MADE IN HAMILTON
19TH CENTURY
INDUSTRIAL TRAIL

SITE 18
H. L. BASTIEN BOAT WORKS, c. 1865

This stretch of shoreline was once home to a number of Hamilton waterfront industries: marine foundries, ice houses, a sail loft and more. Most visible were the piers, boathouses and work yards of the city's numerous boat builders. Hamilton's 19^th century boat builders were capable of producing all types of vessels, from small canoes and dinghies to large lake steamers.

The H.L. Bastien Boatworks, located at the bottom of the Picton Street hill, was one of Hamilton's best known and longest running boat shops. Henry Bastien apprenticed as a ship's carpenter at Oswego, New York around 1850. By 1854, he was employed building steamboats at Niagara-on-the-Lake. But he wanted to be his own boss. Many mid-19th century craftsmen aspired to the freedom of self-employment.

He moved to Hamilton in 1856 and hung out his shingle as a building contractor. By 1865, he had shifted back to boat building. He built the extensive boathouses pictured here. Bastien worked with his sons and a few other skilled workers crafting sailing boats, dinghies, canoes, row-boats and yachts. Bastien personally supervised his boat works until he died at age 91 in 1922. The boathouse complex was razed around 1937.

The Leander Rowing Club was originally located at the end of Bastien's wharf. The club's racing shells were built here.