell in the city of Hamilton, such was not the case above the escarpment to the north :


“Hamilton was not the most comfortable place yesterday. The thermometer dropped below the zero point during the milkman hours of the day.

          “At 9 o’clock yesterday, the thermometer in partially protected places registered 2 above zero, while in the outlying districts, it failed to reach above zero until noon.

“Compared with last Christmas, the weather was several degrees colder.”²

² A Cold Snap : Weather Man Pulled Zero Stop for Christmas”

Hamilton Herald.  December 26, 1914.

        The players with the Hamilton Tiger Intermediate, O.H.A. Hockey squad certainly were able to attest that the areas north of Dunas towards Preston had indeed received a lot of snow.

          The Hamilton hockey team had a game scheduled in Preston, starting at 8:25 p.m., during the evening of Friday, December 25, 1914.

          In an article in the Hamilton Herald, published the following Monday, recounted the woes the team encountered that Christmas day:

          “The party has been back since Saturday, but was not sufficiently thawed out until yesterday to recite the chapter of incidents that occurred on that never-to-be-forgotten auto ride. It was one of those episodes that one reads about, and which, no doubt, the participants in will never cease talking about.”³

               ³ “Tigers’ Experience On Christmas Day Reads Like Real Fiction : Trouble Came in Bunches, and Party Was Given a Taste of Arctic Exploring – Never Again, Say All”

          Hamilton Herald.  December 28, 1914.

          While there was a railroad connection from Hamilton to Preston, the schedule was not convenient for the team, so it was decided to make the trip by automobile.

          Team Manager Leroy Awrey recounted the story of the Tigers’ Christmas day road trip as follows :

          “We started from the Tiger club rooms, the first auto pulling out at 4:15, the second shortly after, and the last car, in which I was an occupant, leaving at 4:45.

          “It was a cold day and all hands were hoping for a quick trip. This we got as far as Dundas. Then it was terrible.

          “We made exceptionally fast time to the Valley Town and were in hopes of making the complete journey in equally as quick style, when the last car baulked at Greensville, starting the trouble that was to come in bunches.

          “A half-hour delay occurred, we finally getting started again with the assistance of a second car and a rope. For two miles we managed to evade the snow banks in pleasing style, but a short distance on, we encountered auto No. 1 snowed in with little chance of getting out. This was near Rockton.

          “The members of the party were heartily sick of the experience and cold. I was forced to round up a farmer and pay him to get out his team of horses and pull the auto out of the snow, at the same heeding his warning that we could not get past Sheffield, and phoning ahead to the grocer to have a team ready to take us on to Galt.

          “Unfortunately, we were stuck in the snow again before reaching Sheffield, and I was again forced to go on foot for aid. I managed to reach the grocer with his team, and he drove back to get the remainder of the party.

          “With no robes to save us from the zero weather, we piled into the wagon and rumbled along into Galt, reaching there just in the nick of time to catch the trolley for Preston.

          “It was a down-hearted and hungry lot that arrived at the scene of hostilities at 8:25, and without having a chance to appease our ravenous appetites, we had to go on the ice.

          “Despite this we put up a fair game, and it was no disgrace to be beaten. Our make-shift team was certainly in no shape to play at all, but we promised the Preston officials we would be there and had to make good our promise.

          “As a matter of fact, some of the fellows wanted to turn back when we encountered our first trouble along the road, But I couldn’t see it that way.

          “No more auto rides.”³

               While the Tiger hockey team was making their way to Preston, back in Hamilton Police Magistrate was enjoying the day in the comfortable warmth of his home.

          Perhaps struck with an abundance of Christmas spirit, the magistrate decided to telephone the King William street police station and tell the officers on duty that they had his permission to release the motley collection of drunks who had been arrested on Christmas Eve.

          Some were happily thankful and hustled away from the station as quickly as possible, others who had no home, decided to forgo the magistrate’s Christmas largess and remain in the warmth of the police cells.

1914-12-18aa

“Now that the Christmas spirit is in the air, and everyone is aiming to increase others’ enjoyment, the boys’ department of the Young Men’s Christian association is holding ‘open house.’ ”

          Hamilton Spectator.   December 21, 1914

          It was a treat for many young men whose home situations precluded them having a membership with the Hamilton Young Men’s Christian Association.

          From December 17, 1914 to December 19, 1914, the facilities of the building at James and Jackson streets were made available, at various times for various age groups.

          As noted in a Spectator on the “open house,” “every fellow in the city is cordially invited to sample the fun provided in the gymnasium and swimming pool.”¹

               ¹ “ ‘Y’s’ Open House : Message Boys Had Merry Time on Gymnasium Floor.”

          Hamilton Spectator.   December 18, 1914.

          The first group to be given access were “scores of business fellows – boys from 11 to 15 years.” who “made themselves right at home with all the privileges the Y affords.

          “First, on the gymnasium for an hour, all entered with zest into the program provided.

          “Hustle ball, an exceedingly interesting game, and one in which any number can play on a side. Thirty-eight to a very keen contest, and the losers were only defeated by a very narrow margin.

          “But it was in the swimming pool that the most activity was evident. Startled frogs swarming into a pond was what one of the spectators likened it to.

          “And all the while, pandemonium reigned.

          “The live boy enjoys exercising his lungs while enjoying a plunge.”¹

               To control the numbers of boys attending the free sessions, the groupings were divided as follows :

          December 18 from 4 to 6 p.m., fellows from 15 to 18 years who attend school.

          December 18 in the evening, all business and working boys.

          December 19 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., “school chaps” from 11 years to 14 years old.

1914-12-21ror

“Mountaineers were given a fright and Hamilton lost one of its familiar landmarks last night at 12 o’clock when Summer’s Mountain theatre, at the head of the Wentworth street incline, took afire and burned to the ground.”

          Hamilton Herald.   December 21, 1914.

          It was a spectacular fire, and the cause was suspicious.

          The Summer’s Mountain theatre, owned by actor George H. Summers, was an popular open air theatre, used almost exclusively during the summer months. Its site was strategically chosen as patrons could get to it readily via the east end incline railway.

          In the wintertime, the theatre was not in use and although some efforts were made to keep it secure, those efforts ultimately proved to be ineffectual:

          “Edward Nalley, electrician of the theatre stated that when on Friday last he had occasion to visit the theatre for an inspection, he found the door of Mr. Summer’s office burst open. Its lock had evidently been forced and there was evidence of someone having prowled about.

          “The door was nailed up again, but Mr. Nalley was of the opinion that tramps, or others who had no business in the building, were responsible for it taking fire.”¹

               ¹ “Theatre Wiped out By Fire : Summers’ Theatre Completely Destroyed Early This Morning : Loss Is Estimated At $18,000 Mostly Covered By Insurance”

          Hamilton Herald.    December 21, 1914.

          The whole wooden frame structure was completely consumed by fire, even though members of the Hamilton Fire department left the central station as quickly as possible. A moderate wind helped the fire spread rapidly.

          The firemen reacted quickly, but actually getting to the scene of the blaze was problematic:

          “The alarm was responded to by the firemen very promptly but the east end incline had closed down at 10:30, and it took some time to get the steam up again, the result being that the fire hose wagons and the truck which went to the fire were left standing at the foot of the incline, and the firemen could do nothing until there was steam enough to carry them up.”²

               ² “Theater Falls Prey to Fire : Summers’ Building Burned to the Ground : Incline Closed and Firemen Were Helpless : Unfortunately, Auto Truck Was Crippled”

          Hamilton Spectator.  December 21, 1914.

          The Assistant Fire Chief using an automobile rushed up the Jolley cut and was on the scene quickly, but there was nothing he could do until the incline started and his men arrived.

          When the firemen were able to get to the blaze, five streams of water were quickly pouring water, but only were dampening cinders:

          “Being constructed almost wholly of timber, it burned like matchwood, and by 12:30, the roof had fallen in. Shortly after one o’clock, the flames had practically spent themselves, still the firemen did not cease from playing several streams on the burning embers.”¹

               As described in the Spectator, the location of the fire meant that it could be widely witnessed by citizens:

          “The fire could be seen from almost any part of the city and several people visited the scene of the conflagration. The sky was illuminated and it presented a beautiful sight for half an hour, which proved sufficient time for the biggest part of the building to be demolished.”²

               The wind, although not overly strong, did blow some of the fire to the nearby home of Mr. Parish. The firemen were able to bring that blaze under control quickly.

          Mr. Summers’ was not in Hamilton when the fire broke out, being in New York City where he was conducting a profitable booking agency. He was informed of the incident by telegraph and immediately made plans to come back to Hamilton. His loss was primarily the large number of folding chairs used when productions were scheduled at the theatre, plus some trunks of wardrobe and sets of stage scenery.

          Speaking to the press during the morning after the blaze, Fire Chief Ten Eyck spoke of the dangers residents living on the escarpment faced in case of fire:

          “The need of better fire protection on the mountain was demonstrated in a costly way when the Summers’ theater was burned. The big auto truck which would have been able to make the climb up the Jolley cut in good time was out of commission owing to a broken fan and chain, and the horses could not make the climb in anything like a reasonable time.”²

               The fire chief also noted that the chance of stopping fires on the mountain was minimal as most of houses there were of wooden frame construction, set close together in rows.

1914-12-19aga

“It is not to be expected that the Christmas of 1914 will be characterized by jovial abandon, the gaiety and hilarity that the glad season usually brings with it.”

          Hamilton Herald     December 19, 1914.

          Just six days before Christmas Day, 1914, the Hamilton newspapers were filled with many advertisements filled with Christmas gift suggestions. The downtown department stores all had very large ads, most with artwork featured Santa Claus and all manner of items adding to their festive flair.

          Efforts were well underway to be able to provide some relief to those in need over the Christmas season, and there were many Hamiltonians in need of such help as 1914 was coming to a close.

          In addition to those unemployed, or unemployable, to those with serious health issues and to those unnamed who for any number of other reasons were facing a bleak Christmas.

          Christmas 1914 also included a large group of those in need of relief, a group totally unknown during the Christmas season. That group included the wives and children of those city men who had abruptly left home during the heady days of August when the war in Europe began. Later, volunteers who may have been more deliberate in their decisions to go to the front, also left families without the usual source of income.

          In an editorial appearing on December 19, 1914, an editorial appeared in the Hamilton Herald under the headline, “A Subdued Christmas.”

In it, the editorialist took a look at why he felt that the holiday season, despite efforts by most to continue the gladsome traditions of old, was a very different yuletide season than Hamilton had ever known:

“There are too many reasons why this should be a more sober Christmas for most of us than any within memory.

“With our empire in peril, with half the world at war, with each day claiming its ghastly toll of dead and wounded by the thousand, with so many friends waiting to be transported to the firing line, with the cloud of industrial and business depression still lowering, it would be strange if the roseate hues of Christmas were not shot with gray.

“And yet there are compensations. The world travail and the local troubles, while they must subdue the Christmas hilarity somewhat, ought to, and probably will, stimulate the growth of that true Christmas charity without which Christmas is no more than Yuletide.

“If there is more destitution than usual, there is all the more opportunity for the exercise of brotherly kindness. The greater the need of those who have not, the richer the blessing to be gained in giving by those who have.

“For the latter, this no time for stinting. Let those who must perforce economize be more than ordinarily prudent, but all who can afford to spend freely ought to do so now as a matter of public duty as well as private choice. Generous, even lavish, spending at this time is good for the whole community. It puts life into trade; it enables tradesmen to meet their obligations; it provides employment for many who otherwise lie in unprofitable idleness; it makes it easier to take a cheerier view of the future.

“ A few weeks ago the prospects for Christmas were anything but bright, but business has been picking up lately, and it would not be surprising if in the week ‘jes’ afore Christmas’ the holiday trade were to witness the customary brisk and busy scenes in the stores of the city.

“ The Herald today contains in its advertising columns no end of hints to Christmas shoppers who would do well to make use of them.”¹

¹ “ A Subdued Christmas.”

Hamilton Herald     December 19, 1914