Network Maintenance - This Weekend
On Saturday, February 22, from 11 pm to 5 am on Sunday, February 23, City IT will perform network maintenance. Online resources (with the exception of Hoopla) will not be available. Thank you for your understanding.
Red Hill Branch – Taxes Now Listed Separately on Items and Services
Red Hill Branch is testing a pricing update where applicable taxes are now added and displayed separately on sale items, including HPL Shop and Makerspace items and services. Member receipts show the tax charged for each item. Black-and-white and color copying/printing remain tax-included.
This change will take effect at all branches starting February 25.
Central and Turner Park Branch - Large Format Printer Unavailable
The large format printer in the Makerspace is currently unavailable. Please utilize our other Makerspace locations if needed. We will advise once it is restored to service.
Phishing Scheme
Please be aware of online phishing attempts impersonating Hamilton Public Library and Library Staff. HPL does not solicit paid freelance opportunities through social media or other messaging applications. HPL does not request personal or banking information through social media or require financial compensation when reviewing job applications. Please report phishing schemes to communications@hpl.ca. If you think you are a victim of fraud, please call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
Greetings from Hamilton
"One of the most beautiful bays in all of Canada."
George Heriot also mentioned the King's Head Inn in 1813 as did Lt. Francis Hall who had a very interesting sojourn there in 1816.
"Our host whose portly figure reflected no disgrace on the appearance of his house, received us with bustling importance. "What would we have to eat?" - "Whatever you please" was the reply, he had everything in the house - ''Well then, a veal cutlet, as we are in haste:" he went in, and presently returned, protesting his wife was quite out of humour at our thinking of veal cutlets, when the veal had been killed a fortnight. "Well then, we are not particular, a pork chop will do" - but the pork chop only increased the storm. - "How could we expect a pork chop when the pork was all salted?" - "Body of us mine host," then said I, in the feelings of Sancho Panza under similar vexations, "what can we have?" - "Why we could have bread and cheese, or butter if we preferred it; and bread and butter it was, seasoned however, by Boniface's eulogium on his own generosity in keeping a tavern, which, he did (he said) not for the sake of profit, but because his feelings would not suffer him to send travellers from his door, albeit his wife was much vexed at this benevolence."
The strip of beach upon which the Inn was situated was also cause for interest among the visitors.
John Mactaggart combined business with pleasure on his visit in 1826 when called in by the government to investigate the possibility of cutting a canal through. He considered the bay "one of the most beautiful bays in all of Canada ."
"... there is not a finer, harbour than Burlington in the world. Burlington Heights , at the head of the bay, are almost of impregnable strength by nature; during last war, a Block-house and military-store were roughly built on them of timber. These heights are a narrow neck of high land, about 250 feet above the level of the waters in the bay, which wash one of its sides for about two miles, while the great swamp of Coot's Paradise ranges along the other, about 100 yards broad, where it joins the mainland."
He also takes note of the contribution of an earlier, and most enthusiastic tourist;
"Coot's Paradise is a very singular place. It is also, like the Bay of Burlington , of a triangular shape, but not one-fortieth part the size. Banks all round it are very high. It derived its name from a sportsman called Coots, who considered himself in Paradise when he got amongst the immense flocks of wild water-fowl that haunt it: he would move about with his punt amongst the rushes, and shoot them by the dozens. I have never seen such a variety of wild fowl as comes to this place. Had time permitted me, some curious stuffed birds might have been obtained from this Paradise . It is, therefore, strongly recommended to ornithologists and sportsmen, as a place, above all others yet known in Canada most deserving of attention. It is a swamp acted upon by a tide: This is a very rare thing to meet with. The waters rush over it from the bay when a lake storm exists; and when it lulls, the waters fall back, and leave it a paradise for wild-fowl. As these tides irrigate the wild rice that grows luxuriantly in it, perhaps it might be made a most valuable rice-farm; as such the agriculturist should examine it. If suitable for this purpose, it would form the richest farm in Canada; there is no doubt of it."