Brian Roulston
Hello everyone, since 2015, I’ve been lucky to be among the many great volunteers and writers at the North End Breezes. It’s been fun researching and reading about our North End and the city in which we live, Hamilton, Ontario.
A Whistle-Stop Tour Through Hamilton
Brian Roulston Step back to early March 1933. Hamiltonians were excited about the news that the world’s fastest train would be coming to our city - The Royal Scot. Read on to learn more about the ‘speed demon of the iron road’ as it was often referred to, and its...
Racing Through Time: The Legacy of the Hamilton Jockey Club
By Brian Roulston The Hamilton Jockey Club opened under less-than-ideal conditions on a cold, gloomy, misty day. Admission to the track on Thursday, June 1, 1893, was a dollar, and it would cost you 50 cents to get into the infield. For the next 59 years, the Hamilton...
Highlights from Hamilton’s Early Obscure Telephone Past
By Brian Roulston The Centennial Exposition of 1876, officially known as the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine, held at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, was the first World’s Fair held in the United States. It was ten...
The Hamilton Go Centre Story
Submitted by Brian Roulston The Hamilton GO Centre is a historic transportation hub connecting Hamilton’s past, present, and future. Approximately 192,000 passengers pass through this terminal daily which is located along Hunter Street, between John and James Street....
The Magnificent Giant of the Sky That Captivated Ontario
Submitted by Brian Roulston When initially reported on September 1, 1937, that the Cambria - a ‘Giant’ flying boat would be landing on Hamilton Harbour, aviation enthusiasts in Hamilton and the Golden Horseshoe area were ecstatic. These behemoths of the sky fascinated...
A Very Brief History of Hamilton’s Postal Service
Submitted by Brian Roulston In an age where constant communication spans the globe, the personal touch and warmth of handwritten correspondences appear to have vanished into the shadows of time. Hastily created emails and texts, despite their proficiency, often fall...
The Tobogganers of Hamilton: A Short History of Winter Fun and Adventure
by Brian Roulston Tobogganing was at one time a popular winter-time activity here in the Ambitious City long before skiing gained prominence in the 1920s. There were several tobogganing clubs in the area during the 1880s. The two main ones were the Victoria...
New Year – Earth’s Remarkable Orbit Around the Sun
By Brian Roulston Our planet Earth has been on a remarkable journey over the last year, traveling at the speed of 30 km/sec for 940 million kilometers around the sun. We, as cosmic passengers on this 4 ½ billion-year-old ancient spaceship, believe it warrants a huge...
Amazing and Unbelievable Christmas Traditions You Never Knew Existed
by Brian Roulston Christmas is a time when many people come together in good cheer, good will, and to celebrate with Christmas traditions. Some traditions around the world are fascinating, unusual and even record-breaking. Queen Victoria instituted the Christmas feast...
Hamilton’s Tragic Loss: Remembering Margaret Hayworth
Submitted by Brian Roulston Little Margaret Hayworth was 10 years old with her life ahead of her. She was well-liked by her classmates and teachers at Lakeshore Public School and Knox Presbyterian Sunday School. Her father John was an employee of the Firestone Tire...