Beach Boulevard (Hamilton, Ontario)
Encyclopedia
Beach Boulevard is a Lower city street in Hamilton, Ontario
, Canada
, north of the Hamilton Harbour on a thin piece of land that crosses over Lake Ontario
and stretches from where Woodward Avenue
becomes Eastport Drive in the east to near the Lift Bridge in the west at Eastport Drive (again). It runs parallel with the QEW and the Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway
Bridge.
cut through the bar that Hamilton started to expand. Before that its chief importance was as a military station, guarding Burlington Heights
and the head of the lake.
The shores of Lake Ontario are right at the doorstep of residents for sailing
, swimming, jogging
or cycling
. Many Hamilton citizens had their summer cottages there. One of the residences had served as one wing of the old Hamilton fort which had been used in the war of 1812. This building was moved around the time of the First World War by 16 teams of horses - a journey which took 6 weeks. The spot is about eight miles from the city and was reached by Steam or electric street cars or by boat
. On May 24, 1877, the first "Beach Train" rolled along the strip, the Hamilton and North-Western Railway. Electrical Radial service began in 1905. After that, the Hamilton & North-Western Railway stopped carrying passengers along the beach strip. But it carried freight until the line was abandoned in 1982.
In 1903 a Mr. H.Knapman formed the Canadian Amusement Company and opened up an Amusement park
, (1903-1978), on Burlington Beach, which today is known as Hamilton Beach. It featured boats, boathouses, swings & slides, snack bars and a fun house named the "Crazy House". Shortly thereafter carrousel
s and a ferris wheel
were added and by the 1950s a small roller coaster
and pony rides were included in the parks' inventory. Roller skaters and dancers whirled across open-air, wooden dance floor. The dance floor became the foundation for the Pier Ballroom. Sunday-evening talent contests were popular and famous artists - Ozzie Nelson
, the Clooney Sisters and Duke Ellington
played there. In 1978 the City of Hamilton did not renew the Canal Amusement Park lease. One by one, the rides and attractions were sold.
Just north of Beach Boulevard on Lakeshore Road can be found the historic lighthouse
and the Joseph Brant Museum, a replica of the home of Joseph Brant
(the Great Aboriginal War Chief of the Mohawk Nation
and the first citizen of Burlington).
The Beach Strip is a 4-mile, (quarter mile wide), strip that stretches from Spencer Smith Park in Burlington
to Confederation Park in Hamilton. This strip of land was known to the aboriginal people
in the area as "Daonasedao", which translates to "where the sand forms a bar". Thousands of years ago, the beach was formed as a baymouth barrier bar from sand
deposited by waves
breaking in deep water
offshore. As the process continued, a dune
gradually developed and eventually a continuous strip of sand was formed, creating an embayment separated from Lake Ontario. Since then, the area has been altered considerably by fill used for construction of the Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway
, the Queen Elizabeth Way and the Canada Centre for Inland Waters. Hamilton's deep sea port is accessed by ship canal through the beach strip into the harbour and is traversed by two bridges, the QEW's Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway and the lower Canal Lift Bridge.
While the township of Saltfleet
and the City of Hamilton helped develop the Beach Strip in the 1800s, the community retained a certain practical independence from both. In 1907, the provincial government recognized its distinctive character by creating a special form of government to address local concerns. For the next 50 years, an appointed Beach Commission established and enforced local by-laws, collected taxes, and supervised the community's own police force. In 1957 the City of Hamilton successfully annexed the Beach Strip, south of the canal, arguing that the City could more efficiently look after the area. In 1964, the City of Burlington took over the administration of the section north of the canal. Beach residents nevertheless retained their strong sense of independence. During the late 1960s and 1970s they organized various groups, such as the Hamilton Beach Preservation Committee, to protect the distinctive interests of their community.
Following a disastrous flooding in 1973, the City of Hamilton proposed to assist residents by buying their homes, as part of a long-term plan to tear the houses down and transform the residential area into a lakeside park. While some residents sold their homes, many others refused. They forced Hamilton politicians to revise their long term plans for the area.
. Both trails provide a smooth, wide surface for all users, especially bladers.
The Hamilton Beach Recreation Trail follows the Lake Ontario shoreline for about 8 kilometres taking people from Burlington under the Lift Bridge to the thriving Hamilton Beach community and Confederation Park and into Stoney Creek
. There is a new way to cross the very busy Eastport Drive/Beach Blvd.-take the path that goes under the bridge rather than crossing the road.
, on 19 August 1942. A total of 913 Canadian sailors, soldiers and airmen were killed during this raid. The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) lost 197 soldiers during this battle. Their names appear here along with other Hamiltonians who died while serving with other Canadian units in Dieppe.
freeway bridges located in Hamilton and Burlington
, Ontario
, Canada. The Skyway, as it locally known, is part of the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) highway linking Fort Erie
with Toronto. The first bridge was completed in 1958 and officially opened 30 October 1958, crossing the narrow bar separating Burlington Bay
from Lake Ontario. This allows for Great Lakes
ship traffic to flow underneath while four lanes of Golden Horseshoe
road traffic may flow on top of it, neither disturbing the other. The bridge was designed by John Turner Bell. The bridge had tolls when constructed, but these were removed 28 December 1973 after they were found to heavily impede traffic flow. Truck drivers in particular had refused to take the tolled bridge since they were not only charged the full toll, but it also took them extra fuel to ascend the Skyway.Several Beach Strip children were killed by tractor trailers which led to a large group of local women setting up a barricade with baby strollers to put a stop to the tractor trailer traffic being allowed on the beach strip - forcing them to use the skyway bridge. With the lifting of tolls on the bridge, trucks were then banned from using Beach Boulevard.
.
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, north of the Hamilton Harbour on a thin piece of land that crosses over Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
and stretches from where Woodward Avenue
Woodward Avenue (Hamilton, Ontario)
Woodward Avenue is an arterial road in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It starts in the north-end as Eastport Drive and the road changes its name south of Burlington Street beside the Museum of Steam & Technology to Woodward Avenue and extends southward and ends at Melvin Avenue...
becomes Eastport Drive in the east to near the Lift Bridge in the west at Eastport Drive (again). It runs parallel with the QEW and the Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway
Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway
The Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway, originally called the Burlington Bay Skyway, is a pair of high-level freeway bridges located in Hamilton and Burlington, Ontario, Canada...
Bridge.
History
The first aboriginals to settle in the Hamilton area called the bay Macassa, meaning beautiful waters. It was not until bridges were built, the marshes drained and a canalCanal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
cut through the bar that Hamilton started to expand. Before that its chief importance was as a military station, guarding Burlington Heights
Burlington Heights
Burlington Heights refers to an area of flat land sitting elevated above the west end of Burlington Bay in the city of Hamilton, Ontario.The "Heights" were the location of a British Army post during the War of 1812. Afterwards, the former army barracks were used as a hospital for immigrants with...
and the head of the lake.
The shores of Lake Ontario are right at the doorstep of residents for sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
, swimming, jogging
Jogging
Jogging is a form of trotting or running at a slow or leisurely pace. The main intention is to increase fitness with less stress on the body than from faster running.-Definition:...
or cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
. Many Hamilton citizens had their summer cottages there. One of the residences had served as one wing of the old Hamilton fort which had been used in the war of 1812. This building was moved around the time of the First World War by 16 teams of horses - a journey which took 6 weeks. The spot is about eight miles from the city and was reached by Steam or electric street cars or by boat
Boat
A boat is a watercraft of any size designed to float or plane, to provide passage across water. Usually this water will be inland or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In naval terms, a boat is a...
. On May 24, 1877, the first "Beach Train" rolled along the strip, the Hamilton and North-Western Railway. Electrical Radial service began in 1905. After that, the Hamilton & North-Western Railway stopped carrying passengers along the beach strip. But it carried freight until the line was abandoned in 1982.
In 1903 a Mr. H.Knapman formed the Canadian Amusement Company and opened up an Amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
, (1903-1978), on Burlington Beach, which today is known as Hamilton Beach. It featured boats, boathouses, swings & slides, snack bars and a fun house named the "Crazy House". Shortly thereafter carrousel
Carrousel
Carrousel is a booklet published in 1987 containing three short texts written by Vladimir Nabokov in 1923 for "Karussel", a Russian cabaret.-Content:The three texts are:...
s and a ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
were added and by the 1950s a small roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
and pony rides were included in the parks' inventory. Roller skaters and dancers whirled across open-air, wooden dance floor. The dance floor became the foundation for the Pier Ballroom. Sunday-evening talent contests were popular and famous artists - Ozzie Nelson
Ozzie Nelson
Oswald George "Ozzie" Nelson was an American entertainer and band leader who originated and starred in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet radio and television series with his wife and two sons.-Early life:...
, the Clooney Sisters and Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
played there. In 1978 the City of Hamilton did not renew the Canal Amusement Park lease. One by one, the rides and attractions were sold.
Just north of Beach Boulevard on Lakeshore Road can be found the historic lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
and the Joseph Brant Museum, a replica of the home of Joseph Brant
Joseph Brant
Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant was a Mohawk military and political leader, based in present-day New York, who was closely associated with Great Britain during and after the American Revolution. He was perhaps the most well-known American Indian of his generation...
(the Great Aboriginal War Chief of the Mohawk Nation
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
and the first citizen of Burlington).
The Beach Strip is a 4-mile, (quarter mile wide), strip that stretches from Spencer Smith Park in Burlington
Burlington, Ontario
Burlington , is a city located in Halton Region at the western end of Lake Ontario. Burlington is part of the Greater Toronto Area, and is also included in the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area. Physically, Burlington lies between the north shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment...
to Confederation Park in Hamilton. This strip of land was known to the aboriginal people
Neutral Nation
The Neutrals, also known as the Attawandaron, were an Iroquoian nation of North American native people who lived near the shores of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.-Territory:...
in the area as "Daonasedao", which translates to "where the sand forms a bar". Thousands of years ago, the beach was formed as a baymouth barrier bar from sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
deposited by waves
WAVES
The WAVES were a World War II-era division of the U.S. Navy that consisted entirely of women. The name of this group is an acronym for "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service" ; the word "emergency" implied that the acceptance of women was due to the unusual circumstances of the war and...
breaking in deep water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
offshore. As the process continued, a dune
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
gradually developed and eventually a continuous strip of sand was formed, creating an embayment separated from Lake Ontario. Since then, the area has been altered considerably by fill used for construction of the Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway
Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway
The Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway, originally called the Burlington Bay Skyway, is a pair of high-level freeway bridges located in Hamilton and Burlington, Ontario, Canada...
, the Queen Elizabeth Way and the Canada Centre for Inland Waters. Hamilton's deep sea port is accessed by ship canal through the beach strip into the harbour and is traversed by two bridges, the QEW's Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway and the lower Canal Lift Bridge.
While the township of Saltfleet
Saltfleet Township, Ontario
Saltfleet Township was a township in Upper Canada, later Ontario, on the south shore of Lake Ontario.In 1974, it was amalgamated with the village of Stoney Creek to form the town of Stoney Creek....
and the City of Hamilton helped develop the Beach Strip in the 1800s, the community retained a certain practical independence from both. In 1907, the provincial government recognized its distinctive character by creating a special form of government to address local concerns. For the next 50 years, an appointed Beach Commission established and enforced local by-laws, collected taxes, and supervised the community's own police force. In 1957 the City of Hamilton successfully annexed the Beach Strip, south of the canal, arguing that the City could more efficiently look after the area. In 1964, the City of Burlington took over the administration of the section north of the canal. Beach residents nevertheless retained their strong sense of independence. During the late 1960s and 1970s they organized various groups, such as the Hamilton Beach Preservation Committee, to protect the distinctive interests of their community.
Following a disastrous flooding in 1973, the City of Hamilton proposed to assist residents by buying their homes, as part of a long-term plan to tear the houses down and transform the residential area into a lakeside park. While some residents sold their homes, many others refused. They forced Hamilton politicians to revise their long term plans for the area.
Waterfront trail
The Trail in Hamilton splits into two sections: The Hamilton Waterfront Trail (west) and the Hamilton Recreation Beach Trail (east). Both Trails are largely off-road, 6 metres wide, paved asphaltAsphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
. Both trails provide a smooth, wide surface for all users, especially bladers.
The Hamilton Beach Recreation Trail follows the Lake Ontario shoreline for about 8 kilometres taking people from Burlington under the Lift Bridge to the thriving Hamilton Beach community and Confederation Park and into Stoney Creek
Stoney Creek, Ontario
Stoney Creek is a community in Ontario, Canada.Note: This article will only deal with matters up to its amalgamation with Hamilton.-Geography and population:...
. There is a new way to cross the very busy Eastport Drive/Beach Blvd.-take the path that goes under the bridge rather than crossing the road.
Dieppe Veterans' Memorial Park
The Dieppe Veterans' Memorial Park is dedicated by the City of Hamilton to the young men of Hamilton and surrounding communities who died on the stormy beaches of the Port Dieppe, FranceDieppe Raid
The Dieppe Raid, also known as the Battle of Dieppe, Operation Rutter or later on Operation Jubilee, during the Second World War, was an Allied attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe on the northern coast of France on 19 August 1942. The assault began at 5:00 AM and by 10:50 AM the Allied...
, on 19 August 1942. A total of 913 Canadian sailors, soldiers and airmen were killed during this raid. The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) lost 197 soldiers during this battle. Their names appear here along with other Hamiltonians who died while serving with other Canadian units in Dieppe.
Skyway Bridge
The Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway, originally called the Burlington Bay Skyway, is a pair of high-levelSkyway (disambiguation)
Skyway is a suspended covered walkway between buildings.Skyway may also refer to:* In air travel, a flight path common to many airline flights* Skyways Limited, a post-war British airline which became Skyways International in 1971...
freeway bridges located in Hamilton and Burlington
Burlington, Ontario
Burlington , is a city located in Halton Region at the western end of Lake Ontario. Burlington is part of the Greater Toronto Area, and is also included in the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area. Physically, Burlington lies between the north shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada. The Skyway, as it locally known, is part of the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) highway linking Fort Erie
Fort Erie, Ontario
Fort Erie is a town on the Niagara River in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. It is located directly across the river from Buffalo, New York....
with Toronto. The first bridge was completed in 1958 and officially opened 30 October 1958, crossing the narrow bar separating Burlington Bay
Burlington Bay
Burlington Bay, known more commonly as Hamilton Harbour, lies on the western tip of Lake Ontario, bounded on the northwest by the City of Burlington, on the south by the City of Hamilton, and on the east by Hamilton Beach and Burlington Beach...
from Lake Ontario. This allows for Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
ship traffic to flow underneath while four lanes of Golden Horseshoe
Golden Horseshoe
The Golden Horseshoe is a densely populated and industrialized region centred around the Greater Toronto Area at the western end of Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, with outer boundaries stretching south to Lake Erie and north to Georgian Bay. Most of it is also part of the Quebec City...
road traffic may flow on top of it, neither disturbing the other. The bridge was designed by John Turner Bell. The bridge had tolls when constructed, but these were removed 28 December 1973 after they were found to heavily impede traffic flow. Truck drivers in particular had refused to take the tolled bridge since they were not only charged the full toll, but it also took them extra fuel to ascend the Skyway.Several Beach Strip children were killed by tractor trailers which led to a large group of local women setting up a barricade with baby strollers to put a stop to the tractor trailer traffic being allowed on the beach strip - forcing them to use the skyway bridge. With the lifting of tolls on the bridge, trucks were then banned from using Beach Boulevard.
Landmarks
Note: Listing of Landmarks from West to East.- Canada Centre for Inland Waters
- Waterfront Trail (runs parallel with Beach Road, north side)
- Burlington Bay James N. Allan SkywayBurlington Bay James N. Allan SkywayThe Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway, originally called the Burlington Bay Skyway, is a pair of high-level freeway bridges located in Hamilton and Burlington, Ontario, Canada...
Bridge - Burlington Bay Canal (completed in 1832)
- Burlington Canal Lift Bridge (Eastport Drive)
- Lighthouse
- Original site of the Canal Amusement Park
- Sunrise Art Gallery
- Dieppe Veteran's Memorial Park
- Burlington Beach
- Beach Boulevard Park 1
- Ontario Correctional Services College (Bell Cairn Campus)
- Bell Cairn (school bell), original site of the Beach Bangalow & Bell Cairn Schools
- Kinsman Playground (park)
- Beach Motor Inn (motel)
- Branthaven Homes, lakefront townhomes (Old site of Dynes Tavern)
- Skyway Park
- Van Wagner's Beach beside Lakeland Community Centre
- Pebbles on the Beach (statue)
- Lakeland Bistro
- Lakeland Go-Karts
- Lakeland Pool
- Beach's Grill & Patio (summertime)
- Hutch's Restaurant
- Baranga's on the Beach (Beach Bar Restaurant)
- Adventure Village
- Confederation Park
- Wild Waterworks (largest outdoor wave pool in world)
- Confederation Park campground (seasonal)
Communities
Note: Only one neighbourhood on this thin stretch of land that crosses over Lake OntarioLake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
.
- Hamilton Beach
Major roads that cross Beach Boulevard
- Eastport Drive, runs parallel with Beach Boulevard most of the way, then crosses over at the northern end.
- Most other roads that cross over the Boulevard are side streets.
- Nash Road NorthNash Road (Hamilton, Ontario)Nash Road is a Lower City street in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It starts off at King Street East in front of the Father Sean O'Sullivan Memorial Park and is a two-way collector road throughout that extends north to the Nashdale neighbourhood past Bancroft Street where it then hangs a right and...
- Centennial ParkwayCentennial Parkway (Hamilton, Ontario)Centennial Parkway, is a Lower City arterial road in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It is best known as the western terminus of former King's Highway 20, now maintained by the City of Hamilton...
, at this point Beach Boulevard changes name to Van Wagners Beach Road.
Roads that are parallel with Beach Boulevard
Note: Listing of streets from North to South.- Waterfront Trail
- Beach Boulevard
- QEW Expressway/ Burlington Bay James N. Allan SkywayBurlington Bay James N. Allan SkywayThe Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway, originally called the Burlington Bay Skyway, is a pair of high-level freeway bridges located in Hamilton and Burlington, Ontario, Canada...
Bridge - Eastport Drive
- Eastport Boulevard
External links
- Bay Area Restoration Council (www.hamiltonharbour.ca)
- Beach Canal Lighthouse Group
- Closed Canadian Parks: Burlington Beach
- DIEPPE VETERANS' MEMORIAL PARK (www.rhli.ca)
- Confederation Park/ Wild Waterworks (www.conservationhamilton.ca)
- Google Maps: Beach Boulevard (Hybrid)
- Hamilton Beach Community Forum
- Hamilton Port Days Festival(www.hamiltonport.ca
- Hamilton Waterfront Trust (www.hamiltonwaterfront.com)
- Sunrise Gallary (www.sunrisegallery.ca)
- Tourism Hamilton (www.tourismhamilton.com)