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With ever increasing frequency the HMHS website seems to be the connection point for people looking for answers to their questions about local history. Some questions can be answered directly but many are more complex. As a new venture we are posting some of those questions here with the hope that the people with answers will also come to this site. We are also aware that many people do not wish to post their personal e-mail addresses on the Internet. Therefore, people with questions and or answers can simply respond to the address provided below and we will relay any information that needs to be shared. The reality is that answers to some questions may come from several sources and may not be received immediately. Here are some of the questions that we have received in recent months and reflect the type of questions that people are asking.

The Woodside Inn Restaurant An individual is looking for information or photos related to the Woodside Inn Restaurant that was located on the edge of the escarpment on Scenic Drive near West 35th. Street. It is believed to have operated into the 1960s and was possibly associated with a family named Stringle.

Charles Becker and Martha Rindman An individual working on a family history is interested in contacting anyone who might have information about Charles Becker and Martha Rindman who were married in Hamilton on June 23, 1882.

The Mount Haven Nursing Home This nursing home was located in an old home that possibly belonged to a family named Groenwegen (sp?) that was located in the area of Upper James and Limeridge Road. There was also an old mill on the property. These buildings were demolished a number of years prior to the construction of the Linc. The inquirer is seeking additional information about the buildings or the Mount Haven Nursing Home.

Jeremiah Hess and his descendants. Someone doing family history is interested in tracing the descendants of Jeremiah Hess who arrived in America on the ship "Thistle of Glasgow" in 1730. This individual is also seeking to trace the links between the Hess family and the Bradt family. The Hamilton Mountain connection is that the Hess family operated an Inn in the vicinity of Upper James and Mohawk Road until 1872.

The (Old) Copetown Public School - Before Queen's Rangers was built Someone in the area is seeking older photographs of the (old) Copetown Public School. If you have such photos or know where such photos may be secured this individual would be delighted to hear from you. (Posted - January 14, 2009)

The Ontario Hospital Farm - Part of the Ontario Hospital A grandson of a former Farm Manager, who remembers visiting the farm as a child, is looking for photographs of the old farmhouse or the farming operation at the Ontario Hospital Farm. (Posted January 22, 2009)

The Millionaire Drive Inn A local Hamilton videographer is hoping to produce a video reflecting the experience of those who were growing up on the Mountain in Hamilton after the War (1950-1970). As one of his points of interest he would like to include photos or interesting personal reminiscences of the Millionaire Drive Inn that operated at the corner of Upper James and Mohawk from 1961-1976. Does anyone have photos or memories to share? (Posted January 22, 2009)

The City Ditch Just curious! Is there any place on the Mountain where there is still a visible indication of the existence of the City Ditch? (Posted May 8, 2009) I received a verbal response that there were possibly one or two places in the area of Queensdale and Upper Gage where there might still be traces but I have not checked these out. RJB. We received a further e-mail on the topic of the city ditch from someone who now lives in Cambridge, ON, but who grew up on May Avenue (now East 12th. Street) at an early but unspecified time. They offered more comments not only about the city ditch but really about city ditches. "Wellington Street had a 5 foot deep ditch that ran on the east side of Wellington from Fennell to Concession. As well, there was a similar ditch on the north side of Fennell from James easterly to Wellington. A third ditch ran from James along Inverness to Wellington Street along the south right of way. These were huge attractions in the spring where we raced our homemade solid wood boats from Onteora to the Brow."(Added Sept. 16/09)

Mohawk and Paradise area An inquiry has been received from someone in Ottawa who is trying to track down some family history. They are looking for a house in the Mohawk/Upper Paradise area built between 1949 and 1952 by Bruce Morley Street. The inquirer has some photos of the house and of it being built but is not exactly sure where it was located. Anyone with memories of this family? (Posted Sept. 16/09)

Mona Hannah Fitzgerald A member of the Fosbery family is trying to trace some leads to a "house on the mountain" that was associated with Mona Hanna Fitzgerald. She was born in Hamilton on February 17th., 1894, and was the daughter of Duncan Fitzgerald. She was also the great-grand-daughter of George Hamilton, M.P. - Hamilton's founder. She later moved to Ottawa and married Lionel Fosbery in September, 1935. Anyone with information please let us know. (Posted Sept. 16/09)

Information on the McMullen / McAuley families. John McMullen (born in 1816) and his wife Mary McAuley (born in 1825) emigrated from Ireland and arrived in Hamilton around 1847. They had four children: John, Daniel, Elizabeth and Mary Jane. The daughter Elizabeth McMullen married Thomas Sylvester Beasley (son of Richard and Sara Beasley) on May 5, 1880. Information is being sought concerning Elizabeth and her family. Responses will be forwarded to the inquirer in North Bay. (Posted on Sept. 16/09)

The Mohawk Trail and Mohawk Road We have been in conversation with someone who is doing some research on the Mohawk Trail and especially the Hamilton segment of the Trail. On the Hamilton Mountain, Mohawk Road follows the route of the old trail. This person is interested in tracking down some of the more interesting stories that go with the Mohawk Road segment of the trail. If you have any bits of the story to share, please let us know and we will pass them on and/or connect you with this person.

Not the Mountain, but ... I live on a farm in Mountsberg and I would like an "old" map of the area...... I'm not really picky with exactly what shows up on the map as long as Mountsberg is there... ie North Flamborough would be ok. Do you know where I may be able to get one?

Another Drive in Question While the Millionaire Drive-In was operating on Upper James, I was also patronizing a drive-in restaurant on Queenston Road but I can’t recall the name of it. I know the A&W was there on the south side beside the Rose Motel but there was another drive-in on the north side just west of Nash Road. Can anyone help?

Photo of the Neilson sign My second request is about the giant neon Neilson’s sign that used to stand at the junction of Hwy 2 and Hwy 6 in the fifties. I would love to have a picture of it. I’ve already contacted the Hamilton Library and Neilson’s but neither was able to help me. I’ll bet there was a picture in the Spectator at some point but they just referred me to the library.

Some Incoming Information

We have been advised that there is a Millionaire Drive In page on Facebook but we haven't tracked it down yet.

Three stone buildings on the Mountain
The old Barton Street Church 21 Stone Church Road West, on the Mountain at the junction of Stone Church Road and Upper James Street, consists of three parts: the old church, built of fine grained dolomite of local origin (Eramosa or Guelph) in 1845-1847; a newer addition (similar stone, 1973); and a new wall (?2002), which was built using stone from the old wall that originally was on the James Street side of the church.[2005_05_04]

East of the Church, at 549 Stone Church Road East there is a stone cottage, constructed entirely of large irregular blocks of fine grained, banded Eramosa dolomite. The sills are a later addition of Queenston stone. [2005_12_04]

At 615 Stone Church Road East another stone cottage is built of ?Guelph or possibly upper Eramosa dolomite: the door and window trim and quoins are of Whirlpool Sandstone (showing small oxidation spots). The date over the door is 1853.[2006_01_24]

Quarries, stone masons and architects We also received additional information about quarries and stone masons and later, with the permission of the person who submitted it, perhaps we will post this information on a separate page.

More questions? Perhaps you are seeking information or photographs related to some local family, property, organization or activity. If so, we invite you to submit a brief question or synopsis of your area of interest and we will post it here on our website.

Information to share? The other side of this equation is, of course, that we are hoping to hear from people who may have information that will assist people in the search for answers to their questions. If so, please be in contact us and we will be pleased to arrange a direct contact with the original inquirer. See below for details of how to contact us.

We would like to hear from you! Communications for the HMHS as well as comments and suggestions concerning this website should be directed to Bob Bernhardt, the HMHS Webmaster, at: bernhardt.r@gmail.com