The light in the sky was
getting stronger and stronger, but the sun had yet to arise on July 1, 1867.
Then at a pre-coordinated time, church bells all across the city of Hamilton
began to peel. Drowsy Hamiltonians partially awakened by the sound, were fully
rousing when the booming of artillery was heard coming from the eastern section
of the city.
A reporter from the
Spectator for the Hamilton Spectator had been up for some time, given the task
of recording how the first official day of the Dominion Day began.
His story hurried written,
typeset and printed for a special morning edition began as follows :
“““Never since the first
settlement of Canada has there dawned upon the land so auspicious a day as that
we are about to celebrate. The consolidation of the various British-American
provinces into one Dominion is an event not only in the history of Canada, but
in the history of the human race. It is an altogether unprecedented one, but
based as our union upon the best principles of British constitutional freedom,
and resulting as it does from the combined wisdom of the ablest and most
patriotic men of the Mother Country and Canada, we may look forward with
confidence to the future success of the experiment which we this day commence.
“Hamilton will commemorate
this day in a manner which will be worthy of the city, and will reflect credit
upon those who have had the arrangement of the celebration committed to them.
In after years men will talk of having been participators in the grand
celebration of today and will speak with pride of the gallant and loyal show
which was made by the people of this city.
“The bridal of the
provinces, like all other weddings, was celebrated by a peal of merry marriage
bells. At the first stroke of this morning, a peal of bells announced the
commencement of the eventful day, and we hope that their harmony will be a prophetic
symbol of the harmony which will ever exist
between the various sections of the new Dominion.”
1“Confederation Day ! : The
Celebration ! : A Splendid Display ”
Hamilton Spectator. July 01, 1867.
At the special day
approached, a committee of citizens had formed to solicit sufficient monetary donations
to cover the costs of the celebration. As the City of Hamilton municipal
government was still undergoing financial difficulties, it was up to private
citizens to provide the needed dollars. The very first person to be approached
was Issac Buchanan who without hesitation donated $100.
It was not hard to
eventually raise sufficient funds to carry out one of the most memorable public
celebrations in Hamilton’s History.
Not only were Hamiltonians
themselves out on the principal streets early, visitors from nearby
municipalities and rural districts had come to the city to take in the sights
and sounds.
The decorations which had
been put in place had beautified the city magnificently :
“Flags waved from every
housetop – red, white and blue bunting was stretched across one side of the
street to the other – laurels and evergreens clustered round the verandas, and
balconies, while from window and housetop, and gallery, the fairest flowers of
our city bloomed and blushed, not unseen,
and added grace and beauty to the scene.
“A BANNER extending from the
ropes of the establishments of Mr. T. Mitchell and Mr. Thomas White on King
street, attracted much attention. On the top were the words ‘First of July,
1867; may it never be obliterated,’ on the right end ‘Unity is Strength’ and
left, ‘Success to Confederation’ in the centre was the couplet :
‘All hail the happy morn
When the new Dominion was born.’
‘Between the lines was the
emblem of Canada, at the foot were the words ‘Once United, may we never be
severed.’ ”2
2 “Confederation
Day ! : The Celebration ! : A Splendid Display ”
Hamilton Spectator. July 02, 1867.
The prime feature of
Confederation Day in Hamilton, Ontario on Confederation Day was a remarkable
parade which the indefatigable man from the Spectator laboriously recorded and
wrote up for the following day’s edition of the newspaper:
““The procession began to be
formed about half-past nine o’clock, the first on the ground being the Friendly
Brothers of Union, a society of colored men, who looked exceedingly well,
marching with admirable regularity and exactness. Other bodies followed in
quick succession, and soon all were in there places.
“The Hamilton Glove and
Mitten Manufacturing company was unfortunately prevented from being present in
consequence of their being unable to procure teams at the last moment. The
temperance societies were unable to attend.
LINE OF MARCH
“The line
of march was taken up at about ten o’clock, and the procession moved with great
regularity from King street down James to Gore, along Gore to John, up John to
Main, along Main to James, down James to King, thence across the common to the
platform behind the Crystal Palace.
“The fire
brigade came first, with Mr. Attwood, their marshal, at their head. The brigade
never looked better or turned out in greater strength. The order of march was :
No. 1, Captain Amor, 60 men; No. 2, Captain Taylor, 60 men; No. 3, Captain
McKenna, 80 men; hose, Captain McCann, 60 men; hooks, Captain J. Reilly, about
50 men.
“The men
of the companies looked exceedingly neat and clean and marched in admirable order.
The various machines were tastefully decorated with flowers, etc. The band of
the brigade marched at their head, and played some excellent tunes. Next to the
firemen came the Royal Cadets, a body of juvenile soldiers armed with wooden
guns, who marched and drilled with a procession which leads us to believe that
in a few years these incipient warriors will be able to do good service for
their country. Then followed the school trustees in carriages, and after them,
led by Mr. McCallum, the principal of the Central school, came about 400 of the children of the institution, who
trudged along through the dust in the most plucky manner possible, waving their
royal standards and Union Jacks, and entering into the affair in a thoroughly
jovial and spirited manner. As they marched on beneath the hot sun, the little
fellows beguiled the way with snatches of songs, mostly of a patriotic
description, occasionally varying the proceedings with three cheers for the
Red, White and Blue.
“The Odd
Fellows turned out in good strength, and marched in front of the St. Andrew’s
society, and the Highland Bagpipes. We were sorry to see the St. Andrew’s
society turn out in such small force. The St. George’s society showed a good
strength, and with their banners, etc., at their head made a good show. Wanzer
& Co. made a fine display. The car filled with young women employed in the
establishment was (as might be expected) one of the prettiest features in the
procession. The occupants were all dressed in light dresses, on which were
printed the names of all the British North American provinces. The Canadian Oil
company followed in a wagon drawn by six horses, the ribbands being handled by
E. Mitchell.
BUTCHERS
ON PARADE
“Then came
the butchers, who made an excellent show. The ox, which had been profusely
ornamented with red and blue rosettes and artificial flowers (furnished by Mrs.
Kidner), was in a wagon from which he surveyed the admiring spectators with
mild and placid gaze. Round him clustered the sturdy butchers, all of them well
mounted and exceedingly ‘Old Countrifed.’ A number of the beholders seemed to
be very much puzzled how the animal could have been induced to enter the
vehicle prepared for his reception.
“The iron
moulders were not showy-looking, but an exceedingly respectable looking body of
men, and they marched well and preserved good order. The shoemakers, with King
Crispin, and his champion and sundry other worthies, grotesquely habited, were
a decided attraction. The king was dressed in robes of pink, with a crown of
gold upon his head, while the champion looked decidedly like a warrior of the
olden time.
“The
bakers, next, made a good display. In fact, they attracted more observation
perhaps than any other body. The process of bread making, etc., was carried on
during the progress of the procession. The general committee, city officials
and citizens closed the line of procession.”2
As
the procession headed up York street and neared Locke Street North, it briefly
halted while a military unit moved into place to lead the processionists south
on Locke street to the Crystal Palace. Beside the Palace itself, a platform had
been installed:
“On the procession arriving
at the grounds, the various trades and societies were formed in close column
round the speakers’ platform, the children being in the front, and the fire
brigade on the outside.”2
(To Be Continued)
