1914-03-26

“While the ice on the bay does not lend one to talk of the opening of navigation, preparations which are being made at the offices and docks of the Canada Steamship lines remind one that the time is not far distant when the whistles signaling for the swing bridge at the beach canal to be opened will be heard and the lake trip to Toronto will be the popular outing.”

          Hamilton Spectator.   March 26, 1914.

          The end of the long winter was getting tantalizing close. The upcoming open of navigation was of enough interest to Hamiltonians that the Spectator sent a reporter to the waterfront.

          The ice on the bay, he reported, was still fifteen inches thick and was showing no signs of imminent break up, despite the warming temperatures of recent days. It was felt that the recent rain and the probable advent of a strong east wind would soon change conditions on the bay very quickly.

Many of the men with considerable experience with Hamilton Harbor were predicting that the popular lake steamer, Macassa, would be able to make her first cross-lake excursion from Toronto on April 1, less than a week away:

“It is All Fools’ day, but the officers of the Canada Steamship lines will carry out the plans if the bay is clear of ice by that date, and they have not anticipated the opening of steamship traffic without making due preparations for it.

“The boats have been given their usual winter overhauling, and the Macassa is ready to take her maiden trip of the season the minute the ice breaks up sufficiently to allow her to work her way out of Toronto bay and into Burlington bay.

“The Modjeska and the Turbinia are receiving the usual attention, but not be in commission until some weeks after the Macassa opens the season.

“Both the passenger and freight boats of the company will be equipped with wireless telegraph apparatus as provided for in the recent amendments to the international marine laws.”¹

¹ “Getting Ready for Navigation : Great Preparations Made for Opening of Season : Canada Steamship Lines Had Made Many Changes : Accommodation of Public Given Special Attention”

          Hamilton Spectator.  March 26, 1914

While Sunday service between Hamilton and Lewiston, New York were assured for the navigation season of 1914, the directors of the Canada Steamship Lines, although allowed to do so legally, were undecided as yet regarding possible Sunday service between Hamilton and Toronto.

As the Canada Steamships Lines had recently purchased the assets of the Hamilton steamship company, the company was ready to invest heavily as regards substantial improvements to the various docks on the waterfront at the foot of James, John and Wellington streets. Plans were in plan to make it easier for passengers on the Hamilton Street Railway to get directly from the street car line to the dock of their choice, whether their destination was New York State, Toronto or all the way to Montreal.

With the ice still seemingly still gripping the bay tightly, the navigation season of 1914 was about to begin shortly.