Cultural Landmarks of Hamilton-Wentworth

Hamilton City Hall

Location:  71 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario

When the Town of Hamilton was incorporated in 1833, one of the first orders of business, after a closely fought election where three out of the four candidates had no opposition, was to find a suitable place for the town board to meet. For the first few years they made do with meeting in local taverns such as Thomas Wilson's inn on the corner of John and Jackson Streets. Mr. Wilson obviously would have had no objection since he was paid quite well for the privilege of having the governing body of Hamilton in his establishment. However, a tavern was not the ideal place to conduct the business of the town and in 1835 they paid Stephenson Woods £2/15/0 for a plan of an Engine House, and in 1836 paid William Hardy £1/5/0 for drawing the specifications for this plan and contracted Scott & Biggart to build the structure. By November 25, 1835 they had a total expenditure of £50/0/0 for the construction. On August 9, 1836, they paid A. Ross & Co. for painting the Engine House (£2/0/0) and soon they moved in, sharing quarters with the fire department and with the jail cells in the basement, to conduct the city's business.

One of the other priorities on incorporation had been the creation of a market in a suitable location. The first location chosen proved to be unsuitable and by 1837 the "Market Question" was a topic of conversation in meetings. Upon the motion of Mr. Jackson, seconded by Mr. Gilbert, it was resolved that the market should be erected in a more "central situation, where the inhabitants would find it more easy of access, during the bad state of the roads, and more general accommodation afforded as well to the people of the town as the country."

A letter was read from the Messrs. Stinson, who made an offer for the proposed new market which would be placed on their property at King William and Hughson Streets. The board decided to advertise for plans for a market house and "It was ordered that it should be advertised in the three papers published in this town, that the Board is ready to receive contracts and plans, for a market building to be erected on the corner of James and York Streets, of brick or stone, measuring 50 feet by 90 feet with a hall above the market place and cellars under the whole."

The final plan chosen was William Hardy's, and "The Board awarded the premium of £7/10/2 to Mr. Wm. Hardy for the best plan of the new market house." They also awarded £0/25/0 to Messrs. Tassie and Shenton each for their plans. "The clerk was desired to have handbills issued for tenders for the Market House, to be given in by 29th May." There was a slight delay in the construction due to the Rebellion, but by February of 1839 the Board was ordering "That Messrs. Gilbert, Bradly, Daily and Carpenter be appointed to examine the work done to the new market by Mr. Hardy to see if it had been done according to contract." Mr. Hardy apparently had done his job well as he was eventually paid a total of £2,017/15/0 for the contract.

The Board then moved into the Market Hall to hold their meetings. They outfitted it by moving the furniture from the old meeting place to the Hall.

"An impressive building, the hall's thirty feet of frontage facing on James Street contained two entrances, each gained by a short flight of steps. As an architectural gesture the hall was surmounted by a small square tower and dome. On the ground floor and in the basement a brisk trade was carried on in butter and eggs, poultry and meat. The upper storey was an open hall with the city clerk's office at the rear, and opposite, at the east end of the building, a stage for local and traveling talent."

"For a while the whole second floor of the building was used as a public hall as well as a council chamber ... old citizens declare that there were sliding doors between the council chamber and the public hall. Probably the sliding doors were put in some years after the building was put up, when the growing dignity of the town demanded that its civic dignitaries should have an apartment all to themselves. The public hall was for years the only suitable place in the town for the holding of public meetings and entertainment."

After the incorporation of Hamilton as a City in 1846, the council decided it was necessary to spruce up the hall so it would be more suitable for their new status. It was also at this time that the Market Hall first began to be called the City Hall rather than the Town Hall. The grandeur of such new status faced its first true test in 1862 as the city faced bankruptcy. The furnishings of the centre of civic pride were taken by the bailiff and ordered to be sold at auction.

This was not the first time the city found itself in need of funds. In 1836, the town, before incorporation, had made an arrangement with the American Presbyterian Church on the east side of John Street, to buy a bell for the use of the city and install it in the church tower. In 1838, to their surprise, a partner in the firm of the bell makers from West Troy, N.Y. arrived with a debenture for payment of £100. "The matter was this day considered by the Board, some of the members of 1836 being present, and they came to the Resolution of taking the bell and paying for the same."

This was easier said than done. On December 1, 1838, the City Clerk wrote to the bell makers: "Laid your letter before the Board, and am sorry to say that it is out of our power to remit even a part of the sum due you immediately, as we had hope to have done long ago, but I am directed to inform you, that as soon as we can raise £50, it shall be forwarded to you, or the whole, if practical. Our collector is exerting himself to call in the taxes, in which, if he is tolerably successful, we shall not have to try your patience much longer." A year later, in December 1839 the Treasurer was ordered "to give Mr. Berrie £50 in part payment of the Town Bell."

In 1872, an improvement to city services was proposed by improving the fire alarm system. The Market Committee was instructed to "take such steps as they may deem proper to ascertain the cost of construction and proper design of a Bell or Alarm Tower, as well as the most eligible place for the construction of the same, and generally to consider the matter and report to this Council at its next meeting."

The Committee eventually proposed a "Bell and Clock Tower to be erected at the east end of the present Market House and that tenders be taken for two of the plans sent for our inspection." However, one month later Alderman Charlton amended their proposal "by substituting the Gore of King Street East side of Hughson Street, for the James Street Market. The Market Committee to proceed without delay to ask for tenders for the said Bell and Clock tower according to the most suitable plans now in their possession." This proposal barely passed as the council split evenly on the vote and the chairman had to vote with the amendors in order for it to pass. Plans then proceeded rapidly. However, at the council meeting of February 10, 1873, when they began to really move on it the resolution read: "Resolved that the Market Committee take all necessary steps to secure tenders upon existing plans or upon plans to be approved by them, for the construction of a Bell and Clock Tower on James Street in connection with the Eastern front of this building and that they report the cost of same the next meeting of this Council." In October of that year they were able to report that they expressed "regret at the very slow progress being made by the Contractor for the carpentry work on the Bell Tower, but they have now some hopes of getting it completed during the present month."

It was suggested by some that the purpose for situating the bell tower at the proposed site was to help city hall remain standing. However, by 1887 it was common knowledge that the "Present city hall is so out of repair that considerable expenditures upon it must be made if it be not replaced. The roof is so old and decayed that water runs through it in streams during every serious storm... the floors are worn out; the doors and windows are in bad condition."

It was decided that a new city hall would have to be built to replace the old one. Tenders were accepted and the winning plan, selected on January 11, 1886, was by C.W. Mulligan. However, when the plan arrived at the tendering stage the winning design was by James Balfour. A plebiscite was held on the by-law to build the new City Hall on May 11, 1887, and passed 1,203 to 348. "The building will occupy part of the site of the old one, but will extend further north, covering the space between the old building and the White Elephant saloon. It is likely also, that the latter building will be pulled down to make room for the new municipal building." On October 10, 1887 the bulk tender of M.A. Pigott of $126,000 with $1,000 off for the old building was accepted.

Mayor McKay and Adam Brown, M.P., occupied the positions of honor, and Chief Aitchison presented a pleasing and picturesque appearance as he stood at one of the upstairs windows in the bell tower. A photograph of this was to be framed and hung in the council chamber of the new city hall.

The week before, on October 31, the council had held their last meeting in the old council chambers. In order to build the new city hall the old one had to be removed and the city fathers would have to move to another location for the duration of the construction. On November 28 they had approved a resolution that "The building situated on James Street, formerly occupied as a Post Office, shall be used until the new City Hall be finished." In November, they started to move over to the old Post Office. "The arrangement of the old postoffice building is not quite completed, and has been delayed by the extremely dirty condition of the interior, which has needed to be washed three or four times before it could be made habitable. When handed over to the city it looked as if it had never been cleaned since the postoffice people first moved in. As an official remarked, it is to be hoped that the new postofficers are taking better care of their new building."

The following week the demolition started.

After the demolition was completed and the construction of the new city hall had started. The question regarding the cornerstone laying ceremony, which was an important occasion for speech making and politicking, was raised. Invitations were confined to the more important civic officials and citizens who occupied or had occupied positions of public trust and responsibility. After a delay because they were not quite ready, the cornerstone was finally laid on July 19, 1888. "In front of the scene of the ceremony, on James Street, a great crowd had gathered, leaving room for only the street cars to pass. Every window commanding a view of the scene was crowded."

The contents of the cornerstone included: a scroll, the financial statement for 1887, the voters' list for 1888, a city directory for 1888, Canadian silver & copper coins, the county directory for 1888, the Canadian almanac for 1888, copies of the Canada Gazette, the Ontario Gazette, the Dominion Illustrated, the Spectator and the Times, minutes of the Board of Education for 1887, a copy of the invitation list, photographs of the old and new city halls, City Messenger Charley Smith's photograph, and Mr. Neill's group photograph of the city hall officials. At the last minute a bill-of-fare of the lunch was thrust into the box.

"The box in which all these things were placed is a formidable affair. It is made of tin, painted black, with a gruesome looking iron ring for a handle; its dimensions are about 18 inches in length, 12 inches in depth and the same in width." As a matter of interest, when the cornerstone was moved to the new city hall in the next century, everything was still intact, with the exception of the coins. They were missing. After the cornerstone block was lowered the speeches began. Mayor Doran spoke, followed by Alexander McKay, M.P., Adam Brown, M.P., John M. Gibson, M.P.P., Warden Flatt, Alderman Moore, Sheriff McKellar and Alderman Stevenson.

"By this time the crowd had thinned considerably, and though the list of speakers was not half exhausted, it was thought wise to stop the speaking right there." They moved into the new city hall in January of 1890.

In 1891, the first problems with the building's construction surfaced. "It is becoming painfully evident that the plaster all through the building is not well put on, and that it may fall from the ceilings at any moment. A day or two ago a large piece fell from the ceiling in the basement. Yesterday a still larger piece - about six feet by four - tumbled from the ceiling of the mayor's private office and crashed down on the mayor's desk and the chair in which His Worship is wont to sit. If he had been there at the time it fell, it is not unlikely that there would have been a large and imposing funeral in a day or two as a result of the sudden descent, for the ceiling is twenty-two or twenty-three feet high."

In 1894, electric lights were introduced into the City Hall, the contract being awarded to the Hamilton Electric and Power Company.

In 1895, a major innovation was introduced in the City Hall. The first woman employee was hired. When the clause suggesting her hiring was brought up before city council, it was referred to a special committee for consideration. The Report of the Special Committee read: To His Worship the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Hamilton, Gentlemen, - Your Special Committee appointed at the last meeting to report on the advisability of a clerk being appointed in the Mayor's office, beg to report that they have examined into the matter, and recommend that Miss Minnie Stewart be appointed to act as the Mayor's clerk, and perform such other work as may be required of her by the Chairman of the Committees, her salary to be twenty-five dollars per month.

Respectfully submitted,
E.A. Colquhoun
Chairman

When minor renovations were taking place in 1914, the door to the long room was being painted and varnished. The assessor, John Nelligan, wrote out the Lord's Prayer in shorthand on a piece of paper and had the painter put it on the door before it was varnished. The door was later moved to the room where the Board of Control met and still later it was taken down to make way for the parking meter division of the City Treasurer's Department. In 1915 there was a furor over secret sessions of the Board of Control. The announcement was made that this practice was to be discontinued immediately. Within three hours a workman arrived at the city hall, went to the Board of Control room and placed oil blinds on the outer door windows of the room, on which was painted, in large white letters, "Private Session".

In 1922, the city hall began to run out of available space in an area which had never been anticipated. The mayors' pictures were taking up too much room in the council chamber (being each a yard square). "As it is, it looks like the city council chamber of Pumpkinville." The plan was to reproduce the mayors in a smaller format and place them in panels. "Difficulty may be experienced in reducing the photos of some of the old-time mayors to small enough size, it is feared. The present yard square frames seem scarcely large enough to contain the luxuriant growths of whiskers which are sported by many of the past chief magistrates...When finished, it is expected that the arrangement of pictures will enhance the dusty grandeur of the council room, instead of giving it the mausoleum-like air it possesses at present."

In 1929, an editorial appeared in the Spectator which called the city hall "antiquated and inadequate" and suggested that rebuilding the hall was becoming a necessity. In 1944, they went further and called it a fire trap.

In 1947, the pinnacles were denounced as dangerous.

Real debate had to wait until after the immediate problems created by the war could be put aside. Some of the problems which began to surface in the press concerning the state of the city hall were patches of corroded marble were coming off the walls of the basement offices of the tax office; Ald. Laird Jennings had a particularly vocal beef regarding the condition of his chair in the City Council chamber. It seems the alderman came out on the short end of a trade. The springs had burst through the bottom, and on several other civic fathers' chairs the covering was torn and tattered; the clock in the city solicitor's office had declared the time to be 8:45...for the last two years; repaired linoleum in the office of the city auditor was alleged to resemble a patch-work quilt; plaster was peeling; walls needed washing; and the third floor in the north-east portion of the building was sagging.

The first official assault on the Civic Rock Pile was fired by E.G. Faludi on publication of his Master Plan for the Development of the City of Hamilton, in 1947: "The City Hall, built in 1888, can no longer fulfill either the present or the future needs for efficient administration. The building is obsolete, and too small to accommodate the expanded functions of the civic administration. A number of municipal offices have had to locate elsewhere, to the inconvenience of both the taxpayer and the departments concerned.

The existence of the City Hall on its present location is an obstacle to the improvement of the central commercial area and to the elimination of the most pressing traffic problems of the City. It occupies valuable commercial frontages which could be utilized for modern commercial buildings. It prevents the widening of the lane and of James Street, necessary for the free flow of traffic into the Market and at the James, York, King William intersection."

His plan was adopted in principle, but nothing was done to implement any of it. During this same period several offers floated around concerning the purchase of the old city hall including one rather spectacular offer of $1,000,000.00 by a "reputable retail firm (not Eatons)." However, Eatons also made an offer to purchase the site at this time.

One of the problems facing the council regarding the building of a new City Hall was where it should be located in the city. Many sites were suggested. The most favourable site was Faludi's Civic Centre which suggested the City Hall be built on the block east of the Court House. The annex on stilts, proposed by Mayor Lloyd D. Jackson, proposed an annex over the market to be linked with the city hall proper by an elevated walkway "which was later to go down in history as the ill-fated "bridge of sighs"." Another of Mayor Jackson's ideas was to expropriate the Lister Building. As they moved towards this expropriation it was explained that the step was being taken to "freeze the price" of the five storey office building. Not surprisingly the tenants of the Lister Building were less than thrilled at the prospect. "The Chief Magistrate lashed out at the attitude of some tenants of the Lister Block. He termed them selfish. "Civic business is more important than private business...and should have top priority." This idea was brought to an abrupt halt, to the relief of the tenants, when council voted 12 - 9 against the appropriation.

Other suggestions included renting space from Coppley, Noyes and Randall or in the Empire Building. There were even suggestions to relocate to the site of the old Y.M.C.A. or old Central Collegiate.

1950 arrived with a prophecy that "it is becoming apparent that our City Hall controversy is to go on interminably until all of this generation is dead and buried." The annex on stilts enjoyed a brief renaissance but the Civic Centre proposal for the Prince's Square area was becoming increasingly popular. On the other popular site, which was the old H.C.C.I. grounds, alderman MacDonald envisaged something amazing "...a city hall in the style of the U.N. secretariat, nine stories high at its loftiest height and costing between $1,250,000 and $1,500,000. The newspapers described the debate following these proposals as "whimsical".

In October of 1950, a special committee recommended the hall be built either on the H.C.C.I. grounds or on Prince's Square.

In 1951 the City Planning commissioner recommended that an American expert be hired in order to determine the best site. Mayor Jackson's response to this was "eye-wash".

In 1952, other sites were proposed by the Mayor including York Street west of Macnab, west of the Hamilton Public Library on Main Street to the lumber yard, south on Jackson to Hunter in the John Street area or north of the new Hydro building at John and Rebecca.

Alderman Malcolm Cline hired a Wall Street management consultant, L. Edgar Detwiler. He proposed Hamilton erect an equivalent to Edmonton's famed Miracle Mile on the site of the Westdale dump. This site would contain the new City Hall, supermarkets, a farmer's cooperative, retail stores and underground parking. "Lord knows what we might come up with," declared the enthusiastic Mr. Detwiler. And it wouldn't cost a cent he assured them as it could be financed with self-liquidating bonds, with the city providing the land and the services and the property being tax-free for the life of the contract. Not a cent, except for the $50,000 owed to Mr. Detwiler for the economic analysis and plan. This put the discussion back to square one again and they started proposing more sites such as the McLaren's building at Park and Merrick, the Wilkinson-Kompass building and the I.O.O.F. Temple. "Ald. Partridge was breaking no new ground when he commented "It's hard to make a decision one way or another."

The favoured sites by this time were still the Princes' Square and the H.C.C.I. grounds.  However, in the end, they situated the building beside the library on Main Street West.

Once the site was finally approved, the next question was one of design. Eventually everyone agreed that the old city hall had to be removed but they were insistent that parts of it should be incorporated into the new hall. One suggestion was to incorporate the old city hall clock into the design. The most bizarre suggestion came from Mayor Jackson. He wanted the old city council chamber moved lock, stock and barrel into the new city hall. This led to a spirited exchange between His Worship and the city architect Mr. Roscoe. "All I want from you," said the mayor, "is whether it's feasible. Never mind whether it's wise."

Mr. Roscoe said it was feasible. But he would not do it.

"For 67 years this has been our council chamber," said the mayor. "It has impressed everyone. For sentiment, history, tradition, I would like to see it moved." The mayor continued to say that he would like to have the same type curtains, the gallery brass rail, and the woodwork moved intact. "It's not impossible," said Roscoe. "But I wouldn't do it. It's not shaped right. Our technical knowledge has advanced just like science and chemistry..."

"Fiddle-de-diddle," snorted the Mayor. "I've heard that before ... the two things are not comparable."..."As a link with the past," said the mayor, "I think we should move the council chamber. It's perfect."

Mr. Roscoe disagreed. "It's not perfect," said the architect. He elaborated, stating that the woodwork was hard to clean, the pillar-supports for the gallery were unsafe, and the windows would not fit his concept of the new city hall.

"Now we will get modern," groaned the mayor, passing a hand over his brow.
"Esthetics is only part of architecture," said Mr. Roscoe.
"Maybe it should be more," rejoined the mayor.
"Speaking of dollars," said the architect.
"There are a heck of a lot of things more important than dollars," said the mayor.
"No good modern architect would do it," said Mr. Roscoe.
"Then maybe we should get an architect who is not good and modern and who would do it," said the Mayor.

A massive fall of plaster in the council chamber a few weeks later seemed to support the architect's arguments. The proposal was abandoned, albeit reluctantly, by the mayor.

The site was now approved and the design was chosen. The subject of the next great debate was whether to use Cherokee white marble or Queenston limestone. The architects recommended the marble. In order to make the decision, the city hall committee took a weekend jaunt to New York to view some samples of buildings covered with this material. This visit was called "a preposterous waste of taxpayer's money" by Alderman John Munro, "it is absurd, as far as I am concerned...to appoint professional men, to hear their advice, to discuss that advice, and then to spend taxpayer's money in a wasteful journey to view the very stone that these same professional men say we should use in our new city hall."

Shortly after, it was proposed that they should use Queenston limestone instead. "This is a city hall for Canadians, to be paid for by Canadians, and we can have stone mined by Canadians, and cut by Canadians, and then put in place by Canadians," said Controller McCoy. "My mind is made up - it's too bad about the colour."

Board of Control then voted 3-2 for limestone and took their recommendation to City Council which voted 13-6 for marble.

Councilors thought affairs were getting out of hand. Alderman Ramsey Evans stated that "The whole thing is a squalid nuisance...If the council hasn't got the courage to dissolve the city hall committee, it ought, out of decency, to commit suicide."

And Alderman Cline reminded them of another potential area of controversy. "Despite the abundance of trees in this country ... we have been told that the hardwood required for interior paneling can only come from the United States."

Other recommendations were less controversial. It was suggested that the pictures of past mayors be hung in the main lobby, that there should be a shower provided in the mayor's bathroom and that there should be a separate room near the City Clerk's department for the issuing of marriage licenses. "Oh, the new city hall is going to be gorgeous - there is no doubt about that! It's probably going to be the finest municipal edifice in the British Commonwealth of Nations. All the departments are going to have all the space they need, projected into twenty-five years. And as people drive down Main Street, they'll gasp and say, "What a city hall!" There'll be automatic window cleaners, air conditioning, facilities for music, and a public address system so that the Mayor can summon a sanitary corporal..."

On this enthusiastic note they started tearing down the houses on the future city hall site in June of 1958 to start the $9,400,000.00 project. They turned the first sod at the site on July 2, 1958. Mayor Jackson

drove the steam shovel and Joseph Pigott took home movies. Meanwhile the city hall committee, had not been disassembled and continued to operate. It appointed a subcommittee to prepare a list of furniture that was to be retained from the old city hall to be placed in a city museum upon its construction

Professor Eric Arthur was brought in as a expert to help the committee in their choice. Some of the material was kept as mementos "to represent an era" including desks, chairs, benches, the large pictures of the former mayors, sections of brass railing, two fireplaces, two marble directories, clock mechanisms, doors, balusters, tables, clothes racks and the coronation chair.

The construction proceeded fairly smoothly but was not without its tragedies. On December 12, 1958 Ernest Quirt was killed when he fell through a hole in the scaffolding and on May 21, 1960 Lawrence Shaw died when the window washing machine he was using collapsed. Just prior to that, on May 15, 1960, two 200 pound slabs of marble fell off the building, one crashing to the ground and the other landing on a 7th floor canopy.

The old city hall officially closed on October 28, 1960 and ownership transferred to Eatons. The new city hall opened for business at 8:45 a.m. on October 31, 1960. The official opening did not take place until November 21, 1960 when Governor-General Vanier officiated at the ribbon cutting.

Wrecking of the old city hall began in January of 1961 and was finished when the cornerstone was hauled away in June of that year. Most of the rock taken from the old city hall was reduced to rubble and used as fill for the wharf extension at Catherine Street. Some 500 tons of wall stone were placed in storage at King's Forest. The old city hall bell ended up in Sam Lawrence Park.

It did not take long for the problems with the new city hall to surface. In July of 1961 visitors were puzzled to see red tape crisscrossing the automatic doors at the front of the building. This precaution followed the collision of a citizen with the front door. "The glass didn't break but the citizen's head did and five stitches were needed to close a gash over his eye." One of these doors subsequently exploded, showering the lobby with shards of broken glass. And then there was the marble, again. It seemed that the pins anchoring it could not hold it up and large chunks kept falling off.

More problems seemed to be inevitable. In January of 1984, the aldermen began asking for their own offices. In fact, many of the employees at city hall began complaining about being too cramped and that there was simply not enough office space to work comfortably. The aldermen made a proposal that called for an additional eight offices, costing up to $65,000. Alderman Ian Stout calculated that an additional 40,000 square feet of additional office space would be needed all together. He also proposed moving ahead on a $7 million plan for a new wing to be added to the existing city hall. The additional wing was contained as an option in the original plans for the building and could be constructed behind the south side of city hall.

Discussions began as to how the expansion of city hall should be conducted. A strong option was a seven-storey tower to be built at the back of city hall, south of the garage. Other options included expanding the east of the existing building, which would have meant the demolition and relocation of the existing Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Mayor Bob Morrow admitted that he was opposed to construction of any new buildings in this venture, arguing that it would be less-expensive and more advantageous to utilize existing available office space. However, for those working in the cramped offices it was simply not possible. Already, secretaries had their desks placed in lobbies instead of office areas, and with a growing staff, the existing space just was not enough.

Over the Christmas holidays in 1986, $132,000 was spent on renovations to city hall. Existing furniture, some of it very old, was replaced by compact, modular units. It was estimated that an expansion at the rear of the mezzanine level, to create new alderman's offices, would cost about $400,000. Costs were trimmed, but by then the lowest tender for the expansion was put forth by Falla Construction Ltd. as $537,782. It was decided that stucco, a less-expensive alternative to marble, would be placed on the west wall of the addition and that aluminum doors would be used instead of red oak wood.

On September 9, 1986 the new Falla Construction tender of $564,000 was finally approved, for the addition which would house twelve new offices for the aldermen. Construction was completed within a year.

In 1987, city hall received a pleasant gift from Geritol Follies Inc. They donated $25,000 toward a floral clock which would be placed outside of the city hall. The diameter of the clock was 7.3 meters, and if it had not been installed on such an awkward angle, it would be readable from Main Street West as well as the sidewalk just in front of it. It was installed in time for the June 1987 opening of the Geritol Follies, but was somewhat difficult to read, and its accuracy has been in question ever since it was first put in place.

In April of 1989, a monument was proposed to honour all workers who were killed on the job. The location chosen for this monument was the grounds of city hall, at the south east corner of Main and Bay streets. A competition for creating the statue was held, with a maximum commission of $50,000. The competition was open to local Canadian artists and was administered by the Hamilton Region Arts Council.

The competition was won by Hamilton artist, Paul Cvetich who created a statue of a headless figure hanging from a large slab of rusting steel. The unveiling of the statue was held on April 28, 1990, only hours after a man was killed on the job at the local Stelco steel plant. Despite the fact that some people find the statue disturbing, it stands as a focal point for the annual Day of Mourning, a day set aside each year to commemorate workers injured or killed on the job.

In 1990, Hamilton city hall began to face a new series of problems. Aside from a brief run-in with an unknown stench in the aldermens' offices in February which caused nausea, stinging eyes and scratchy throats, city hall was also the target of a series of odd events.

On January 16, Stanislav Terek, 23, armed with a machete, walked into the empty council chamber at noon and set fire to some papers and books that were sitting on a table. He then started to attack the table with his machete and continued to do so until police were able to bring him out. When questioned, he claimed that his actions were to "prove a point."

Although city hall promptly improved security, a series of other events occurred. In October of 1991, the Spectator gave a report on a man who "wandered aimlessly through the offices and at one point threatened to bite a receptionist." In another incident, a man stormed into city hall without shoes, ranting and raving. Later still, a man walked to the main floor of city hall and set himself on fire. He ended up in serious condition at the hospital, and city hall decided to opt for more security.

Next came the bomb threats. The first in a series of four bomb threats which occurred within a month of each other at city hall in 1992 came on the afternoon of July 17. City hall was evacuated while a bomb squad searched the premises, but they found nothing and concluded that the threat was merely a hoax. This happened several times, but no bombs were ever found, nor did one ever explode.

In 1998, renovations to the city hall were underway.  With a budget of $500,000, workers replaced old carpeting, furniture and blinds in the council chamber and made the chamber accessible to people with disabilities. 

In spite of its shaky history, Hamilton city hall has remained a culturally important and historically significant part of our city.

References:
City Hall Scrapbooks.  Special Collections, HPL.
Clipping File.  Hamilton - Hamilton - Memorials - Day of Mourning Statue.   Special Collections, HPL.
Houghton, Margaret.  Roaming The Halls:  In and Around Hamilton's City Halls:   A Speech Given for Heritage Day, February 17, 1986.

Link:
Special Collections - Mayors of Hamilton