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Aidan Johnson served as Hamilton's first openly queer councilor for Ward One (Chedoke-Cootes area) during the 2014-2018 term. Aidan grew up in Westdale and Ainslie Wood and attended George R. Allan, Dalewood and Westdale Secondary schools. He studied at McGill University Faculty of Law, was a Fulbright scholar at New York University (NYU) and a graduate student at the University of Chicago. Aidan was a staff lawyer for Legal Aid Ontario, frequently contributed to Hamilton Spectator, was a Cootes Paradise Restoration worker and volunteered at the Hamilton AIDS Network. He is currently the executive director of the Niagara Community Legal Clinic and the chair of the Niagara Poverty Reduction Network.

Michael Roderick Johnstone was born in Hamilton, Ontario at the Salvation Army Hospital. He graduated from McMaster University in 1969 where he served as the Student Cultural Affairs Commissioner and President of the McMaster Students Union. He was also involved with The Silhouette, McMaster’s University’s student-run newspaper as a writer from 1962 to 1963 and with the McMaster’s Film Board. Michael returned to school at Mohawk College for nursing in the 1980’s and worked at the Hamilton General Hospital as a registered nurse in the post-operative care unit for more than 25 years until his retirement.

Michael was involved in the founding of many gay and lesbian organizations in the Hamilton area. Prior to moving back to Hamilton in 1979, he was a member of Gays of Ottawa from 1976 to 1979. Michael also served as a secretary of the Coordinating Office of the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Rights Coalition that dealt with specific issues of federal jurisdiction. At this time, the Hamilton-McMaster Gay Liberation Movement group has been established. To expand outside of McMaster University and into the broader Hamilton community, core members of the McMaster Homophile Association formed Hamilton United Gay Societies (HUGS) in 1980. Michael was one of the founding members of HUGS and served in different executive committee roles such as secretary, treasurer and president from 1980 to 1982 and again from 1988 to 1991 when HUGS changed their name to Hamilton Gay and Lesbian Alliance (HGALA). Michael was the self-appointed archivist of the Hamilton-Wentworth Gay Archives which was founded in 1982 and was also involved in the Gay Phoenix (then The Phoenix/Hamilton Phoenix) newsletter, Lesbian/Gayline and Speakers’ Bureau.

Since its founding in 1986, Michael was as a member of the Hamilton AIDS Network for Dialogue and Support’s (HANDS) Board of Directors, was the president from 1991 to 1993, and a member of the Steering Committee. He was also involved in the AIDS Prevention Task Force Implementation Subcommittee of the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth, the AIDS Working Group on Anonymous HIV Testing, and Regional Palliative Care Program Hospice Services Group.

At the Hamilton GALA Honour Roll Dinner in 1991, Michael Johnstone along with Anne Cassel were presented with the Honour Roll Award plaque to recognize their contributions to the LGBTQ+ community in Hamilton throughout the years.

In addition to Michael’s activist work, he was a part of the Social Justice and World Outreach committees of the Hamilton Presbytery of the United Church of Canada and was an active member of the Hamilton Group of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East.

Michael passed away from lung cancer on July 26, 2018 at the Good Shepherd’s Emmanuel House hospice in Hamilton which used to be a housing residence for individuals living with HIV/AIDS.

Thomas L. Kinrade was a Hamilton, Ontario school teacher and served as principal at Cannon Street Public School from 1890 to 1909. Thomas had two sons and three daughters and lived at 105 Herkimer Street with his wife Isabel and his daughters. Thomas owned many rental properties within the city. The Kinrades were highly respected members of the Hamilton community and were seen as very generous. On February 25, 1909, his eldest daughter Ethel was shot dead when she opened the door to a stranger. The tragedy and the sensationalism of the murder took its toll on the family. Thomas retired as principal from the Cannon Street Public School that same year, ending a 34-year career in public education.

The Aged Women’s Home was the creation of the Ladies Benevolent Society. The Society, which was established in 1846, consisted of prominent Hamilton women who were concerned about the welfare of the poor within the city, particularly women and children. The Society held its first meeting on May 25, 1846 to discuss how to best provide for the needs of those suffering from sickness and poverty. Beginning as a soup kitchen on John Street, the charity provided relief with the help of donations from prominent citizens, churches, lodges, and other benevolent societies. As more organizations emerged to care for poor and orphaned children, the Society began to solely concentrate its attention on aged and infirm women. Through volunteering in the community, members of the Society witnessed first-hand how elderly, poor and infirm women with few resources and family supports, were left destitute and unable to provide for themselves in their old age, due to a lack of pensions, as well as poor wages during their working lives that left little room for retirement savings. By 1877, the doors of the Aged Women’s Home on Wellington Street opened in downtown Hamilton in the former Hamilton Orphan Asylum, which was also established by the Society. The building transitioned from the care of orphans to the care of elderly women through renovations that altered and enlarged it to fit their specific needs. As donations and support increased over the years, a new residence was opened in 1958 and renamed Idlewyld Manor in 1963. In 2004, a new, modern building was constructed on the West Mountain, which still exists today, and which is now home to both male and female residents.

The Hamilton Orphan Asylum was the creation of the Ladies Benevolent Society. The Society, which was established in 1846, consisted of prominent Hamilton women who were concerned about the welfare of the poor within the city, particularly women and children. The Society held its first meeting on May 25, 1846 to discuss how to best provide for the needs of those suffering from sickness and poverty. Beginning as a soup kitchen on John Street, the charity provided relief with the help of donations from prominent citizens, churches, lodges, and other benevolent societies. During this time period, the ravages of cholera and other illnesses left many families destitute, and left numerous children orphaned. The plight of the working poor also resulted in many parents being unable to care for their children. In 1848, the Society established a day school to assist with provisions and the education of these children. With an increase in donations, the Society was able to construct the Hamilton Orphan Asylum, which was completed in 1854 and existed until 1914, when care of the children transferred to other children’s aid organizations in the city.

The Aged Women’s Home was the creation of the Ladies Benevolent Society. The Society, which was established in 1846, consisted of prominent Hamilton women who were concerned about the welfare of the poor within the city, particularly women and children. The Society held its first meeting on May 25, 1846 to discuss how to best provide for the needs of those suffering from sickness and poverty. Beginning as a soup kitchen on John Street, the charity provided relief with the help of donations from prominent citizens, churches, lodges, and other benevolent societies. As more organizations emerged to care for poor and orphaned children, the Society began to solely concentrate its attention on aged and infirm women. Through volunteering in the community, members of the Society witnessed first-hand how elderly, poor and infirm women with few resources and family supports, were left destitute and unable to provide for themselves in their old age, due to a lack of pensions, as well as poor wages during their working lives that left little room for retirement savings. By 1877, the doors of the Aged Women’s Home on Wellington Street opened in downtown Hamilton in the former Hamilton Orphan Asylum, which was also established by the Society. The building transitioned from the care of orphans to the care of elderly women through renovations that altered and enlarged it to fit their specific needs. As donations and support increased over the years, a new residence was opened in 1958 and renamed Idlewyld Manor in 1963. In 2004, a new, modern building was constructed on the West Mountain, which still exists today, and which is now home to both male and female residents.

Robert Lawrence graduated from high school in 1943 and together with his best friend, joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). In 1945, Robert was stationed as a mail clerk in Yorkshire, England with the RCAF’s No. 6 Group Bomber Command. During his time in the military, Robert began corresponding with Marion Beverly Mortimer of Hamilton. Upon his return to Hamilton, Robert began his sales career with Life Savers Company, travelling throughout southern Ontario. Robert continued to write to Marion throughout his travels. Robert and Marion were engaged in August of 1948 and married a year later. They were married for sixty years and had three children. Robert died in 2009 and Marion passed away in 2012.

The Levy Brothers Company Limited was started by one of the first members of the Prussian Jewish community to come to Canada in the mid-1800s. Herman Levy, (1833-1902), emigrated from Germany in the 1850s and established a jewellery business in Hamilton in 1857. Within a few years, he had become successful and sent for his future wife Camilla Scheuer, and his brother Abraham (1835-1907), to join him. In 1862, his brother Abraham entered the business, and the company name was changed to H.&A. Levy, eventually becoming the Levy Brothers Company Limited in 1871. The company had a brief partnership with Herman’s brother-in-law, Edmund Scheuer, and at that time was located at 27 King Street East. By 1877, the company had a new location and a prominent presence in downtown Hamilton at 58-60 King Street East, remaining there for many decades. It was a four-story building with showrooms on the first floor and manufacturing on the upper floors. The showrooms featured jewellery pieces such as pins, brooches, rings, earrings, lockets, chains, and bracelets, available in silver, platinum, gold and white gold, as well as diamond rings and various other items such as pipes, ring cases, cutlery, and gold and silver bars.

Although there were many jewellery stores and manufacturers during this time, the Levy Brothers Company was the leading jewellery wholesaler and manufacturer of its kind in British North America, specializing in various jewellery pieces, watches, clocks, optical items, jewellery making materials and watchmaking materials. The company employed around 50 craftsmen who handmade the pieces. Some of these individuals started out as apprentices at the age of 14 and then spent decades with the company honing their skills and becoming experts in their trade before retiring. The quality of craftmanship made the Levy Brothers Company the standard of excellence throughout the country. By 1893, it became a joint stock company whereby investors could buy and sell shares in the business. Abraham took over as President and Herman as Vice President. When Herman passed away in 1901, Abraham ran the operations until he too passed away in 1907. Herman’s son Adolph took over the company at that time and then it was subsequently passed down to his son Herman Herzog Levy (1902-1990), who joined the company in 1923. During the Second World War, Herman H. Levy was appointed the Jewellery Administrator of the War Times Prices and Trade Board, and due to the excellent service he and his company provided during his term as Administrator, he was awarded an Order of the British Empire. In 1945, after 4 years of service as the Jewellery Administrator, he resigned his post and moved the company to its final location at 25 Main Street West. The company was still in business in 1957 to celebrate its centennial, but it is unclear as to when the doors closed permanently, ending over a century of excellent quality and craftsmanship in the jewellery trade.

The Lewis family of Hamilton, Ontario became well-known in the local community through their children. Thomas Lewis, a successful cigar manufacturer, and his wife Ann Arthur, a dramatic reader of Shakespeare, had 14 children, some of whom displayed an aptitude for music and theatre acting. In particular, their daughter Flora became an amateur theatre actress and their daughter Ida Lewis became the famous professional theatre actress known as Julia Arthur. Born in Hamilton in 1869, Julia began acting at the age of eleven, making her hometown debut as Portia in a local amateur theatre company production of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice.” In 1883, she made her professional debut in Shakespeare’s “Richard III.” Julia studied music and the dramatic arts in both Germany and England for three years and then moved to New York to work as an actress, landing a role in “The Black Masque” to much acclaim from theatre audiences. She returned to England and was invited to join the renowned Sir Henry Irving’s Lyceum Players Company. She returned to Canada in the late 1890s as one of the most popular and successful stage performers of her time. In 1898, Julia Arthur married Benjamin Pierce Cheney, a millionaire and prominent banker and real estate developer from Boston, Massachusetts. She retired from the theatre and began a short career as a film actress in 1908, acting in a few movie pictures, including some war propaganda films. By 1920, her husband’s financial empire had suffered such serious losses that Julia was forced to return to the stage to earn a living. Julia Arthur lived most of her adult life in Boston and died in 1950.

Robert Livingstone was born in Staffa, Ontario on February 4, 1889. He served in World War One as a Private in the 8th Field Ambulance of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. In 1917, Robert was wounded from shell shrapnel during the Battle of Passchendaele, and was deemed medically unfit for service. He was discharged from the military in 1918 and shortly after, he met and married his first wife, Margaret Jane Miller (also of Staffa, Ontario). They moved to Hamilton, Ontario and resided at 235 Sherman Avenue South. Robert was a civil servant (department unknown), for the City of Hamilton and kept time sheets for road and sewer work employees. Robert's wife died in 1936 and he married his second wife, Annie Mary Jones in 1950. Robert died in 1968 and is buried in the Staffa Cemetery in Staffa, Ontario.

Alexander Logie, son of William Logie and Anne Smith, was born in Rosefield, Nairnshire, Scotland, in 1823. He emigrated with his family to Canada. Alexander was admitted to the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1843 as a Student-at-Law. He was called to the Bar in 1848 and practiced law in Hamilton, Ontario. On October 19th, 1854, he was appointed Judge of the County Court of the United Counties of Wentworth and Halton, where he served from 1854 to 1873. He married Mary Ritchie Crooks (1827–1900), from the town of Niagara. They had three children: Anna Barbara (b.1856), Alexandra Helena, and William Alexander (1866–1933). Alexander was for many years an Elder and Trustee of Saint Andrews (now Saint Paul’s) Presbyterian Church. He was one of the church leaders who personally guaranteed the loan for the building of the new church in 1854. Alexander Logie died December 10, 1873.

Alexander Logie, son of William Logie and Anne Smith, was born in Rosefield, Nairnshire, Scotland, in 1823. He emigrated with his family to Canada. Alexander was admitted to the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1843 as a Student-at-Law. He was called to the Bar in 1848 and practiced law in Hamilton, Ontario. On October 19th, 1854, he was appointed Judge of the County Court of the United Counties of Wentworth and Halton, where he served from 1854 to 1873. He married Mary Ritchie Crooks (1827–1900), from the town of Niagara. They had three children: Anna Barbara (b.1856), Alexandra Helena, and William Alexander (1866–1933). Alexander was for many years an Elder and Trustee of Saint Andrews (now Saint Paul’s) Presbyterian Church. He was one of the church leaders who personally guaranteed the loan for the building of the new church in 1854. Alexander Logie died December 10, 1873.

Major William Logie was born in Scotland in 1782. William married Mary McNair (1784-1818) in 1808. After the death of his first wife, he married Anne Smith (1784-1868), of Pitgair, Scotland in 1822. There were six Logie children: William, Alexander (1823–1873), James Alexander, Margaret, Mary, and Barbara, who died as a child in 1838. Major William Logie retired from the army in 1832, and the family emigrated from Scotland to Canada, leaving behind eldest son, William, who chose to remain in Glasgow. The Major and Anne Smith Logie lived near Kingston, Ontario in their home, Glenlogie, until 1852 when they moved to Hamilton. Major William Logie died in 1853 and Anne Logie died in 1868.

William Alexander (1866–1933), son of Alexander Logie, was called to the bar in 1890, and entered into legal practice in the firm of Chisholm, Logie and McQuesten. In 1918, he was elevated to the bench. William Alexander wed Mary Hamilton Wylie in 1892 and they had one son and two daughters.

James (Jimmy) Lomax was

James (Jimmy) Lomax was

James (Jimmy) William Lomax (1943-2011), was best known as Hamilton's Santa Claus. As a child, Jimmy spent many Christmases in the hospital because of a lung disease that doctors originally diagnosed as likely being fatal. While in the hospital, a visit from Santa changed his young life. Jimmy survived his lung disease and it was this second chance at life that inspired him to become Santa to other less fortunate people, especially children. After attending Delta Secondary School, Jimmy worked as a steelworker at Stelco to support his family and to help support his volunteer job as Santa Claus. He and his wife Susan, who was often referred to as Mrs. Claus, would volunteer their time to a project they called Operation Santa Claus. Along with their young son Ryan, they visited thousands of children and adults annually, distributing gifts and holiday cheer. Jimmy's role as Santa began as a teenager in 1958 with a small bag of candy, a Santa suit and a big heart. Over the years, Operation Santa Claus grew to become a full-scale operation with numerous volunteers and donors. From 1958 until 2010, Lomax volunteered countless hours to fundraise for Operation Santa Claus, raising thousands of dollars annually to buy presents for those in need. The recipients of his generosity were mostly low-income families, children with intellectual challenges, hospital patients, group home residents, nursing home residents, and individuals living in shelters.

Jimmy's selfless dedication and generosity to his community earned him awards and recognition, including the Outstanding Young Hamiltonian Award, the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship, the Queen's Jubilee Medal, as well as membership in the Order of Canada. Even after the death of his son Ryan in 1987, as well as his own health issues, Lomax's dedication to Operation Santa Claus never wavered until he was forced to retire the role in 2010 due to health complications, after more than 5 decades as Santa. Lomax retired from Stelco after 38 years and he died in 2011. The city of Hamilton honoured him by establishing the Jimmy Lomax Beach Boulevard Park near where he and his family lived. However, Lomax's true legacy as Hamilton's Santa lives forever in the minds and hearts of many Hamiltonians, who personally experienced his kindness and generosity during the holiday season.

Love Your City, Share Your Stories began in 2014 and is an ongoing digital storytelling project featuring stories about Hamilton and Hamiltonians both past and present. Love Your City, Share Your Stories is an inclusive project with a focus of bringing together citizens and community organizations to build a collection of both personal and historically factual stories about the City of Hamilton. This project is led by the Hamilton Public Library’s Local History and Archives department and partnered with McMaster University, Hamilton Arts Council, City of Hamilton Culture Division, Hamilton Community Foundation and is supported by the Hamilton Future Fund and by the Ontario Trillium Grant. The initiative consists of four phases: Phase 1: Hamilton Cultural Icons and Music, Phase 2: Immigration in Hamilton, Phase 3: Water in Hamilton, and Phase 4: Hamilton’s Visual Art. HPL is now leading the digital storytelling project and the goal of the project is to capture individual and firsthand accounts of Hamiltonians by creating oral histories to preserve and make accessible Hamilton’s local history.

Graeme MacKay was born in 1968, and grew up in Dundas, Ontario where he attended Parkside High School. MacKay graduated from the University of Ottawa, majoring in History and Political Science. During his undergrad, MacKay became the graphics editor for the student newspaper, "The Fulcrum". In 1997, MacKay began his professional career at the Hamilton Spectator as a full-time editorial cartoonist. MacKay was President of the Association of Canadian Editorial Cartoonists from 2008 to 2010.

The McAfee family members were United Empire Loyalists who lived in the Hamilton area (formerly known as Head-of-the-Lake), during the War of 1812. The region at the time was agricultural and consisted of various townships including Ancaster, Barton, Binbrook, Glanford and Saltfleet. Most residents were farmers, innkeepers, or labourers in trades such as pottery. These early colonial townships protected themselves with local militias made up of able-bodied men ages 16 to 60 from the nearby communities, who were required to serve as part-time soldiers if needed. These men would assemble for an annual muster call in preparation for a possible future military campaign. With war looming against the Americans in 1812, brothers Angus (1780-1832), Daniel (1791-1878) and Samuel (1793-1870) McAfee enlisted in the 5th Lincoln Militia. The two flank companies of this regiment were commanded by Captain Samuel Hatt and Captain James Durand, and also included Lieutenant Robert Land, son and namesake of one of Hamilton’s first settlers. The brothers saw action in various skirmishes and fought with Major General Isaac Brock during the Siege of Detroit. All three brothers survived the war and returned home. Daniel and Samuel took over a pottery business, and Angus became an innkeeper in Barton Township.

Thomas McIlwraith was born December 25, 1824 in Ayr, Scotland. As a youth, he was apprenticed as a cabinet-maker and was employed by a gas works company in Edinburgh. In 1853, he married Mary Park Forysth and immigrated to Canada, settling in Hamilton, Ontario. That same year he became the manager of the Hamilton Gas Works Company where he remained for eighteen years. He lived in a home called “Cairnbrae” on MacNab Street North with his wife and their four sons and three daughters. In 1871 he purchased a coal business and ran this operation until his retirement in 1893. McIlwraith served on the boards of directors of several banks and insurance companies, as well as serving as President of the Hamilton Mechanic’s Institute and as an alderman for St. Mary’s Ward where he resided. His prominence came from his devotion to ornithology (the study of birds). McIlwraith was a founding member of the American Ornithological Union and wrote extensively on the subject of birds, from his observations of bird species, nesting patterns and eggs. He was particularly interested in birds within the region of Hamilton and identified hundreds of species in the surrounding area. He published two books, including the Birds of Ontario (1886) and the Birds Observed in the Vicinity of Hamilton (1860). McIlwraith died at his home in January of 1903 and is buried in the Hamilton Cemetery.

Thomas McIlwraith was born December 25, 1824 in Ayr, Scotland. As a youth, he was apprenticed as a cabinet-maker and was employed by a gas works company in Edinburgh. In 1853, he married Mary Park Forysth and immigrated to Canada, settling in Hamilton, Ontario. That same year he became the manager of the Hamilton Gas Works Company where he remained for eighteen years. He lived in a home called “Cairnbrae” on MacNab Street North with his wife and their four sons and three daughters. In 1871 he purchased a coal business and ran this operation until his retirement in 1893. McIlwraith served on the boards of directors of several banks and insurance companies, as well as serving as President of the Hamilton Mechanic’s Institute and as an alderman for St. Mary’s Ward where he resided. His prominence came from his devotion to ornithology (the study of birds). McIlwraith was a founding member of the American Ornithological Union and wrote extensively on the subject of birds, from his observations of bird species, nesting patterns and eggs. He was particularly interested in birds within the region of Hamilton and identified hundreds of species in the surrounding area. He published two books, including the Birds of Ontario (1886) and the Birds Observed in the Vicinity of Hamilton (1860). McIlwraith died at his home in January of 1903 and is buried in the Hamilton Cemetery.

Thomas G. McIlwraith was born December 25, 1824 in Ayr, Scotland. As a youth, he was apprenticed as a cabinet-maker and was employed by a gas works company in Edinburgh. In 1853, he married Mary Park Forysth and immigrated to Canada, settling in Hamilton, Ontario. That same year he became the manager of the Hamilton Gas Works Company where he remained for eighteen years. He lived in a home called “Cairnbrae” on MacNab Street North with his wife and their four sons and three daughters. In 1871 he purchased a coal business and ran this operation until his retirement in 1893. McIlwraith served on the boards of directors of several banks and insurance companies, as well as serving as President of the Hamilton Mechanic’s Institute and as an alderman for St. Mary’s Ward where he resided. His prominence came from his devotion to ornithology (the study of birds). McIlwraith was a founding member of the American Ornithological Union and wrote extensively on the subject of birds, from his observations of bird species, nesting patterns and eggs. He was particularly interested in birds within the region of Hamilton and identified hundreds of species in the surrounding area. He published two books, including the "Birds of Ontario" (1886) and the "Birds Observed in the Vicinity of Hamilton" (1860). McIlwraith died at his home in January of 1903 and is buried in the Hamilton Cemetery.

Dr. Calvin McQuesten was born in New Hampshire in 1801. He graduated from medical school in 1830 and set up his practice in Brockport, New York in 1832. In 1835, McQuesten partnered with his cousin John Fisher, as well as Priam B. Hill and Joseph S. Jones to establish an iron foundry in Hamilton, thus becoming one of the forerunners of “heavy industry” in the city. Dr. Calvin McQuesten moved to Hamilton in 1839 to take an active role in managing the foundry, known as McQuesten and Co. In 1853, he sold a portion of the firm to his nephews, Luther and Payson Sawyer, and cousin William McQuesten. In 1856, partner John Fisher sold his portion of the foundry business and moved to Batavia, N.Y., leaving Dr. McQuesten sole owner. In 1857, Dr. McQuesten retired and handed the company over to the Sawyer brothers, including another nephew, Samuel Sawyer, an engineer for the foundry. They operated the company under the name of L. D. Sawyer and Co. In 1889, they went into partnership with H.A. Massey of Massey-Harris Co. Ltd. forming Sawyer-Massey Co.

Dr. Calvin McQuesten was on the Board of Directors of the Gore Bank, had shares in Hamilton Water Company, donated to the Wesleyan Ladies College and helped finance the construction of the MacNab Street Presbyterian Church. In 1852, he purchased a house which was first known as Willow Bank. The name was later changed to Whitehern by Isaac and Mary McQuesten. Dr. McQuesten was married three times and he had two children who survived: Calvin Brooks (1837-1912) and Isaac Baldwin (1847–1888). Calvin Brooks graduated from medical school and set up practice in New York. Isaac Baldwin studied law and joined a practice in Hamilton.

Isaac Baldwin, son of Dr. Calvin McQuesten, studied law and was admitted to the firm of Proudfoot & Jones. When Proudfoot was elevated to the bench, the firm became Jones & McQuesten until they formed a partnership with Chisholm in 1882. Jones retired in 1886 and the firm became known as McQuesten & Chisholm. Isaac Baldwin was married to Mary Jane Baker (ca. 1848-1934) and they had six children: Mary Baldwin (1874-1964), Calvin (1876-1968), Hilda Belle (1877-1967), Ruby Baker (1879-1911), Thomas Baker (1882–1948) and Margarette Edna (1885-1935). None of their children married. In 1885, Isaac and his family moved to Whiterhern, the McQuesten's family home.

Isaac Baldwin, son of Dr. Calvin McQuesten, studied law and was admitted to the firm of Proudfoot & Jones. When Proudfoot was elevated to the bench, the firm became Jones & McQuesten until the partnership with Chisholm in 1882. Jones retired in 1886 and the firm became known as McQuesten & Chisholm. Isaac Baldwin was married to Mary Jane Baker (ca. 1848-1934). They lived at number 1 Bold St. until the death of Dr. Calvin in 1885, at which time Isaac and Mary and their six children moved to Whitehern. The six children were Mary Baldwin (1874-1964), Calvin (1876-1968), Hilda Belle (1877-1967), Ruby Baker (1879-1911), Thomas Baker (1882–1948) and Margarette Edna (1885-1935). None of the children married.

Mercury Mills was established in 1912 by John Penman who was an innovative knitting industry leader who moved to Hamilton from Paris, Ontario. Mercury Mills first had a plant on Park Street North. At its peak, it employed over 1,100 people at three sites in the province with the main plant built in 1916 on Cumberland Avenue between Gage and Prospect avenues.

During wartime, Mercury Mills produced materials used in military uniforms and parachutes. In later years, it faced increasing competition and eventually closed down in 1955. The building was demolished in 1983.

Margaret Gwendolyn Carley was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa on March 23, 1913. The family returned to Canada shortly after and settled in Kitchener, Ontario, where Gwen later attended the Business School. She married Albert E. Metcalfe (1901-1963) on July 27, 1937, and they had one son John David (J.D.) Metcalfe (1939-2007). Gwen began her career a museum curator at Dundurn Castle in Hamilton, where she started as a receptionist in the 1950s. In May 1955, Gwen was appointed curator with no formal training as a museum specialist. In her role as curator, she advocated for a complete restoration of Dundurn Castle to the period during Allan MacNab’s tenure. The City of Hamilton chose the Dundurn Castle restoration project as their 1967 Centennial Project. While the museum was closed for restorations, Gwen she kept a photographic record of the renovation process. On June 30, 1971, Gwen retired.

Gwen was an active member of the Canadian Museums Association, serving on their council and editing their newsletter. She also served as the chairman of the museums section of the Ontario Historical Society. In June 1972, she was appointed a Fellow of the Canadian Museums Association, an honour as being the first for Hamilton.

Gwen Metcalfe died on July 6, 1997.

John Morris was an amateur photographer, first in Grimsby, (his birthplace), then in Toronto, where as a member of the Toronto Camera Club he became actively involved in salon exhibition work during the 1920s and exhibiting in such salons as the Toronto International, the Pittsburgh, and the Buffalo. In the 1930s, he worked in several Toronto professional studios; during the Second World War he was responsible for the RCAF, Ontario Command photographic operations; and after the War he settled in Hamilton where he operated his own professional studio until the early 1970s. He died in 1978.
In 1980, the bulk of his collection (approximately 3330 photographic prints and negatives dating from the 1920s to the 1970s, including glass plate negatives, salon prints and some colour negatives and slides, representing John Morris’ artistry and interests as an amateur and professional photographer) was transferred to the National Archives in Ottawa.

James Winslow Mortimer was a Canadian comic book and comic strip artist, best known for his illustrations on the Superman comic. He was born in Hamilton on May 1, 1919. He attended the Stinson Street School and Central Collegiate. He studied art at the New York Art League and later studied anatomy under George Bridgeman in New York. In 1940, Mortimer enlisted into the Canadian Army, but was discharged after a brief training period for medical reasons. In 1943, he was employed at Otis Elevators in Hamilton where he illustrated propaganda posters for the company. After the Second War World, Mortimer moved to New York where he joined DC Comics and ghosted the Superman daily comic strip. He became the cover artist for Superman, Batman and Superboy comics. In 1955, Mortimer began his own comic strip entitled "David Crane" a story about a young minister and his wife and their difficulties in building a parish in a rural community. In 1960, he illustrated the strip "Larry Brannon" for The Toronto Star. He returned to DC Comics to illustrate. In 1983, Mortimer left comics for advertising and commercial art to work for Neal Adam's studio at Continuity Associates. Winslow Mortimer died on January 11, 1998. In 2006, Mortimer was inducted into the Joe Shuster Hall of Fame.

Bruce “The Mole” Mowat was a prominent member of the Hamilton music scene in the 1990s. Bruce was on the pulse of obscure, new and up-and-coming artists. He was the founder of the defunct record label, Mole Records, which produced three releases, including Cyborg Revisited by Simply Saucer. He was a regular contributor to the EGO section of the Hamilton Spectator throughout the 1990s in addition to other publications in Montreal and Toronto. The focus of his pieces in the Spectator highlighted new band recommendation. He currently resides in Grande Prairie, Alberta.

Hamilton born and raised live music photographer

Bruce William New was born in Toronto in 1944. New graduated from Downsview Collegiate and pursued a brief career in industrial accounting before going into several entrepreneurial businesses including trucking, a dealership, a sales agency and a tour company. New lives in Hamilton and Largo, Florida.