Name:
In February of 1944, the City of Hamilton was given 8 acres of land, known as the old Webb Quarry property which was used as a storage yard, by T. H. Ross, a Member of Parliament for Hamilton East. Mr. Ross specified that the land was to be used for park purposes and asked that it be named in honour of Captain John Macmillan Stevenson Patton. Patton was a Hamiltonian who had risked his life removing a German time bomb from a British aircraft factory, becoming the first recipient of the George Cross for valour.
Mr. Ross's property was turned over to the Parks Board for beautification; however, the park was soon absorbed by the Mountain Access Development (the Jolley Cut, which now winds through Sam Lawrence Park). Mr. Ross was given $6,500 to release the conditions attached to his gift of land - that the land be used for park purposes and that it be named Patton Park. This payment was charged to the Jolley Cut widening project. The area was landscaped and beautified for a lookout park, including the construction of handsome stone walls, prestigious flower gardens, and numerous pedestrian paths. Additional acreage was added in 1954 from a combination of the old Jolley Cut Road and the Webb Quarry, and in 1961, from the closure of Strongmans Road.
On March 31, 1959, the Mountain brow was landscaped and the park was redeveloped in 1960. On October 25, 1960, the site was renamed for Samuel Lawrence (1879 - 1959). Known as "Mr. Labour", Sam Lawrence devoted his life to the causes of working people. He was president of the Stone Cutters' Union, of which he had been a member for 60 years, and vice-president of the Hamilton Trades and Labour Council. He was the leader of the CCF party in the Ontario legislature and was the first member of that party to be elected to the provincial legislature where he served from 1934 to 1937. He was a member of the City Council for 32 years, serving as Alderman, Controller, and was elected Mayor of Hamilton in 1944. He filled the position with great honour until 1949.
In 1961, City Council voted in favour of building a three-level waterfall cascade that would be visible from the lower city. The waterfall was to be illuminated at night and the hope was for it to become a tourist attraction. The water would be reused by using a pump to recycle it. However, on May 31, 1962, construction of the waterfall was stopped because of lack of funds. As of May 31, 1963, the city had spent $65,000 on the waterfall project and it would cost an estimated $40,000 to finish it. In the meantime, there was some deterioration of the original work done. Many councillors came out in favour of writing it off as a "waste of money". In September of 1963, it was suggested that the waterfall area be developed as a rock garden or observation post overlooking the formal gardens as these projects would be less costly. This was a brave suggestion since the City had already purchased pumps for the waterfall. The pumps were stored under the stands at the Civic Stadium (now the Ivor Wynne Stadium at Scott Park). In March of 1964, City Council approved the plan to complete the waterfall project - a scheme that was to end years of controversy. A further $55,000 was set aside for the project over the following 2 years. $20,000 was spent to repair crumbled walls and stairs. In 1965, the work was called off when soil tests showed that there was danger of a landslide. Engineers ruled out both the waterfall and rock garden proposals because of the park's instability. They thought that the weight of a rock garden might be enough to trigger a landslide in the park. Instead of a waterfall or rock garden, the park was landscaped to include the addition of flowers, lawns, trees, and shrubs.
On October 1, 1965, Union Gas installed a three-storey high torch at Sam Lawrence Park as a gift to the city. In 1967, Canada's centennial year, the flame was lit in celebration of the special day. The torch was also lit each October during Fire Prevention Week, when some politician went up in a cherry picker, lit the giant flame, and made the declaration. For some unknown reason, the flame stopped being lit and the pole got rusty and ignored. Gas was no longer supplied to the torch as of October 21, 1971. The torch was soon forgotten, even by City Hall! On July 15, 1992, the torch was taken down. Apparently, Alderman Henry Merling thought the old steel pole and burner could be a public hazard. He told the Parks Department it should come down; the Parks people told Union Gas, and so the great flame fell.
On July 23, 1964, a plaque for the Niagara Escarpment was erected. On December 20, 1966, the site was given to the Parks Board. The City acquired an additional 2.5 acres to be used as part of the park in 1967.
In 1967, the old City Hall bell was put on display at Sam Lawrence Park. The bell was made in West Troy, New York, in 1889. It tolled the time for Hamiltonians for 72 years at James St. N. and King William St. before the old City Hall was torn down in 1960. The bell was stored in a shabby wooden box until 1967, when Mr. Schien built a stone cairn for it at the park. Mr. Schien, a 63 year old construction company owner at the time, did most of the work himself, and the city paid for the materials. In September of 1989, the over 100 year old bell was moved to the tower at the Eaton Centre - close to the location of the old City Hall.
A proposal was made for a luxury restaurant in Sam Lawrence Park in 1971. Plans for this construction were quickly shot down through petitions by the mountain residents. Public opinion would not accept a restaurant in the park.
A scenic lookout and sidewalk were constructed in 1971. A memorial plaque to Mr. Lawrence was erected in the park in 1975.
In 1989, approval was given for a 5-year project to promote awareness of the park and improve its safety. Among the list of improvements was a 42-meter (140-foot) pedestrian bridge which was to join the two sections of the park. The idea of the bridge had caused much controversy among area residents but it was still supposed to be constructed in the final phase of the project. However, the bridge was never built.
The restoration of the park began in 1991, including the addition of stone walls, flowers and plants, and improved walkways. Eleven interpretive signs were installed in November of 1994, which describe the geological, environmental, cultural, and historical aspects of the Niagara Escarpment and the park. These renovations should ensure that Sam Lawrence Park remains one of the city's most beautiful parks.
