York Boulevard - History

History

York Boulevard, was part of the military road that connected the chain stations lying between Kingston and the Niagara River, this road was the main route to York (Toronto). As a result, it became known as York Street. In 1976, the road was closed for construction, over the protests of residents and businessmen, widened and renamed York Boulevard November 29, 1976 at a final cost of $5.5-million.

No street runs parallel with York Boulevard. George Hamilton, a settler and local politician, established a town site in the northern portion Barton Township after the war in 1815. He kept several east-west roads which were originally Indian trails, but the north-south streets were on a regular grid pattern. Streets were designated "East" or "West" if they crossed James Street or Highway 6. Streets were designated "North" or "South" if they crossed King Street or Highway 8. York Street originally was one of those Indian Trails and it cuts through the Strathcona and Central neighbourhoods diagonly and does not conform to that grid pattern set out by George Hamilton.

In 1857, 57 passengers were killed when a train derailed near the Desjardins Canal.

The Old city hall, with its 38-metre clock tower, was demolished in 1961 (corner of York and James Street) to allow expansion of Eaton's department store. The clock and bell went into the tower of the 1990 Eaton Centre. Hamilton's Central Library was opened in 1980 by Prince Philip. Copps Coliseum, sports and entertainment arena with a capacity of up to 19,000 (depending on event type and configuration) opens its doors for business in 1985. It is named after the former Hamilton mayor, Victor K. Copps.

As part of the Hamilton master transportation plan, York Boulevard was converted from a one way street to allow two-way traffic. This change came into effect at 10 am on December 10, 2010.