Hamilton Mountain Heritage Society

04/30/2026

For our next membership meeting, we welcome local historian and author Bill King who will speak on the history of select Hamilton Mountain schools.

All are welcome. Event is Free

Date: Tuesday May 19, 2026
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Trinity Lutheran Church (formerly Transfiguration Lutheran)
232 Fennell Avenue E Hamilton, ON L9A 1S7 (Upper Wellington and Fennell)

Remembering G. L. Armstrong and other Hamilton Mountain Schools of the Past.

Brantdale, Hill Park, Barton Secondary, Peace Memorial, Mohawk Trail, Southmount, Linden Park, Inverness, the "Twin School" at James and Mohawk, Ryckmans Corners have all closed. Bill will explore the history of these lost schools before turning his attention to surviving George L. Armstrong, including his personal recollections of student life there.

We hope to see you there.

04/14/2026

Seventeen heritage volunteers from twelve organizations will be recognized, and the Bailey Heritage Award winner will be announced. April 22 at 7 pm, in the Coach House at Dundurn.

03/31/2026

Opening of Mountain Station at 488 Upper Wellington St, December 20, 1956. Left to Right: Paul Beshley, ?, ?, Jim Hoyle Sr., Roy Merritt, Inspector A.O. Jackson, Jim Patterson, Judge W.F. Schwenger, Chief Len Lawrence, unnamed Judge. This station closed in 2003.

02/26/2026

Public notice was given by the City of Hamilton on February 24, 2026 of its intention to designate G. L. Armstrong School, 460 Concession Street, under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, as being a property of cultural heritage value.

The request for designation was made by the Hamilton Mountain Heritage Society.

Any person has 30 days to provide their objection to the designation.

You can find details here:

The City of Hamilton intends to designate 460 Concession Street, Hamilton (George L. Armstrong School), under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, as being a property of cultural heritage value.Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

02/19/2026

For our next membership meeting we welcome Dr. Laura Smith who will speak on the Irish Famine and Irish immigration connections to Hamilton.

All are welcome. Event is Free

Date: Tuesday March 17, 2026
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Trinity Lutheran Church (formerly Transfiguration Lutheran)
232 Fennell Avenue E Hamilton, ON L9A 1S7 (Upper Wellington and Fennell)

"1847: The Great Irish Famine and Hamilton, Canada West."

When Irish families emigrated from Ireland to escape starvation and disease, many ended up in Hamilton. They either stayed in the area, used Hamilton as a stopover for further journeys or sadly, were buried here after succumbing to diseases like Cholera.

Dr. Smith is an historian of the Irish in Canada. She holds a PhD in History from the University of Toronto. She has published articles on various aspects of Irish Catholic immigrant experiences in nineteenth-century Ontario, including on the reception of Famine migrants in Canada West, particularly Hamilton.

Coincidentally, our meeting happens on St. Patrick's Day.

We hope you can make it.

Our meetings are free and all are Welcome!

02/15/2026

Classmates enjoying some reading time at Eastmount Park School in the 1970s.

Image from HWDSB Educational Archives.

01/27/2026

Along with being the Secretary-Treasurer of the Hamilton and Wentworth Agricultural Society, John E. Peart was also president of the Mount Hamilton Improvement Association, President of the Hamilton and Wentworth Poultry Association and lived at 29 Cliff Ave.

Later in life, he was a Barton Township Reeve, township councilor, county warden and the Clerk for Wentworth County.

A couple of winning prizes awarded at the Hamilton and Wentworth Agricultural Society Fair held at the Jockey Club during Hamilton's unofficial Centennial year of 1913.

It appears the first prize was for a Pullet (young hen) and the second for a Hen.

Images from Vintage Hamilton files.

01/20/2026

Good News!

In response to a request made by our society, City of Hamilton staff recently recommended Council designate George L. Armstrong School on Concession Street as a property of cultural heritage value pursuant to the provisions of Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

You can find details on our web site: https://mounthamilton.ca/

(image by Todd Chernenko)

01/14/2026

Reminder: Annual General Meeting and Presentation by Robin McKee on Hamilton Cemetery

All are welcome. Event is Free
Date: Tuesday January 20, 2026
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Trinity Lutheran Church (formerly Transfiguration Lutheran)
232 Fennell Avenue E Hamilton, ON L9A 1S7 (Upper Wellington and Fennell)

Our first meeting of 2026 includes our Annual General Meeting and selection of Directors for our Society for the new year. Nominations by members in good standing will be accepted at the meeting. Membership renewals for 2026 can also be made at the meeting.

A Place in History - Robin McKee
Robin is well known for his popular tours of Hamilton Cemetery and his ongoing efforts to "unearth" the stories of the people and families buried there. He is committed to discovering and sharing the history of the Hamilton community - particularly as it is represented in our cemeteries. He's written four books on the cemetery and is working on a fifth.

Please join us as Robin shares stories from his vast knowledge of the Hamilton Cemetery and the people who are buried there.

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Head-of-the-Lake Historical Society!

12/18/2025

Annual General Meeting and Presentation by Robin McKee on Hamilton Cemetery

All are welcome. Event is Free
Date: Tuesday January 20, 2026
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Trinity Lutheran Church (formerly Transfiguration Lutheran)
232 Fennell Avenue E Hamilton, ON L9A 1S7 (Upper Wellington and Fennell)

Our first meeting of 2026 includes our Annual General Meeting and selection of Directors for our Society for the new year. Nominations by members in good standing will be accepted at the meeting. Membership renewals for 2026 can also be made at the meeting.

A Place in History - Robin McKee

Robin is well known for his popular tours of Hamilton Cemetery and his ongoing efforts to "unearth" the stories of the people and families buried there. He is committed to discovering and sharing the history of the Hamilton community - particularly as it is represented in our cemeteries. He's written four books on the cemetery and is working on a fifth.

Please join us as Robin shares stories from his vast knowledge of the Hamilton Cemetery and the people who are buried there.