Locke Street (Hamilton, Ontario)

Locke Street, is a Lower City collector road in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It starts off at "Aberdeen Avenue" as a two-way street going through the "Locke Street" shopping district up to Main Street where it then becomes a one-way street going north past "Victoria Park" and ends just past Barton Street West on "Tecumseh Street", a road that winds West and leads to the back-end of "Dundurn Park".

History

"Locke Street", origins of street name go back as early as 1840 when it was spelled "L-o-c-k" and by 1870 the spelling was standardized to "Locke". North of "King Street West" was known as "Railway Street" because it ran to the Great Western Railway yards. Locke Street North is mostly residential and in the 1800s most of the homes there belonged to the railway workers and their families. cite book|title=Hamilton Street Names: An Illustrated Guide|first=Margaret |last=Houghton|publisher=James Lorimer & Co. Ltd.|year=2002|id= ISBN 1-55028-773-7]

In 2000, "Locke Street South" celebrated its 150th anniversary.

Locke Street is a "street of churches" and a "hub for antique shops". Chronological order of the early churches is as follows:
* 1886: Locke Street Presbyterian Church
* 1891: Saint John the Evangelist Anglican Church
* 1893: Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church
* 1897: Immanuel Congregational Church
* 1897: Herkimer Street Baptist Churchcite book|title=Up and Down Locke Street South|first=Ann & Bill |last=Manson |publisher=North Shore Publishing|year=1999|id= ISBN 1-896899-08-0]

Prior to 1853, just South of "Herkimer Street" on "Locke Street South" was the site of the "Beasley Racetrack". It was a popular spot featuring both trotting and steeplechase racing. cite book|title=Up and Down Locke Street South|first=Ann & Bill |last=Manson |publisher=North Shore Publishing|year=1999|id= ISBN 1-896899-08-0] Named after Richard Beasley, (1761-1842), who was a soldier, political figure, farmer and businessman. He owned and ran the racetrack. cite book|title=Dictionary of Hamilton Biography (Vol I, 1791-1875)|first=Thomas Melville |last=Bailey|publisher=W.L. Griffin Ltd|year=1981]

The "Hamilton A.A.A. Grounds", (Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association Grounds), is a park that was home to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1872-1949. Entrance to the park at "Queen Street South" is right before "Charlton Avenue West". Today it is also the site of the "Hamilton Tennis Club". cite web|url=http://www.footballcanada.com/history_timeline.asp|title=A.A.A. Grounds: Canadian Football Timelines; Canadian Football web site|accessdate=2007-04-24] Before it was used for football, the park was the site of a Cricket Club and in 1860 a Raquet Club was established near the present site of the "Hamilton Tennis Club". In 1870, Locke South was described as a "sparsely populated mud track". Despite rapid expansion of the city "Locke Street South" was still an isolated area. On the other hand Locke Street North continued with its residential growth and the development of "Victoria Park" and the opening of the "Crystal Palace". By 1885, "Locke Street South" began to see more growth after a brick sewer was constructed as well as the addition of gas lines were laid. In 1889, Wesley Vollick, a cabinet maker, built a small brick cottage which eventually, (in 1924), became the Locke Street Library. cite book|title=Up and Down Locke Street South|first=Ann & Bill |last=Manson |publisher=North Shore Publishing|year=1999|id= ISBN 1-896899-08-0]

The "Crystal Palace" opened up at "Victoria Park" 20 September 1860 by Edward, Prince of Wales (who later became King Edward VII). It was home to the area's largest fall fair (agriculture exhibition) for many years. The local "Hamilton Herald" newspaper was quoted as saying on 22 September, 1890, The Carnival of Venice, The Paris Exposition or the World's Fair in Chicago will be nowhere tomorrow when the great Central Fair is opened at the Crystal Palace Grounds in this city." The structure was demolished in 1891. cite book|title=Hamilton our Lives and Times|first=Brian |last=Henley |publisher=The Hamilton Spectator|year=1993|id= ISBN 0-9697255-0-7] cite book|title=Dictionary of Hamilton Biography (Vol I, 1791-1875)|first=Thomas Melville |last=Bailey|publisher=W.L. Griffin Ltd|year=1981]

Transportation history includes the following, in 1890, The Hamilton Street Railway, (HSR), built its western terminus on the northeast corner of "Locke" & "Herkimer Streets". A two-storey tram building and horse barn which could accommodate up to 42 horses and 12 tram cars. As well, the Hamilton-Dundas Electric Railway line, (nicknamed the "Dundas Dummy"), travelled through Aberdeen Avenue and crossed over "Locke Street South". cite book|title=Up and Down Locke Street South|first=Ann & Bill |last=Manson |publisher=North Shore Publishing|year=1999|id= ISBN 1-896899-08-0]

Festivals

Locke Street has festivals held throughout the year. The first noteworthy one is called "Spring Blooms on Locke." It's an annual festival that marks the end of winter and is also a fund raiser for sick children. Then there's the one simply called "The Locke Street Festival" where each September the street is closed off for a fun-filled day for the family with live entertainment, street vendors and food.cite web|url=http://www.lockestreetfestival.com|title=Locke Street Festival: Official site|accessdate=2008-07-24] There's also the "Christmas Open House" where they welcome the holidays with late opening, food, drink and carollers each November. cite web|title = Locke Street Shopping District|url=http://www.loso.ca|accessdate = 2007-04-05]

Landmarks

North to south:
* Castle Dean (just northwest of this property is original burial spot of Sir Allan Napier MacNab}
* Victoria Park
* Erskine Presbyterian Church
* Canadian Pacific Railway line overpass (on Hunter Street West)
* Immanuel Congregational Church (1897)
* Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association Grounds, (1-block East of "Locke" at Charlton Avenue)
** Hamilton Tennis Club
* Locke Street Shopping district (Antique shops, Art galleries, Cafes & Restaurants)
* Saint John the Evangelist Anglican Church (1891)
* Locke Street Presbyterian Church (1886)
* Herkimer Street Baptist Church (1897)
* Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church (1893)
* Melrose United Church
* Stanley Avenue Baptist Church
* Locke Street Library

Communities

North to south:cite web| title = Hamilton Neighbourhood Boundaries, (map.hamilton.ca)| url=http://map.hamilton.ca/Static/PDFs/General%20Interest%20maps/Overall%20City/NeighbourhoodBoundaries.pdf| accessdate = 2007-05-11|format=PDF]
*Strathcona
*Kirkendall [http://kirkendallhood.ca]

Major roads that cross Locke Street

North to south:
*Barton Street West, (Western-end of Barton Street)
*York Boulevard - One way street (Eastbound Only)
*King Street West - One way street (Westbound Only)
*Main Street West - One way street (Eastbound Only)
*Jackson Street West
*Hunter Street West - One way street (Westbound Only)
*Charlton Avenue West - One way street (Westbound Only)
*Aberdeen Avenue

Roads that are parallel to Locke Street

West to east:
*Longwood Road, North, South
*
*Dundurn Street, North, South
*Locke Street, North, South
*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

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References

*MapArt Golden Horseshoe Atlas - Page 647 - Grids F11, G11, H11

External links

* [http://www.lockestreet.com/ LockeStreet.com]
* [http://www.loso.ca/ LoSo.ca (Locke Street South Merchants' Association)]
* [http://www.lockestreetfestival.com Locke Street Festival]
* [http://kirkendallhood.ca Kirkendall.ca (Kirkendall neighbourhood)]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Locke+St+N,+Hamilton,+Hamilton,+Ontario,+Canada&sll=43.264425,-79.876313&sspn=0.016375,0.053988&layer=&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=43.26455,-79.882021&spn=0.008188,0.026994&t=h&om=1&iwloc=addr Google Maps: Locke Street (Hybrid)]