The Official Haunted Hamilton Blog

Opening of the New Custom House –

Yesterday, the new Custom House, in the city, was opened for business, accompanied by one of the officers, we took a stroll through the building.  In the basement are the housekeeper’s rooms, coal and wood cellars, two hot air furnaces for heating the building, and a large fire proof vault.  On the first flat, is the examining warehouse, the appraisers office, in which is a safe, also rooms for the use of landing waiters, etc.  This portion of the building  is supplied with every convenience that can be required.  The staircase leading to the second flat is wide and airy, as also are all the main halls.  The banisters, rails and stairs are made of oak, highly polished.  On the second flat, immediately opposite the landing, is the “long room” in this all the public business of the Custom House, at least the greater part of it will be done.  A long counter runs nearly the entire length of it, and here may be seen nearly all the clerks with whom business is to be done. 

At the west end of the “long room” is the Surveyor’s office, with entrances from the main hall and the long room, at the east end is the Collector’s office, with similar entrances.  On the other side of the hall is the Collector’s private room.  The Broker’s room, a room for the messenger, and a large washroom.  Gas and water have been introduced throughout the entire building, and on each flat there is about 20 feet of hose with the branch attached, ready for instant use, so that fire could not possibly make any headway. 

The change must be a pleasant one, not only for the officials, but the public; there will now be no more long broiling walks to the Bay shore – the building being about halfway between the business portion of the City and the Bay.  For the first time, we noticed the “Union Jack” flying from the roof. 

The furniture, for the new offices, has not yet arrived, so that they present a rather bare appearance as yet, however, they are much more convenient and comfortable than the old ones.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 16th, 2010 at 10:33 am and is filed under Main. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.