Ferguson Avenue (Hamilton, Ontario)

Ferguson Avenue, is a Lower City collector road in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Is a two-way street throughout that starts off at the base of the Mountain (Niagara Escarpment) on "Foster Street". It's interrupted 3-blocks north at "Corktown Park" where Canadian Pacific Railway lines passes through it. Ferguson Avenue resumes again north of the Park right before "Hunter Street East" and extends northward up to "Barton Street East", the site of the "Hamilton Regional Detention Centre" where it's interrupted again. Ferguson Avenue resumes again north of this property on "Strachan Street East" extending northward through the city's "North End" industrial neighbourhood where it ends on "Dock Service Road", the site of a "Royal Canadian Navy base" and "Pier 10".

History

Ferguson Street was named after "Peter Ferguson" and early settler. "Mary Street" was named after his wife, Mary Ferguson.In the early years, Ferguson Street formed the eastern boundary of Hamilton. cite book|title=Footsteps In Time: Exploring Hamilton's heritage neighbourhoods|first=Bill |last=Manson |publisher=North Shore Publishing Inc|year=2003|id= ISBN 1-896899-22-6]

Ferguson Station is a defunct train station in downtown Hamilton. It use to be the Hamilton terminal for the Grand Trunk Railway Company. There was also a railyard north and south of this station. The North yard was on "Ferguson Avenue"between Cannon Street East and Barton Street East. The South yard was on Ferguson Avenue at "Young Street". Ferguson Avenue south of Main Street use to be called, "Cherry Street". Back in its day, Ferguson Station was referred to as the "King Street Station". 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] Freight rail service continued on a line running down the middle of Ferguson Avenue until the mid-1980's.

On July 25, 2008, a newly constructed bridge opened up on Ferguson Avenue North, just north of Barton Street East, to "Simcoe Street East". This part of Ferguson was separated by CN railway tracks and better connects the downtown to Hamilton's waterfront. The $4.6 million construction project began in November 2006 and includes one lane of traffic in each direction, bicycle lanes and sidewalks. This project is also in line with Hamilton’s recently adopted "Transportation Master Plan" which emphasizes enhanced cycling and walking facilities and an efficient road network to support economic development. This construction project received federal funding through the Federal Gas Tax Fund.cite web| title = Government of Canada: "New Ferguson Avenue Bridge Opens in Hamilton." (www.infrastructure.gc.ca) | url=http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/ip-pi/gas-essence_tax/news-nouvelles/2008/20080725hamilton_e.shtml| accessdate = 2008-08-23] cite web| title = "Ferguson Avenue Bridge Opens Today." (www.thespec.com) | url=http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/409011| accessdate = 2008-08-23] cite web| title =Daily Commercial News & Construction Record: "Hamilton’s new Ferguson Avenue Bridge opens." (www.dcnonl.com) | url=http://www.dcnonl.com/article/id29598| accessdate = 2008-08-23]

Festivals

Hamilton is home to the [http://www.hamiltoninternationalvillage.ca/index.asp Mustard Festival] because Hamilton is home to the largest miller of dry mustard in the world. It's held annually on Labour Day weekend at "Ferguson Station" at "Hamilton's International Village" and is another summertime food & beverage festival that features some of the top Blues and Jazz acts in the region. cite web| title = Hamilton's Annual Mustard Festival| url=http://www.hamiltoninternationalvillage.ca/index.asp| accessdate = 2007-03-27]

Landmarks

"Note: Listing of Landmarks from North to South."
*Pier 10
*Royal Canadian Navy, Army and Sea Cadets
*Ferrie Street Park
*Simcoe Street Park
*Ferguson Avenue bridge/overpass, Canadian National railway tracks
*Hamilton Regional Detention Centre (Barton street jail)
*Hamilton Regional Police station
*Theatre Aquarius
*Beasley Park
*Beasley Park Community Centre
*Ferguson Station (historic site)- defunct Grand Trunk Railway train station, site of the summertime "Mustard Festival"
*International Village (shopping district)
*Escarpment Rail Trail (abandoned railway path)
*Corktown Park
*Shamrock Park
*Bruce Trail
*Niagara Escarpment (mountain)

Communities

"Note: Listing of neighbourhoods from 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]
*North End - Everything north of the Canadian National Railway tracks
*Beasley
*Corktown

Major roads that cross Ferguson Avenue

"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)
*Charlton Avenue East - One way street (Westbound Only)

Roads that are parallel with Ferguson Avenue

"Note: Listing of streets from West to East."
*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
*Gage Avenue, North, South
*Ottawa Street, North, South

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References

*MapArt Golden Horseshoe Atlas - Page 647 - Grids E13, F13, G13, H13

External links

* [http://ourbeasley.com Beasley Neighbourhood (ourbeasley.com)]
* [http://www.hamiltoninternationalvillage.ca International Village]
* [http://www.northendneighbours.blogspot.com/ North End Neighbours]
* [http://www.brucetrail.org Bruce Trail Association]
* [http://brucetrail.wholemap.com/ Hikes on the Bruce Trail]
* [http://www.escarpment.org/ Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) Official web site]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Ferguson+Avenue+N,+Hamilton,+Hamilton,+Ontario,+Canada&sll=43.266956,-79.861937&sspn=0.03275,0.107975&layer=&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=43.266769,-79.86022&spn=0.03275,0.107975&t=h&om=1&iwloc=addr Google Maps: Ferguson Avenue (Hybrid)]