Heritage Pavillion
If history and heritage are your thing, step back in time with our interactive museum quality displays and collections. Experience history first hand with our many historical re-enactors from the Queen's Rangers, Civil War, Crusaders from the days of Khan and Knights in armour...
Think you may have that one-in-a-million antique? Bring it to our Antique Appraisers. Limit of one or two items per person. Call ahead for more information. Size and space is limited.
If you have a collection you’d like to display, join the exhibitors in our Heritage Pavilion. Call us for details to learn how you can participate in this exciting part of the show!
Hamilton the Progressive City – A Photographic Essay
Mark Draak presents a journey back in time through the lens of a camera. Mid to late victorian life in Hamilton as caught by City photographers the likes of Milne, Eckerson, Farmer, D.D. Wright and others captures an era we couldn't possibly imagine given todays modern conveniences.
From Wikipedia – The town of Hamilton was conceived by George Hamilton, when he purchased farm holdings of James Durand, the local Member of the British Legislative Assembly, shortly after the War of 1812. Nathaniel Hughson, a property owner to the north, cooperated with George Hamilton to prepare a proposal for a courthouse and jail on Hamilton's property. Hamilton offered the land to the crown for the future site. Durand was empowered by Hughson and Hamilton to sell property holdings which later became the site of the town. As he had been instructed, Durand circulated the offers at York during a session of the Legislative Assembly and a new Gore District was established of which the Hamilton town site was a member.
Initially, this town was not the most important centre of the Gore District. A permanent jail was not constructed until 1832 when a cut-stone design was completed on one of the two squares created in 1816, Prince's Square. Subsequently, the first police board and the town limits were defined by statute on February 13, 1833. Official City status was achieved on June 9, 1846, by an act of Parliament, 9 Victoria Chapter 73.
As the city grew, several prominent buildings were constructed in the late 19th century, including the Grand Lodge of Canada in 1855, West Flamboro Methodist Church in 1879 (later purchased by Dufferin Masonic Lodge in 1893), a public library in 1890, and the Right House department store in 1893. The first commercial telephone service in Canada, the first telephone exchange in the British Empire, and the second telephone exchange in all of North America were all established in the city between 1877–78.
Draak's collection takes you through these times with images that speak louder than volumes of text ever could. From incredible street scenes to bold portraits of officials, merchants and civilians alike, the story of Hamilton and it's founding people are told in multi-dimensional form.
Draak is a designer and publisher with an extensive collection of 19th century photography. He is always looking to add to his collection be it a single image or album or an entire collection. He'll be at the show if you'd like an appraisal or are interested selling any photographs he'd be happy to see you!
Enjoy this and several other Victorian Photographic Essays exclusive to Treasureventure.
