1900 - February on the Bay

Around the turn of the 19^th into the 20 century, Hamilton bay and its surrounding shoreline presented a bleak, cold and rather forlorn appearance during the month of February. Despite the completely frozen water surface and the uninterrupted exposure to bitter winds, the area was not as lonely as one might assume at first sight.

“Late in the month, the ice cutters would put in their appearance. Despite the warnings of doctors and public health officials, who were beginning to express concerns regarding the pollution of the bay by sewage and factory effluents, the ice cutters would take out over 60,000 tons of ice from Hamilton bay every winter. Not only was the ice needed all summer for use in household ice boxes, the work provided by the ice harvesting industry was desperately needed by poor families in the area to keep them in food and fuel over the winter months.

“The traditional methods of ice harvesting involved the use of cross-cut saws to cut the ice into squares which were then hauled by skids onto sleighs to be taken to storage areas on shore.

“The modern methods of ice harvesting, devised in the 1890s, involved cutting out long channels, often a mile or more in length. The channels were cut by sharp-edged plows drawn by teams of horses. The ice, cut into squares, would be pulled along the channels by men and women, using long, sharp-pointed poles. The ice would be taken to shore, where it would be elevated from the channel to the ice houses by means of a steam-powered conveyor. As the ice was hauled up, each cake would have its face shaved, ready for storage in saw dust.

“The two biggest employers during the ice harvest of 1900 were the Magee-Walton company and the Builders’ Ice Association, whose harvest would not only be sold locally, but also for sale across Southern Ontario.

“Along the bay front, the boats of the summer season, both large and small, would lie at their wharves at anchor, locked in by the bay ice. The passenger steamers of the Hamilton Steamboat company would rest at their wharves at the foot of James street, while MacKay’s wharf usually held the Arabian, a Hamilton-built steep propeller owned by Captain Fairgrieve. The Myles, a coal schooner, also built in Hamilton, was owned by the Myles Coal company and it would spend winters at ret behind the company’s yards.

“In addition to these large vessels in their winter quarters, there were usually several large sailing boats, among them the W.F. Suffell, built in Port Hope, Ontario. Each of these large vessels in their winter quarters would have a watchman living on board. These men were usually members of the previous summer’s crew or else an old retired lake man. Because of the lonely nature of their winter work, visitors were always welcome, especially if they were accompanied with a full bottle of Scotch or Irish whiskey.

“On a blizzardy night, the whistling of snow-laden winds would awaken memories in the old sailors’ minds as they sat in the captain’s quarters, feet up on the stove fronts, pipes in hands.

“Hamilton Bay in February, was, of course, a prime center of attraction for those interested in ice-skating and ice boating. Sometimes the ice would get slushy and not very good for skating. However a prolonged thaw, followed by a quick cold snap and no substantial snowfall would make the ice surface as smooth as a mirror.

“Ice boaters in particular, craved very smooth ice conditions so that they could direct their craft at top speed, straight towards innocent parties of skaters. Then, just as catastrophe was seemingly about to occur, a quick turn of the tiller would send the ice boat off in another direction.

“A favorite mecca for both ice skaters and ice boater in February was the area along the Beach strip where large mounds of ice were formed by the action of wind and waves sending up spray. The ice hummocks would assume grotesque and awe-inspiring shapes, with huge mountains of ice, punctuated by deep and dangerous crevasses leading to the cold water below. The ice along the Beach was especially beautiful on moonlit nights as young couples skated across the bay to explore them

“As quickly as they were formed, the ice flows would disappear, as warming spring temperatures and strong west would push them out into the lake. Soon the ice on the bay would gradually thaw as the deep winter character of Hamilton Bay would give way to spring renewal.

1908 -King and Park Streets

Hamilton Times.    May 02, 1908.

“Another landmark is doomed to disappear in the march of improvement necessary to keep pace with the prosperity of our city. Very few will remember as far back as 1840, when James Reid commenced the furniture business at 91 King street west, but the building in which he successfully built up one of the best furniture and carpet businesses in western Ontario is about to be torn down and give place to a modern store abounding in plate glass fronts for display of goods, so essential to any present day business. Previous to 1840, Mr. Reid had been with Jacques & Hays, of Toronto, and, like many others, saw the possibilities of Hamilton. Many will remember him well, and being a practical cabinetmaker, it was his pride that everything he made should be the best. Anyone attending auction sales held by Tom Burrows, will note that if Tom wishes to draw special attention to any piece of furniture he has under the hammer, he invariably alludes to it as being made by James Reid. Mr. Reid was very particular, and when delivering furniture in the various houses of the city, he would tell his men never mind if their fingers did get the worst of it, so long as they did not injure the polish of the article. In 1876, he found that the store in which he had so long done business was too small to meet the requirements of a growing city, and so he built the fine new store on the corner of King and Park streets, next door to the building he had so long occupied. At the time, the new building was considered the finest retail store in the city. Mr. Reid, being a thorough Scotchman, took particular pride in the stately Scotch granite pillars that adorn the front of the building. The place had quite a novel opening. Some will remember the bachelors’ ball held on the occasion, to which the elite of the city. On the second floor, a room 30 feet by 100 feet, the merry dance was enjoyed by all.

“In February, 1884, James Reid died. It seemed as if the business he so successfully carried on was to come to an end, possibly because of the general depression in trade at the time. For about a year and a half, the executors of the estate kept the store open, and the stock was finally disposed of by auction. The buyers were William Malcolm and A.M. Souter, the former having been bookkeeper for a number of years with Mr. Reid, and the latter, foreman in the cabinet factory. These two men formed a partnership and carried on the business in the same buildings, thinking they had enough room to accommodate the trade for all time to come. In about three years, however, it was found necessary to increase the floor space, and two floors were added to the back of the old store, No. 91. This was thought ample for all purposes, but furniture is very bulky, and requires a lot of floor space for display. It was not long before they felt crowded, and about seven years ago, they bought the premises on the corner of Barton and Elgin streets, known as the Wanzer sewing machine factory.. A limited company was formed, and the product of this factory is acknowledged to be of the best in Canada, both as to design and make. Considerable of the output has been shipped to British and Australian markets, a very large business is done in the Northwest, and their goods are found in every first class furniture store from the Atlantic to the pacific. About six years ago, Mr. Malcolm decided to retire from the retail part of the business, giving his whole attention to the development of the wholesale trade. Mr. Souter, while holding his interests in the wholesale end of the business, enlarged the retail business, and formed a partnership with his younger brother, D.A. Souter and James Davidson, who for the last five years and a half have prospered so well that although they added as a store room, what was formerly what was formerly the factory , a growing city and increased business has forced to remodel the entire store. The new premises, instead of being two buildings, will be one, with over 60 feet of plate glass front. The store will be carried back the full length of the lot, making five floors 60 feet by 145 feet. This will double the present floor space, and the firm has confidence that the public generally appreciates the efforts to carry on the business so well begun by their predecessors. The Times gives pleasure in giving its readers a picture of what the remodeled building will be like, and can assure them that they will find everything they require in the line of home furnishings in this up-to-date store of the enterprising and energetic firm of A.M. Souter & Co.