THE HEART OF THE CITY
ORANGE HALL
22 King Street East![]()
CURRENT STATUS (1999)
Present Owner: Adele Sager and Simon Molka
Present Use: Financial offices, retail stores, various tenants
Heritage Status: Listed on the City's Inventory of Buildings of Architectural and / or Historical Interest
Locally Significant Date: Pre-Confederation
BUILDING INFORMATION
Date Built: 1840s
Original Owner: Archibald and Thomas C. Kerr, dry goods merchants
Original Use: Wholesale dry goods business to 1906
Subsequent Uses: Wholesale shoes and leather goods (John Lennox & Co., 1910-1922); financial offices; Honey Dew Coffee Shop (1942-70); various retail stores
Previous Building on Site: Unknown, probably none
ARCHITECTURE
Size: Three-storeys
Design and Style: Neoclassical
Architect, Builder: William Thomas, architect
Construction Materials: Brick masonry with limestone front
Architectural Integrity: Moderate (upper facades largely intact, except for replacement of all but four original windows)
Architectural Features: Austere but well proportioned ashlar facade with a continuous lintel under the third storey windows and flat voussoir arches over the windows; decorative stone cornice; eyebrow dormers; ornate molded window caps; decorated cornice appears to be fabricated of sheet metal
The Orange Society was founded as a fraternal society in Ireland in 1795, coming to Canada in 1830. At its peak, the organization had approximately 25,000 members, including John A. Macdonald.
The organization owned and operated
orphanages and other charitable institutions.
The society had problems with racial and religious issues, which were deeply rooted in Irish history. On July 12, 1690, the battle of the Boyne was fought and Prince William of Orange defeated the Catholic James II assuring that the British throne would only be ruled by a Protestant. In celebration of the battle, a huge parade was planned annually and people from all over travelled to Hamilton to join in the festivities.
In 1905, the group decided to pool their resources and erect a $20,000 building to house all lodges and associated organizations. The Orange Hall of Hamilton had two store fronts available on the first floor. Between the stores was an entrance hall which led to the rear of the building and to a stairway. The second floor contained two large lodge rooms and four small anterooms. The top floor was home to the Royal Black Preceptory and had a large drill hall to the rear.
The ornate James Street front was fabricated from pressed brick and had stone trimmings, including a bas-relief of King William on his celebrated horse. A statue of Justice, inscribed with the motto "Justice for All" added to the imposing streetscape.
When the Orange Association left its Hamilton location for Toronto, the building was used as a Portuguese social club until it was torn down.
REFERENCES:
Clipping File Organizations and Societies
Loyal Orange Association. Special Collections, HPL.
LACAC Research Files. Planning Department, City Hall.
Official Program Derry Day Celebration 1688-1965. Special Collections, HPL.
Our Heritage Scrapbook, Vol. 5. Special Collections, HPL.