John Street (Hamilton, Ontario)

History

Talk of creating a townsite at what is now the intersection of John and Main streets arose as early as 1809, but the war delayed the scheme until 1816 when George Hamilton and Nathaniel Hughson successfully promoted Hamilton as the judicial centre for the counties of Halton and Wentworth (the Gore District).

When the Town of Hamilton was incorporated in 1833, one of the first orders of business was to find a suitable place for the town board to meet. For the first few years they made do with meeting in local taverns such as Thomas Wilson's Inn on the corner of John and Jackson Streets.

John Street is also one of the original native pathways in the area. In 1837, the police commission officially named it John Street - a name originally chosen by George Hamilton (City founder), apparently in honour of a family of early settlers.

The Sir John A. Macdonald Statue at Gore Park arrived in Hamilton from London, England on 30 October 1893. Official dedication of the statue took place 1 November 1893. Originally, the statue was located at the intersection of King and Hughson Streets and pointed West. Prime Minister Sir John Thompson was in attendance. Alexander Aitchison, a local Hamilton Fire Chief, died of injuries he sustained from crashing into the base of the statue with his horse and buggy and because of it, the statue was then relocated to Gore Park near King and John Streets only this time the statue instead of pointing West, now points East.

Ronnie Hawkins came to Canada in 1958. His first gig was at the Golden Rail in Hamilton near the corner of King and John Streets where he became an overnight success. It was a result of Hawkins success in Hamilton that he decided to move to Canada permanently. His career spans over five decades and 25 records. His hits include, “Forty Days”, “Mary Lou”, and “Hey Bo Diddley”.

Landmarks

Note: Listing of Landmarks from North to South.

Pier 9

Hamilton Waterfront Trail

McLaren Park

Canadian National railway overpass

Stewart Memorial Church (originally St. Paul's African Methodist Episcopal Church. 1961 became a Masonic Hall. North of Wilson Street)

Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre (originally downtown Bus terminal)

Hamilton Hydro-Electric System Building

Hamilton Central Fire Department

Downtown Bike Hounds (bicycle shop)

Gore Park

Sir John A. Macdonald statue (Gore Park) Statue info. at myhamilton.ca

War Memorial Monument (Gore Park)

Royal Connaught Hotel/ Holiday Inn

The London Tap House (5-storey entertainment complex including Hamilton's first rooftop patio restaurant)

John Sopinka Courthouse

United Empire Loyalists statue (in front of the Hamilton Courthouse) Statue info. at myhamilton.ca

The Hamilton Courthouse

New Horizon Office Building (Tailgate Charlie's restaurant/ bar)

T.H.& B. Railway Bridge

Blue Line Taxi Cab Company

Oakland Square (shopping plaza)

Church of the Ascension

Olympia Apartments, just east of John Street South on Charlton Avenue East (Hamilton's 3rd-tallest building)

St. Joseph's Hospital

Arkledun Avenue/ Jolley Cut, Mountain-access roads

Communities

Note: Listing of neighbourhoods from North to South

North End - Everything north of the Canadian National Railway tracks

Central/ Beasley, John Street is the division between these two neighbourhoods.

Corktown

Major roads that cross John Street

Note: Listing of streets from North to South.

Burlington Street East

Barton Street East

Cannon Street East - One-way street (Westbound only)

Wilson Street - One-way street (Eastbound Only)

King William Street - One-way street (Eastbound Only)

King Street East - One-way street (Westbound Only)

Main Street East - One-way street (Eastbound Only)

Jackson Street East

Hunter Street East - One-way street (Westbound Only)

Augusta Street

Charlton Avenue East

Roads that are parallel with John Street

Note: Listing of streets from West to East.

Queen Street, North, South

Hess Street, North, South

Bay Street, North, South

MacNab Street, North, South

James Street, North, South

Hughson Street, North, South

John Street, North, South

Catharine Street, North, South

Ferguson Avenue, North, South

Wellington Street, North, South

Victoria Avenue, North, South

Wentworth Street, North, South

Sherman Avenue, North, South