York Boulevard (Hamilton, Ontario)
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York Boulevard is a Lower City arterial road in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Formerly known as Highway 2 and Highway 6,starts off in Burlington, Ontario at Plains Road West as a two-way arterial road that wraps around and over the Hamilton Harbour and enters the city of Hamilton in the West-end past Dundurn Park. York Boulevard switches over to a one-way street from Queen Street eastward and ends at James Street North. (Note: This road continues East of James Street North as Wilson Street.)
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[edit] History
York Boulevard, was part of the military road that connected the chain stations lying between Kingston and the Niagara River, this road was the main route to York (Toronto). As a result, it became known as York Street. In 1976, the road was closed for construction, over the protests of residents and businessmen, widened and renamed York Boulevard November 29, 1976 at a final cost of $5.5-million. [1] [2]
In 1790, Richard Beasley occupied Burlington Heights (now the site of Dundurn and Harvey Parks) in 1790 & was granted land by the Crown in 1799. A local entrepreneur, Beasley's business ventures included fur trading, land acquisition and establishment of a grill mill in Ancaster. He was a member of the legislative assembly of Upper Canada from 1791 to 1804 and was appointed colonel of the 2nd regiment of the York militia in 1809. Financial difficulties forced Beasley to sell lands at Burlington Heights, but it was purchased in 1832 by Sir Allan Napier MacNab who built Dundurn Castle on foundations of Bealsey's brick home. [3]
In 1813, Eleven men got hung for treason, (War of 1812), right across the street from where Dundurn Castle eventually gets built. [4]
In 1857, 57 passengers were killed when a train derailed near the Desjardins Canal. [5]
Harvey Park was named after Colonel John Harvey, a British Officer during the War of 1812. The name was accepted by Hamilton City Council 11 June, 1894. [6]
Around the Bay Road Race, is the oldest long distance road races in North America, held in Hamilton, Ontario since 1894, 3-years before the Boston Marathon. This 30-kilometre race is also known as the Billy Sherring Memorial Road Race. [7] All races start on York Boulevard, one block west of the Copps Coliseum. All races finish inside Copps Coliseum. On Sunday, March 30, 2008, a record 8,500 participants crossed the finish line.[8]
The Old city hall, with its 38-metre clock tower, was demolished in 1961 (corner of York and James Street) to allow expansion of Eaton's department store. The clock and bell went into the tower of the 1990 Eaton Centre. [9] Hamilton's Central Library was opened in 1980 by Prince Philip. Copps Coliseum, sports and entertainment arena with a capacity of up to 19,000 (depending on event type and configuration) opens its doors for business in 1985. It is named after the former Hamilton mayor, Victor K. Copps.[10]
A walk through Cootes Paradise is a haven for naturalists. Close to the downtown, this sanctuary provides an undisturbed refuge for birds, fish and animals of all types and keep be reached from York Boulevard by following the Hamilton Harbour Waterfront Trail and taking the stairs down, near the York Boulevard High Level Bridge.
[edit] Festivals
The Royal Botanical Gardens was established as an independent entity in 1941 by an act of the provincial government, but the project traces its origins to the late 1920s when the City of Hamilton began acquiring land for the beautification of the city’s northwest entrance. [11] Breathtaking gardens and spectacular nature sanctuaries plus three on-site restaurants and gift shop, over 30 kilometres of nature trails, and more can be found here. The Royal Botanical Gardens also plays host to a number of festivals throughout the year. Details and dates of each of them can be accessed at their official web site, Royal Botanical Gardens. Some of these include the Tulip Celebration, Lilac Celebration, Iris Festival, Rose Celebration and Music @ the Gardens. In addition to the festivals, hundreds of educational programs are offered for all ages plus day camp for kids.
[edit] Waterfront Shuttle
The Waterfront Shuttle is a free service offered by the Hamilton Street Railway. It has a seasonal schedule that runs weekends from May-to-October connecting Hamilton's downtown core to the waterfront and attractions that can be found there like HMCS Haida and the Parks Canada Discovery Centre. The route circles Hamilton's downtown core around York Boulevard (north), Bay Street South (west), King Street West (south) and James Street North (east). Then it travels north along James Street and the Art District until it reaches the waterfront at Guise Street past the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and the Harbour West Marina Complex. Then the route hangs a left on Discovery Drive, the site of the Parks Canada Discovery Centre. Also at this site is the Hamilton Harbour Queen (cruise boat), Hamiltonian (tour boat) and the Hamilton Waterfront Trolley. [12]
[edit] Landmarks
Note: Listing of Landmarks from West to East.
- Rock Gardens
- Royal Botanical Gardens
- Memorial Gardens
- York Boulevard High Level Bridge
- Desjardins Canal (below bridge)
- Cootes Paradise (below bridge)
- Canadian National Railway lines (below bridge)
- Highway 403, Chedoke Expressway (runs parallel with York Boulevard below bridge)
- Hamilton Cemetery (West of York Blvd.)
- Harvey Park (East of York Blvd., across street from Hamilton Cemetery)
- Hamilton Harbour Waterfront Trail
- Dundurn Park
- Dundurn Castle
- Hamilton Military Museum
- The Admiral Inn (motel)
- Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington building
- Queen's Terrace/ Oxford Heights (apartments)
- Hess Street Elementary School
- Ohav Zedeck Synangogue (Hess Street Synangogue), just South of York Blvd.
- Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School
- Staybridges Suites by Holiday Inn, just South of York Blvd.
- Federal Building, just South of York Blvd.
- Copps Coliseum
- Salvation Army Building
- Philpott Memorial Church
- Lloyd D. Jackson Square (mall)
- Hamilton Public Library
- Hamilton Farmer's Market (since 1837)
- Hamilton City Centre (formerly the Eaton's Centre)
- James Street North Art District
[edit] Communities
Note: Listing of neighbourhoods from West to East.
- Bridgeview Survey (Burlington, Ontario)
- Strathcona
- Central - The financial center of Hamilton, Ontario
[edit] Roads that are parallel with York Boulevard
No street runs parallel with York Boulevard. George Hamilton, a settler and local politician, established a town site in the northern portion Barton Township after the war in 1815. He kept several east-west roads which were originally Indian trails, but the north-south streets were on a regular grid pattern. Streets were designated "East" or "West" if they crossed James Street or Highway 6. Streets were designated "North" or "South" if they crossed King Street or Highway 8. York Street originally was one of those Indian Trails and it cuts through the Strathcona and Central neighbourhoods diagonly and does not conform to that grid pattern set out by George Hamilton. [3] [13]
[edit] Roads that cross York Boulevard
Note: Listing of streets from West to East.
- Plains Road, West (Burlington, Ontario)
- Dundurn Street, North, South
- Locke Street, North, South
- Queen Street, North, South
- Hess Street, North, South
- Bay Street, North, South
- MacNab Street, North, South
- James Street, North, South
[edit] Images
 Swans swimming in Cootes Paradise |
 Waterfront Trail, man-made islands, home to many Canada Geese and Swans. |
 High Level Bridge, view from Waterfront Trail |
 Hamilton Cemetery, York Boulevard Entrance |
[edit] References
- ^ Houghton, Margaret (2002). Hamilton Street Names: An Illustrated Guide. James Lorimer & Co. Ltd.. ISBN 1-55028-773-7.
- ^ Houghton, Margaret (2006). Vanished Hamilton Calender. North Shore Publishing. ISBN 1-896899-39-0.
- ^ a b Bailey, Thomas Melville (1981). Dictionary of Hamilton Biography (Vol I, 1791-1875). W.L. Griffin Ltd.
- ^ Chronology of Cities, Towns and Townships of Hamilton. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
- ^ Desjardins Canal Disaster. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
- ^ Henley, Brian (1993). Hamilton our Lives and Times. The Hamilton Spectator. ISBN 0-9697255-0-7.
- ^ Around the bay Road Race, (Official Site). Retrieved on 2007-06-29.
- ^ "Around the Bay Road Race- Since 1894.", The Hamilton Spectator, 2007-03-22, pp. AB1. Retrieved on 2008-03-22.
- ^ Johnston, Bill. Hamilton Spectator article: "Lament for a Downtown". Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
- ^ OHL Arena Guide: Copps Coliseum (1985). Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
- ^ Royal Botanical Gardens Official web site. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
- ^ The Waterfront Shuttle (Trolley)- HSR. Retrieved on 2007-06-05.
- ^ Weaver, John C.. Dictionary of Canadian Biography: George Hamilton. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
- MapArt Golden Horseshoe Atlas - Page 468 - Grids R1, Q1, Q2/ Page 474 - Grids R1/ Page 647 - D9, E9, F9, F10, G10, G11, G12
[edit] External links
- Locke Street.com
- Downtown Hamilton
- James Street North Art District
- Google Maps: York Boulevard (Hybrid)
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