Barton Street (Hamilton, Ontario)

Barton Street is an arterial road in the Lower City of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It's also the longest street (21.0 km) in the city. It starts off at the Western end of town at Locke Street North and is a two-way street most of the way that stretches eastward through a number of different and varied communities in the city and ends in Winona at "50 Road" just West of the Hamilton/Niagara regional border.

History

In the early days Hamilton was known as "Barton township", named after a township in Lincoln County, England. "Barton Street" is all that remains of the township. 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] In 1816, "Barton township" Population was 668. cite web| title =Barton township population: 1816 (myhamilton.ca)| url=http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/LibraryServices/Localhistory/Barton+Census+1816.htm| accessdate = 2007-04-05]

On 24 May, 1909 a Coney Island-type amusement Park was opened in Hamilton. It was known as "Maple Leaf Park" and was bounded by "Barton Street" (north), Ottawa Street (east), Cannon Street (south), "Rosslyn Avenue" (west). It failed to attract enough visitors to keep the gates open and only lasted a year. Investors of the Park sold the land to local real estate speculators for $25,000 interested in the property because the land itself was a valuable commodity in the booming East Hamilton market. It had a "Figure 8" roller coaster. This was the most popular coaster model of the era, with many Canadian parks having one. Most were built by Fred Ingersoll.cite book|title=Hamilton our Lives and Times|first=Brian |last=Henley |publisher=The Hamilton Spectator|year=1993|id= ISBN 0-9697255-0-7]

Hamilton's first artificial skating surface was "The Forum". Locals referred to it as the Barton Street Arena. It was situated between "Sanford" and Wentworth Streets. It opened 8 January, 1913. Eventually, a few years down the line it was purchased by "Kenneth D. Soble" and then he announced a new rink would be built and the new "Forum" opened up for business 1 October, 1953. The rink lasted until 1976. That's when the Junior A hockey club Hamilton Fincups left Hamilton. Demolition started in September 1976. cite book|title=Vanished Hamilton Calender|first=Margaret |last=Houghton |publisher=North Shore Publishing|year=2006|id= ISBN 1-896899-39-0]

Present-day Centre Mall use to be the site of "the Jockey Club" racetrack but in the years after the Second World War the push for Hamilton's eastward expansion had completely engulfed the Jockey Club property. On 26 September, 1952 the racetrack was sold. The site would then become the site of the "Greater Hamilton Shopping Centre". cite book|title=Hamilton our Lives and Times|first=Brian |last=Henley |publisher=The Hamilton Spectator|year=1993|id= ISBN 0-9697255-0-7]

Centre Mall reconstruction project

Centre Mall owners announce plans for a 23-building super centre on the property on "Barton Street East". Cost is estimated to be around $100-million and will take up convert|700000|sqft|m2 of retail space. This will end up being the largest redevelopment project in the history of Hamilton's east-end. The buildings on the property will be grouped around the edge of the property and create a friendly, pedestrian-oriented design rather than a commercial island in a sea of parking. cite press release| title = "Centre Mall owners plan 23-building super centre."| publisher =The Hamilton Spectator| date =2007-09-27| accessdate = 2007-11-28] The overhaul will take about two-and-a-half years to complete but the bulk of the work is expected to be done by the end of the summer of 2008. Some new buildings will go up before the enclosed mall is torn down. cite press release| title = "New lease on life for Ottawa St."| publisher =The Hamilton Spectator, Lisa Grace Marr| date =2007-11-24| accessdate = 2007-11-28] The redevelopment of Centre Mall is transforming the entire neighbourhood from Ottawa Street to Kenilworth Avenue. The $100-million investment in the mall has boosted Ottawa Street North - already the city's No.1 tourist destination. The garment district has also morphed into a holistic home decor destination area, complete with lighting, antique, design & glass stores. The Ottawa Street B.I.A. had the most application and grants under the commercial property improvement program in 2007 with thirty three and it had an effect on the property values and real estate activity in the district. cite press release| title = "New lease on life for Ottawa St."| publisher =The Hamilton Spectator, Lisa Grace Marr| date =2007-11-24| accessdate = 2007-11-28]

Landmarks

"Note: Listing of Landmarks from West to East."
*Rheem Canada building
*Barton Street Hill
*Jamesville, which is shared by the Italian & Portuguese communities of Hamilton
*James North Art District
*site of the old "Hanrahan's Hotel", now houses interesting entertainment.
*Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre
*Hamilton General Hospital
*Kennesky Sports & Cycle Co. Ltd.
*Woodlands Park
**Site of the old Barton Street Arena, across the street from "Woodlands Park", now a row of houses occupy the site.
*Canadian Westinghouse headquarters building (1903-1997), just North of "Barton Street". (currently sits empty)
*Mohawk College - Wentworth campus
*St. Ann's Catholic Church
*Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Vladimir
*St. Stanislaus Kostka Roman Catholic Church
*Holy Spirit Church
*Ivor Wynne Stadium, home of the CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats, one street South of "Barton" (2-blocks West of "Gage Avenue")
*Stadium Mall
*Centre Mall, (Canada's first Mall), site of the old Jockey Club/Race track before Mall was built.
*Ottawa Street Shopping District - "Textile District"
*East Hamilton Radio (building)
*Slovak Assumption Byzantine Catholic Church
*Strathbarton Mall
*Coca-Cola bottling company
*Mahoney Park
*Hamilton Doublerink Arena (2 rinks)
*Canada's First Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse
*Red Hill Creek Valley
*Red Hill Valley Trail
*Red Hill Creek
*Red Hill Valley Parkway, flows underneath "Barton Street" overpass.
*Red Hill Creek Centre (shopping)
*Eastlawn Cemetery
*Comfort Inn (motel)
*Parkway Plaza (shopping)
*Mountainview Public School
*County Market (Stoney Creek)
*Mohawk College - Stoney Creek campus
*Internet Mall
*Winona Park/ Winona Scout Hall
*Rice Monuments Works

Communities

"Note: Listing of neighbourhoods from West to East." 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|format=PDF]
*Strathcona
*Central - The financial center of Hamilton, Ontario
*Beasley
*Landsdale
*Gibson
*Stipeley
*Crown Point West
*Crown Point East
*Homeside
*Normanhurst
*McQuesten West
*McQuesten East
*Parkview West
*Parkview East
*Nashdale/ Kentley, "Barton" cuts through these two neighbourhoods.
*Lakely/ Riverdale West, "Barton" cuts through these two neighbourhoods.
*Grayside/ Riverdale East, "Barton" cuts through these two neighbourhoods.
*Stoney Creek
*Fruitland
*Winona

Roads that are parallel with Barton Street

"Lower City Roads:"
*Burlington Street, West/East
*Barton Street, West/East
*Cannon Street, West/East
*Wilson Street
*King William Street
*King Street, West/East
*Main Street, West/East; - Queenston Road
*Jackson Street, East
*Hunter Street, West/East
*Augusta Street
*Charlton Avenue, West/East
*Aberdeen Avenue"Niagara Escarpment (Mountain) Roads:"
*Concession Street
*Queensdale Avenue West/ East
*Scenic Drive - Fennell Avenue, West/East
*Sanatorium Road
*Mohawk Road, West/East
*Limeridge Road West/East
*Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway - Mud Street, (Hamilton City Road 11)
*Stone Church Road, West/East
*, West/East
*Twenty Road

Roads that cross Barton Street

"Note: Listing of streets from West to East."
* Dundurn Street, North
* Locke Street, North
* Queen Street, North
* Hess Street, North
* Bay Street, North
* MacNab Street, North
* James Street, North
* Hughson Street, North
* John Street, North
* Catharine Street, North
* Ferguson Avenue, North
* Wellington Street, North
* Victoria Avenue, North
* Wentworth Street, North
* Sherman Avenue, North
* Gage Avenue, North
* Ottawa Street, North
* Kenilworth Avenue, North
* Parkdale Avenue, North
* Woodward Avenue
* Red Hill Valley Parkway (Freeway passes underneath the "Barton Street" bridge)
* Nash Road, North, South
* Centennial Parkway, North
* Lake Avenue, North
* Gray Road
* Green Road
* Dewitt Road
* Fruitland Road
* 50 Road

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References

*MapArt Golden Horseshoe Atlas - Page 647/648/649 - Grids F11, F12, F13, F14, F15, F16, F17, F18, F19, F20, G21, G22, G23, G24, G29, F30, F31, F32

External links

* [http://www.bartonvillagebia.com Barton Village BIA]
* [http://cec.chebucto.org/ClosPark/Map-Leaf.html Closed Canadian Parks: Maple Leaf Park]
* [http://www.northendneighbours.blogspot.com/ North End Neighbours]
* [http://www.centremall.ca/home/index.ch2 Hamilton Centre Mall]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Barton+Street+E.,+Hamilton,+Hamilton,+Ontario,+Canada&layer=&sll=43.266956,-79.804344&sspn=0.130998,0.4319&ie=UTF8&z=12&ll=43.248454,-79.802628&spn=0.131038,0.4319&t=h&om=1&iwloc=addr Google Maps: Barton Street (Hybrid)]