Hamilton's first public park evolved over the course of several decades. Its history begins with that of city. In 1816 the city's founder, George Hamilton, proposed to his neighbour, Nathaniel Hughson, that they jointly develop their properties. Each man would present adjoining triangular tracts of land at King Street to the town to be used as a town square. Hamilton followed through with his plan but Hughson, for unknown reasons, did not. He sold off lots facing King Street instead and thus the Gore was created, a triangular piece of land in the centre of the city.
In 1833 the Hamilton city council decided to use the land for a market and were immediately opposed by George Hamilton. He launched a lawsuit asserting that his purpose in setting aside the land must be respected. The court's decision in his favour resolved the first dispute over the purpose of the Gore land. It was to be kept as a public promenade.[6]
The Gore land was threatened again in 1847 when financial pressures prompted the city council to investigate its possible sale to provide additional revenue for the city. This council decision was disputed by Robert Hamilton who was George's son and heir.[7] Unlike his father he did not insist that the land be held for public use but rather that it belonged to him as the town square proposal had fallen through. The two parties resolved the dispute by agreeing to subdivide the land and share the profits. This time the park was saved through the actions of over seventy Hamilton property owners who petitioned the government of Canada to stop the sale because it would
| destroy one of the chief ornaments of the town and that the revenue which is said may be derived out of it will not in the opinion of your Memorialists prove an adequate compensation to the inhabitants of the city generally for being deprived of the enjoyment of it as a Public Square.[8] |
In 1851 a group of Hamilton businessmen suggested to the city council that the Gore should be developed as a park. Their chief spokesman, George H. Mills, wrote the editor of the Spectator newspaper:
| For years it has been the wish of a large majority of our citizens that the Gore on King Street should be beautified...The Gore is the first place that the stranger or the visitor meets with upon entering the city, and it stands as a sort of index to the whole. Its proper beautification is therefore an object of the first importance to the City.[10] |
The businessmen were prepared to jointly donate the funds for the project if only council would agree that it should be carried out. Council did not agree. The appeals to their sense of civic pride and to their pocket books both failed.
In 1852 the Hamilton council asked the Upper Canada legislature to vest the Gore land in the corporation of the city of Hamilton for 'public purposes'. Such an act was passed by the legislature November 10, 1852. The act defined 'public purposes'.
| Whereas, in the original survey to the city of Hamilton, a vacant space of triangular form, was left for the purpose of a public square...it is hereby enacted...that it shall and may be lawful for the Mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of Hamilton, and their successors, and, they are empowered to erect and build upon the said piece of land (which is bounded on the west by James street and on the east by Catherine street) such public buildings as they think necessary; or to enclose the same for the purposes of public square, and to ornament the same and improve it for such purposes, or otherwise to use and dispose of the said tract of land as the said Mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of Hamilton may, in their discretion, think most advisable.[11] |
The act included a disclaimer which stated that it neither admits nor prejudices any claim in law to the land by Robert Hamilton. The passing of the act did not conclusively resolve the ownership question and it heightened the ambiguity over the purpose the land was to serve in the city. It was now recognized both as a public square and as a possible building site.
The economic slump which had fostered the original decision to sell the land had passed and the council no longer urgently needed the additional revenue. They did however, need space for a town hall. After meeting with Robert Hamilton they decided to divide the Gore land. The city would retain the portion of the Gore between James and Hughson and they would build the town hall there. Hamilton agreed to accept the portion of the Gore which was east of Hughson street.[12] The longstanding ownership dispute had been amicably settled. Council moved quickly to carry out their new plans and the Spectator editor asserted to his readers that "the plan of the corporation to erect suitable public buildings on the Gore cannot be too highly recommended".[13]
It quickly became evident that the newspaper's readers did not agree. The town hall may have been a worthwhile civic project but Hamilton citizens did not want it placed on the Gore. Opposition to this new encroachment on what many Hamilton property owners perceived as park land was immense. By March of 1853 the council relented and bowing to public pressure repealed all former by-laws relating to the Gore.[14] In August after receiving a petition from their constituents the council reluctantly agreed that the Gore could be developed as a public park. The cost was to be subsidized by private subscriptions and council declared that they were not irrevocably forfeiting the land.[15] By November of 1853 the area had been cleared of rubbish and gravelled. Hamilton had its first public park.
It can reasonably be assumed that no further development of the Gore occurred for in April 1855 the council minutes record a letter from the Bank of British North America and others asking council to enclose and plant the Gore. The council agreed to set up a special committee to investigate the proposal.[16] Moving ever so slowly the committee gave its report almost a full year later in March of 1856. They recommended that the businessmen's proposal be accepted. The Gore would be enclosed by an iron fence which would have an entrance gate at each of the four corners. Trees, shrubs, and flowers would be planted and a decorative fountain would be placed in the centre. Walkways would lead front the [17] gates to the fountain.
If any improvements were made they were not as extensive as the committee recommended. In 1857 council is still debating the proposals. In 1859 another special committee is set up to investigate 'ornamenting' the Gore. The state of the Gore has suddenly become linked to the prospect of an upcoming visit to Hamilton by the Prince of Wales.[18] The Gore as it stood was a very poor specimen of a public park and the beautification scheme is reintroduced to council. The Times editor supports such ornamentaion asserting
| Hamilton has now the opportunity of setting a fine example to the cities of America and of dealing with a great social evil in a direct and commonsense manner.[19] |
A public meeting was called by that paper to seek the support of Hamilton's businessmen for the issue.
Hamilton council had for years ignored or obstructed the development of the Gore as a park. Suddenly with the prospect of a visit to the city by a celebrity and its attendant publicity the beautification of the Gore was deemed urgent. The city would be in the limelight and it must have something to show. If the city's public image was enhanced to take advantage of the upcoming publicity perhaps some business interests would be persuaded to invest their capital in the city. As a booster issue the beautification scheme was finally implemented. It had been given a legitimate purpose.