End of the Line
End of the Line

Author: Don McIver

Publisher: Dundurn

Published: 2013-02-16

Total Pages: 243

ISBN-13: 1459702239

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Sixty people died in 1857, leaving behind their stories and the tales of those involved. In 1857, the Desjardins Canal bridge collapsed under a Toronto-to-Hamilton train, creating one of the worst railway wrecks in North American history. Sixty lives, including that of the main contractor, were lost. The story of how the Great Western Railway was conceived, where it was located, and how it was constructed is replete with high irony covering political intrigue, commercial skullduggery, and bold entrepreneurship. Woven into the tragic events of that cold March evening are a cross-section of pre-Confederation Canadians whose lives contrasted sharply with the dour stereotypical view of pioneering Canada. End of the Line portrays the personalities of these global travellers, burgeoning industrialists, and simple railway servants – all connected by the common thread of catastrophe. Particular attention is focused on the little-known life of Samuel Zimmerman – the irrepressible contractor who died in the accident. Captured throughout is the spirit of economic venture infecting the mood of the continent.

The Great Railway Catastrophe of the 12th March, 1857, on the Desjardin Canal Bridge, on the Line of the Great Western Railway [microform]
The Great Railway Catastrophe of the 12th March, 1857, on the Desjardin Canal Bridge, on the Line of the Great Western Railway [microform]

Author: Harriet Annie 1829-1888 Wilkins

Publisher: Legare Street Press

Published: 2021-09-09

Total Pages: 60

ISBN-13: 9781014446800

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This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Inside the Law
Inside the Law

Author: Carol Wilton

Publisher: University of Toronto Press

Published: 1996-12-15

Total Pages: 606

ISBN-13: 1442651288

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Law firms are important economic institutions in this country: they collect hundreds of millions of dollars annually in fees, they order the affairs of businesses and of many government agencies, and their members include some of the most influential Canadians. Some firms have a history stretching back nearly two hundred years, and many are over a century old. Yet the history of law firms in Canada has remained largely unknown. This collection of essays, Volume VII in the Osgoode Society's series of Essays in the History of Canadian Law, is the first focused study of a variety of law firms and how they have evolved over a century and a half, from the golden age of the sole practitioner in the pre-industrial era to the recent rise of the mega-firm. The volume as a whole is an exploration of the impact of economic and social change on law-firm culture and organization. The introduction by Carol Wilton provides a chronological overview of Canadian law-firm evolution and emphasizes the distinctiveness of Canadian law-firm history.

The Great Railway Catastrophe of the 12th March, 1857, on the Desjardin Canal Bridge, on the Line of the Great Western Railway [microform]
The Great Railway Catastrophe of the 12th March, 1857, on the Desjardin Canal Bridge, on the Line of the Great Western Railway [microform]

Author: Harriet Annie 1829-1888 Wilkins

Publisher: Legare Street Press

Published: 2023-07-18

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781019697979

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Harriet Annie Wilkins provides a detailed account of the Great Railway Catastrophe of 1857. This tragic event on the Great Western Railway claimed many lives and changed the course of history. This book is a fascinating look at one of the most significant railway disasters in history. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Dundurn Castle
Dundurn Castle

Author: Edward Smith

Publisher: James Lorimer & Company

Published: 2007-09-25

Total Pages: 98

ISBN-13: 1550289888

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One of the most fascinating figures in Canadian history, Hamilton's Sir Allan Napier MacNab, was a charismatic character who lived large in the political and business world of his day. Born into a genteel family on the fringe of the powerful Family Compact, MacNab began his career as a boy soldier in the War of 1812, then dabbled in the theatre before beginning a law practice. A banker financing his own ventures, he made his fortune in land development and railways, and spent half of his adult life in politics, serving as premier and acting as speaker for both houses during his more than a quarter century in parliament. He built his "fort on the water" that would become known as Dundurn Castle in 1835. Throughout his career, the castle — with its picturesque setting, dozens of rooms, the latest in plumbing and an embellishing dovecote and cockpit — embodied his aspirations and approach to life in a young, enterprising city. Within its walls, he experienced triumphs and loss, including the death of his wife, defeat in politics and finally the crumbling of his finances, leaving him penniless at his death in 1862. This book tells the colourful story of MacNab, family man, politician, and entrepreneur, and describes the grand and beautiful setting of home and grounds against which he played out his life.

Their Town
Their Town

Author: Bill Freeman

Publisher: James Lorimer & Company

Published: 2016-03-15

Total Pages: 178

ISBN-13: 1459409469

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This book is a classic of its kind -- a no-holds-barred portrait of Hamilton civic life in the 1970s. The focus is on power -- and the powerful. On the surface, power was wielded by the city's businessman-mayor, a business-oriented city council, and a Liberal Party machine fronted by prominent cabinet minister John Munro. Behind the scenes Bill Freeman and Marsha Hewitt found a fascinating set of characters and organizations. They offer a history of organized crime in Hamilton from its rum-running heyday of Rocco Perri to Johnny Papalia and his associates in the 1970s. Freeman and Hewitt provide a critical analysis of The Hamilton Spectator's often unquestioning support of the business agenda for the city, which produced the ruinous demolition of the downtown core and its replacement with Jackson Square. They also examine the labour movement's role in civic life. A chapter on the John Munro political machine, written by Henry Jacek, shows how politics is integrated into the power structure of the city. The book tells the story of key development projects of the 1960s and 1970s that were supposed to transform the central city. The account of the notorious contracts for dredging Hamilton Harbour is compelling reading. The authors look closely at the winners and losers in these projects. Today, Hamiltonians can make their own judgments about the long-term impact of these projects on their city.