Tuesday 31 July 2012

1905 - Cemetery


On Saturday, May 15, 1905, an article appeared in the Hamilton Spectator describing, in great detail, conditions at the Hamilton Cemetery on York street.
          The headline read “Speaking of the Dead : An Afternoon With Those Who Rest From Their Labors.” In the article, the reporter reflected on the general pride that the citizens of Hamilton felt regarding the upkeep of the cemetery.
          The cemetery grounds were kept in immaculate condition so that mourners could visit the gravesides of their departed loved ones, and in the words of the Spectator ;
“Reach out beyond time’s quickly vanishing space, and touch the loves of spirit forms in the great beyond, and, as they do, the memory of the dead makes better men and women of us all. And we like to believe in that purer spirit world, hoping our kin and friends are there : and thinking of this, we drop a tear for the dead and plant flowers on their graves.”
May was one of the liveliest months of the year at the cemetery. The workmen were beginning to clip the grass and planting fresh green sod on graves out in since the winter began.
In the spring, York street would the location of what the Spec man described as a steady procession “of mourning draped women and sable-clothed little ones” who would be carrying little spades, rakes and potted flowers to decorate the graves of loved ones.
While at the cemetery, the reporter noticed “many a sad scene – no, not sad, but tender.” The mounds would be raked very carefully “as if the noise might disturb the sleeper. The tones are hushed and softened. The mother’s voice which in the home has sometimes been irritable and harsh has become sweet and melodious and the little one who has tried her patience so, and on so many different occasions, is sweet and wonders why this change. It sees the flowers planted on the mound and sees it watered too, with tears from mother’s eyes as with drooping head she bends. It feels the mist gathered in its own bright eyes and a great, holy quiet comes over them both – mother and child. And who will dare to say that a loving husband’s, tender father’s spirit, is not hovering near them. ‘Who loves not the memory of his dead loves not his God,’ is a truism daily proven within the cemetery limits.”
The northwest section of the Hamilton Cemetery was the location of Potter’s Field, where there were no gravestones. A numbered pine board provided the only identification for most of the graves of Hamilton’s unfortunate poor. The names for the graves could only be obtained through application to the superintendent’s office.
A few of the graves in Potter’s Field did have simple name stones, such as the one which read : “Mary. Mother’s Girl. Aged 8 Years.” The reporter speculated that Mary “was taken and mother’s aching, grief-stricken heart lives in the memory of her smile, her cheerfulness, her kindly spirit and to her still, though in the spirit world, she is mother’s girl.”
There was another marker in Potter’s Field – a large, impressive stone, with only a woman’s Christian name engraved on it. The reporter again speculated that “she was polluted and thought herself despised. She loved with guilty love a soldier of the British army and followed him. In Hamilton, she died a scarlet woman. And the soldier? He had some manhood about him. Above her grave he reared the monument which bears alone her Christian name.”
Yet another grave in Potter’s Field was marked. On the surface of the soil of a recently filled-in mound, the children of the grave’s occupant had gathered little pebbles and formed letters with them on the fresh soil. The stones formed the words, “At Rest. Mother.” The reporter noted that it was “a fleeting memorial, but how much it meant to them, whose tenderest earthly friend lies buried there.”
During the spring afternoon spent at the cemetery, the reporter witnessed two burials. One, in Potter’s Field, had neither mourners nor priest in attendance. A curious group of bystanders watched while a pine shell was unloaded from the hearse and lowered into a freshly-dug grave.
When asked who was being buried, the driver of the hearse replied, “A house of refuge case. Had the hearse out and used it because it was dirty. If it had been clean, I’d have used the wagon instead.”
At the other end of the cemetery, there was another funeral in progress. This was complete with a long line of carriages, and a host of mourners. After the minister completed a beautiful graveside prayer for the dead, the old gravediggers went to work filling up a hole with earth, while many of the mourners stood around weeping.
There were many interesting grave stones in Hamilton cemetery, especially the one which marked the final resting place of Alexander Burnfield and George Knight, the engineer and the fireman of the locomotive involved in the Desjardins canal of March, 1857. The monument featured a model of the locomotive on top, while the following verse was inscribed on the side:
                   “Life’s railway’s o’er, each station’s past.
                    In death, we’re stop’d and cease to last,
                    Farewell, dear friends, and cease to weep,
                    In Christ, we’re safe, in Him we sleep.”

Two large family vaults, for the Watkins and Tuckett families were cut right into the embankment on the cemetery grounds. These embankments were actually earthworks, constructed during the time of the War of 1812, and were used as shelters from which the British sallied forth to fight at the Battle of Stoney Creek.
The Hamilton Cemetery was a popular spot, where one could visit for the purpose of prayer and meditation. It was also a spot where one could get a sense of the history of the city.
Finally, it was the final resting spot for mortals from all levels of Hamilton society, whether rich or poor, sinful or holy.

Wednesday 18 July 2012

1901 - Jail


It was a foreboding sight on Barton Street East at the turn of the century. A pile of stone formed into a jail, the exterior of which was very familiar to most Hamiltonians, the interior of which was known to only a select few.
        On October 5, 1901, a reporter with Hamilton’s youngest of its three daily newspapers went to great lengths to tell the readers of his paper, the Hamilton Herald what it was like inside the Barton street Jail, or as it was also known Ogilvie’s Castle in reference to the man in charge of the facility.
        In 1901, the Hamilton Herald was barely into its twelfth year of existence, competing with its two long-established rivals, the Spectator and the Times.
        The Herald specialized in the type of first person, detailed descriptions of local, events, personalities and institutions.
        The Herald reporter started his description of what was formally known as the Wentworth County Jail by bringing his readers along with him as he entered the yard in front of the main entrance to the building:
        “Immediately a person passes through the iron gate leading to grounds, he notices that cleanliness and order prevail. Governor Ogilvie is an amateur florist and takes delight in having the grounds made attractive.
        “Within the prison precincts, also, every place is scrupulously clean; the corridors are swept daily, and scrubbed weekly.
        “There are sixty cells in the institution, but they are always full. The authorities never advertise vacancies.”
        In 1901, the jail on Barton Street was twenty-six years old, having been built by contractor John Taylor in 1875 at a cost of $70,000.
        The jail’s chief administrator in 1901 was Governor James Ogilvie. He had assumed that office in 1885, having previously been employed as station master at the Great Western Railway station on Stuart Street West.
        Ogilvie insisted upon strict order at the Barton Street and everything was done to routine and regulation including what was served at meals:
        “The food is properly prepared and a necessary quantity provided.
“Here is the bill of fare:
“Breakfast, 7:15 – Half a pound of bread, pint of skilly made of oatmeal and cornmeal; water
“Dinner, 12 – Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, half a pound of bread, half-pound of potatoes, five ounces beef. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, half a pound of bread, pint of vegetable soup (three ounces of beef are put in the beef for each person, also barley, etc.)
“Supper, 5 – Same kind of diet as for breakfast.
“For people about 60 years of age, invalids and insane, what is known as hospital diet is the rule. They are also allowed butter and tea.
“The food set before them at the first meal is not always taken, but this antipathy to the diet is soon overcome, and the inmates seldom complain of the fare. They become healthy and strong upon the plain diet.
“On Sundays, supper is partaken of one hour earlier, thus enabling the prisoners – no, no, the turnkeys! – to visit the church they attend.
“Religious services are held in the building on Sundays by the rector of St. Matthew’s Church, also priests of St. Mary’s Cathedral. The Salvation Army sends representatives on Wednesday afternoon. The various religious services are appreciated by the unfortunates who make up the congregation, and they join heartily in the singing.”
The inmates at the Barton Street were expected to work, and there was no choice in what was expected from them:
“During working hours, the men are engaged in cutting wood and breaking stone. For several years, the wood dispensed for charity was cut in the jail, The women do the washing, and when there are no women, the men do the washing.
“On holidays, no work is done. At Christmas, the inmates are regaled with plum pudding, and the sheriff, being kind-hearted, thinks of those in prison and sends down some fruit.”
The routine of the prisoners as regards personal hygiene and recreation was closely defined :
“Saturday is bath day and shaving day. Each person shaves himself, and passes the razor along to the ‘next.’ When men are awaiting trial, they are not allowed to shave, for perchance it would be dangerous to let them have the use of a razor.
“In their spare time, the men play checkers using pieces of mortar or old buttons and marking out the squares on the floor with a piece of chalk. Some prefer reading, but literature is scarce. The sheriff would be pleased to acknowledge the receipt of any disused books or papers citizens may send.”
If there were any behaviour problems with a particular inmate, there were options for punishment:
“In the last annual report, there was one case of corporal punishment. Sheriff Middleton and Governor Ogilvie are strong in favour of this form of punishment. The sheriff thinks that kindness should be meted out to a certain extent, but a line must be drawn somewhere. He thinks that were the cat-o’-nine-tails used more frequently it would have a deterrent effect upon a certain class of criminals. In cases of indecent assault, the governor expressed the view that the lash was the cure.”
Fortunately, the lash was infrequently used at the jail:
“Those in jail, as a rule, are well-behaved, and apparently contented, for the time being, with their lot. In Barton Street Jail, the lights are put out at nine o’clock and peace reigns, for the prisoners sleep just as soundly as though they were in a first-class hotel.”
Young offenders drew special attention from the governor of the jail:
“The governor is always particular in looking after the conduct of youths who come under his care. They are kept from men prisoners as much as possible, and he makes a practice of advising them as to their future welfare when leaving prison.”
Contraband materials seemed to be present at the jail, despite the rules forbidding pipes or cigarettes:
“No tobacco is allowed the prisoners by the authorities. But, it is a well-known fact that many pieces of chewing tobacco are thrown over the jail wall, and these pieces are eagerly sought for.”
Finally, the routine for the reception and dismissal of inmates was closely prescribed:
“When a prisoner is taken to jail, his name is duly recorded. And, by a cleverly-arranged system in the shape of a movable calendar, the date of expiration of sentence can always be noted at a glance. This table is for the use of the governor – the prisoner never forgets.
“Before donning the prison clothing, if required, a bath is ordered. Oftentimes the clothes of a newcomer are in such condition that they have to be burned. If he has no friends to provide him with a wardrobe when he term is finished, why, of course, they are provided in some other way.”
While the Herald man might not have described absolutely everything about conditions at the Barton Street Jail, his article did clear up some of the mystery surrounding the institution for readers who would never have occasion to actually enter the jail.