Business Fast Facts
Banks
The first bank in Hamilton was the Gore Bank of Hamilton, chartered in 1835. The bank was located on King Street West between MacNab and Charles Streets. It opened for business on Monday May 2, 1836.
Burlington Bay Skyway Bridges
Officially opened October 30, 1958. Twin opened as Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway Bridge October 11, 1985. Both bridges were opened and renamed the Burlington Bay James N. Allan Twin Skyway Bridge on August 22, 1988.
- Architect: John Turner Bell (1910-1983).
- Height: 210 feetLength: from abatement to abatement: 8,397 feet 8 inches (note, the twin bridge is 1,300 feet shorter).
- Width: 97 feet.
- Percentage raise above sea level: 3% from 2.64 feet to 390 feet above sea level.
- Tolls: Last day tolls were charged was December 28, 1973.
Department Stores
The first large department store in Hamilton was the Right House. In 1847 Thomas C. Watkins opened his first small store on James Street. This later became Oak Hall. In 1890 construction of the present building on the corner of King and Hughson Street began.
Golden Horseshoe
The phrase was first used by Westinghouse President, Herbert H. Rogge, in a speech to the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, on January 12, 1954.
“Hamilton in 50 years will be the forward cleat in a “golden horseshoe” of industrial development from Oshawa to the Niagara River ...150 miles long and 50 miles wide ... It will run from Niagara Falls on the south to about Oshawa on the north and take in numerous cities and towns already there, including Hamilton and Toronto."
Many other fascinating aspects of Hamilton’s history can be found in the Local History & Archives Department of the Hamilton Public Library.
