Cultural Landmarks of Hamilton-Wentworth

Queen Victoria Statue

Location:   western end of Gore Park, Hamilton, Ontario

Although plans for a statue to honour Queen Victoria were proposed as far back as 1860, it was not until four days after the Queen's death, on January 26, 1901, that these plans really began to take shape. A group of Hamilton women decided that a memorial to the Queen was in order, to pay tribute to her greatness. It was estimated that about $10,000 would need to be collected from the public to cover the costs of building such a monument. The Queen Victoria Statue Memorial Committee was headed by Mrs. John S. Hendrie, their elected president.

Two of the most popular locations proposed for the statue were the mountain brow and the western end of Gore Park. Reasons against placing the statue in Gore Park included:

"1. Because it would be smothered by the surrounding high buildings.
2. Because it could only be seen by people within a hundred feet or so of it.
3. Because few, if any, ex-Hamiltonians, or others, outside of Hamilton would contribute to its cost.
4. Because the occasion, having no precedent, undoubtedly demands something greater."
(as printed in the Hamilton Times, 1901)

The statue, after some debate, was located in the western part of Gore Park.

More than five years after the original plans were made, models for the monument were submitted to the committee by various sculptors and a sufficient amount of money was collected. Submissions were made by Philipe Herbert, Montreal; Justin McCarthy, Ottawa; and Mr. Alward, Toronto. On April 14th, 1906, the model submitted by Mr. Herbert was chosen and work on the statue began.

The following items were placed inside a bag which was enshrined in the cornerstone of the monument: city and telephone directories of 1901 and 1907, a Canadian Almanac of 1901 and 1907, copies of the Times, Spectator and Herald, copies of the revised by-laws and the financial statements of the city, current coins and stamps, a Union Jack, a Canadian flag, a list of the members of the city council, board of education and advisory board, and a copy of the Bible.

A great ceremony was set for the unveiling of the statue, at which even the Governor General, His Excellency Lord Earl Grey, would be present. Lord Grey would later become well-known as the man who gave Canada the cup which is used by the Canadian Football League as their trophy.

On May 23, 1908, the Spectator wrote: "Hamilton women are becoming renowned all over Canada for their patriotism. One good deed after another is accomplished by the loyal women of the city, and each good deed redounds to the credit of Hamilton as a whole."

At the unveiling of the statue, 22,000 people were in attendance. The Governor General was driven around the city in a car, from James Street to Main Street, to West Avenue, to Hunter Street, to Victoria Avenue, to Stinson Street, to East Avenue, to Main Street, to Delta, to John Street, to Main Street, to Queen Street, to King Street, to Victoria Park, to Dundurn Park, returning by the same route to King and Locke, to Queen Street, to Herkimer Street, to James Street and finally to Gore Park. He was cheered by the great crowds of people as the car approached. The weather that day was reported to be quite nice and everyone was in good spirits.

A guard of honour consisting of 100 men from the Ninety-First Highland Regiment and 100 men from the Thirteenth Regiment was present, as was a great chorus from the city schools. They sang "O Canada" as the band played. According to the Governor General, it was the best he had ever heard the anthem performed.

On a platform, near the front were His Excellency the Governor General, Mayor Thomas Joseph Stewart, Hamilton's veteran Postmaster, Mr. Adam Brown, several members of the city clergy, the aldermen and their wives, the members of the Queen Victoria Statue Memorial Committee, and several other prominent citizens.

The statue was presented to His Excellency, who was the representative of His Majesty in Canada. The Governor General then pressed a button which caused the statue's coverings to fall and the great monument was unveiled. The band broke into "Rule Britannia" before the Governor General spoke, paying tribute to Hamilton's patriotism and loyalty. After the chorus sang "The Maple Leaf," the statue was presented to the city, and Mr. Adam Brown took the stand to give a speech and eulogy for the late Queen.

In 1958, fifty years after the statue was unveiled, an attempt was made to remove the accumulation of dirt and treat the surface of the statue. A lot of grime had built up on the statue over the years. This dirt was scrubbed off and a special treatment was used which would help slow the corrosion that was occurring to the great monument.

Later still, in 1988, plans were made to clean the statue, which by now had turned green due to oxidation, and to hold a ceremony in June which was very similar to the one that had occurred in 1908. This ceremony was to be complete with the current Governor General (Jeanne Sauve) in attendance. The statue was given a major cleaning, with brushes, abrasives and soap solutions being used to restore the original bronze lustre.

Descendants of the original Queen Victoria Statue Memorial Committee were invited to attend the 1988 ceremony, and the Governor General was also present. Jeanne Sauve arrived at City Hall at noon to make a speech. This was followed by a re-creation of the original unveiling ceremony, complete with the Queen Victoria School choir singing "God Save The Queen" and The Celebration Brass playing "Rule Britannia" and "O Canada." The Governor General was then treated to a luncheon at the Hamilton Convention Centre, as well as tours of McMaster University Medical Centre and the Royal Botanical Gardens.

Although not in time for the June ceremony, Leo, the lion who is part of the monument, had his tail restored in October of 1988, after it had been broken off and gone missing sometime around 1967. With the tail fully restored and the statue looking very clean, the monument was once again quite a sight to see.

The Queen Victoria monument had become a favourite resting spot for pigeons and in 1996, for the first time since the 1988 ceremony, further maintenance was done on the statue. This time, it was decided that the cleanings should be an annual event. It was also decided that a picture of the statue would be taken each year so that the condition could be noted. The yearly cleaning would include the monument being scrubbed down with a hog-bristle brush and non-ionic detergent and allowed to dry. After this, it would be given a hand-rubbed coat of microcrystalline wax, to keep it protected and looking good.

Adam Brown's speech:

"Your Excellencies, Mr. Mayor and citizens of Hamilton:"

"For three score years less two have I lived among you, and at your hands received honours -- the highest in the gift of the people -- but none do I regard so great as the compliment of being invited to take part in the proceedings of the unveiling by His Excellency, the Governor-General, of the statue erected by the women of Hamilton in loving remembrance of our late beloved Queen Victoria, the noblest woman and purest monarch that ever adorned a throne. Loved by all, not alone for her regal graces, but for the virtues and charms of her benignant womanhood: ‘Queen as true to womanhood as queenhood.' All honour to the noble patriotic women of Hamilton who have brought this work to completion. I am sure I voice the opinions of all who were associated with Mrs. J. S. Hendrie, the president, when I say that she merits especial praise for her untiring zeal."

"Victoria was a queen as she owed allegiance to Him by whom Kings reign and princes decree justice. She was a queen as she ruled in truth and righteousness over her countless millions of loyal subjects; a queen in her sympathy for the suffering and sorrowing; a queen as her heart went our to the brave soldiers and sailors as they fought the battles of the empire for the right; a queen in uplifting and bettering her people; a queen as she sat by the bedside of the sick and humble homes around her beloved Balmoral, comforting them from the secret of Britain's greatness -- the bible, more than a queen as she reigned in love over her home; her beautiful life as mother, wife and queen will for all time illumine the page of Britain's history. She was ‘crowned with a diadem never worn by a worthier.' Orations have been made, books written and poets inspired to record her many virtues, and long and glorious reign, but the half have not been told. She built her monument in the hearts of her people by the true nobility of her life, and it was moulded into full completion when an Empire mourned for her death as one who mourneth for his mother."

"Let our children from the very cradle be taught the story of the good and loving Queen Victoria and pass it on from generation to generation. In mute eloquence this magnificent statue will proclaim that she was a benediction, not alone to the British people in the dear old land, and beyond the seas, but to the whole world; and besides, will be a constant reminder to all to follow the example of her beautiful life. The best homage that can be paid to her memory is to live as she did -- for the good of others. May Hamilton be ever worthy of the memory of the beloved, revered Victoria."

"Canadians were ever devoted to her person and throne, and among them none more than the sons and daughters of Hamilton. That same loyalty we rendered to her, we render today to the son of his mother, King Edward, the Peacemaker. May his precious life be long spared to reign over a loyal, happy and contented people -- a people fearing God and honouring their King."

Inscription:

"Victoria Queen and Mother
Model Wife and Mother
May Children of Our
Children Say she Wrought
Her People Lasting Good
The Women of Hamilton in
Affectionate Admiration
Have Raised This Monument"

Queen Victoria (1819 - 1901)

Queen Victoria (1819 - 1901) had the longest, and in many senses, the most glorious reign in English history. She reigned for a total of 62 years, from her succession to the throne in June of 1837 until her death, and is still regarded as one of England's best-loved Queens. It was Queen Victoria who reigned in 1867 when the British North America Act was signed. Her reign has been called a high point in British history.

References:
Clipping File.  Hamilton - Memorials - Queen Victoria Statue.  Special Collections, HPL.
Gardiner Scrapbook.  vol. 239. p. 52 - 54.  Special Collections, HPL.