Web Master's Note
I'd like to welcome to Bill Manson to LockeStreet.com and thank
him for his great contribution in a first column. Bill is a great
fan of our Locke South neighbourhood and he and his partner Ann
coauthored the book, "Up and Down Locke Street."
If you are lucky you might find a copy of this wonderful book at
a local merchant's—but the distrubution channels an online
book sellers have long since sold out. Thanks again Bill. We look
forward to reading your next column. —Craig
Hermanson
Locke Street History Bytes
by Bill Manson
Coauthor of Up and Down Locke Street South.
DID YOU EVER WONDER HOW YOUR STREET GOT ITS NAME?
Many roads in the older parts of Hamilton were named after recognized
people of the time. For example streets like Catharine, Mary and
George were named after members of George Hamilton's family. Others
were named because of where they led, like Market, Stone Church,
or York which joined up with the road to York (Toronto). Lime Ridge
was named after its geology, and Mohawk after an early Indian trail.
Many roads have also undergone various name changes over time.
Bold, Forest and Young Streets were originally named after Hamilton
Family members—Robert, Maria and Catharina respectively. Ferguson
South was known as Cherry Street because of the beautiful orchards
that once bloomed near the base of the Mountain. Gage Avenue was
called Trolley Street because the Hamilton, Grimsby and Beamsville
Electric Railway trolleys ran from King southward to join up with
the TH&B lines running east along the base of the Mountain.
There is however one old street in Hamilton whose name appears
to be rather obscure in origin. Locke Street was originally called
Lock Street. This seems to rule out the possibility that it was
named after John Locke the British philosopher - unless of course
early local cartographers were poor spellers.
Could the street have been named because of the geography of the
area? Lock once ended very abruptly just south of Main Street. Incidentally,
Main was the "main" street in George Hamilton's town plan
and originally named Court Street as it led to the city's first
courthouse.
At any rate, the south end of Lock petered out in a deep swampy
gully which ran northwest from the base of the Mountain, across
Queen, and roughly along the line of Bold Street. The ravine's path
crossed Lock and Garth (now Dundurn) and opened up into a larger
ravine in which the 403 bypass was later built. This ravine, known
as "Beasley's Hollow", eventually drained into Cootes
Paradise or the Dundas Marsh.
Perhaps Lock originated in the archaic word "lock" meaning
hole, end, or conclusion?
Anyhow, Lock soon became Locke. Locke Street north, for a time
after the coming of the Great Western Railway in 1845, was called
Railway Street because it led directly to the Stuart Street railyards.
For the same reason Ray north was dubbed Locomotive Street.
But Locke Street south has stayed Locke Street to this very day,
although I've heard a rumour that some now want to change it to
"Antiques" or "Boutiques" Street.
By the way, if you live on Jackson west of Queen, your street was
called Wentworth in 1840, and Maiden lane in 1853. (East of Queen
it was known as Tyburn—but that's a long way from Locke.)
Hunter was once William; Bold was Robert; Melbourne was Duke; Tuckett
was Oak; Chatham was Robinson; Alexander was Kennedy; Herkimer west
of Locke was Nelson, then Maple; Charlton was Hannah; Stanley was
Markland; Homewood was South; and Aberdeen was Concession.
It would have been tough being a mailman in these early days. To
add insult to injury, the City renumbered all the street addresses
in the 1880's!!! Take a look at 40 Locke South. It still bears its
original number 12 in the transom above the front door.
If you know the origin of Locke, or if you have any other interesting
history bytes about the Locke South neighbourhood, I would be glad
to feature them in this column. You can reach me at upanddown@lockestreet.com
As well, if there's some aspect of Locke Street South history you
would like to know more about let me know.
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