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Auchmar : Prominence and History : Page 2
By Daniel Cumerlato

Continued from Page 1

Second Floor Hallway

Set of Blake Holsey High

Another Washroom

Distinction

The year is 2007. Hamilton holds inductions into its famous Gallery of Distinction. Not only included are legends from today. This induction reaches 124 years back to a death bed on James Street South. It honors the lord of Auchmar, Sir Isaac Buchanan himself, recognized by the gallery for the first time. Goes to show that honor doesn’t have an expiry date.

I would highly recommend getting a tour of this grand lady before she’s gone. Call up all your powers of persuasion during a Doors Open Hamilton event, and deal yourself into the 2nd floor and basement. These parts are normally blocked off, but the right history lover could see fit to provide a personal tour. Or pitch in! Volunteers for the event get the grand tour when the day is done.

But maybe you’re a savvy business person looking for the next big investment in the growing community of Hamilton. Your interest is important and hard to find. We want you touring the mansion, and quick!

No matter the legal method, do your best to get a tour. Real history is hard to come by in Hamilton and history like this is truly unique.

The Dove Cote

In the backyard you can have a look at the last remaining Dove Cote in Canada. This is the abandoned 2-storey stone shack.

The Buchanan’s would raise their pigeons here. The primary reason was to train and sell them as carriers. The second, and more secret reason was for food. The Mountain winters were much more furious back then, and no Wal-Mart around the corner.

Unique 2-Storey Dovecote

Entrance to Dovecote

Inside the Dovecote

Offers Anyone?

The City of Hamilton owns Auchmar and is actively seeking an occupant who will take on the responsibility of saving a big part of history. We hear at Haunted Hamilton hope that this isn’t part of the old Hamilton game. The tactic of leaving a building abandoned, allowing it to fall apart, and then when the neighbors complain, there’s now a reason to remove it from the land. It worked for Bellevue.

Hope rises from the differences of the Auchmar situation. The city owns it, not a greedy landlord whose failed dreams of building on such desirable land are only overcome by the want for profit. Also there are no complaining neighbors in close vicinity.

Across the street stands a psychiatric hospital and kiddy-cornered is Mohawk College. Maybe both locations would love to see Auchmar turned into Bed and Breakfast or hotel for visiting family and friends. The next closest hotel / motel / B&B is downtown or Upper James Street.

A couple years ago, the group SISO (Settlement and Integration Services Organization) showed great interest. Their goal is to help immigrants arriving in Hamilton for the first time. SISO gives them shelter and gets them settled in a new and sometimes uninviting land.

SISO offered the city $10 million to purchase Auchmar for their “New Dawn Immigrants and Refugees Reception Centre”. The offer was turned down.

There is some confusion on why the city rejected such a feasible offer. City officials say that SISO was planning to make many alterations to the mansions structure. They also said SISO was pushing the sale too quickly. Our city officials felt that it was only fair to hear other offers before making a final decision. SISO wanted it now and the city wanted to wait until 2009. This is what broke the deal.

Conclusion

And the mansion still rots.

Here at Haunted Hamilton we can only hope that somebody swoops in and saves it with a plan that satisfies our city, one that will respect the history and not change it and successfully fix up the crumbling structure. That will buy up all the lands and front the millions of dollars it’ll take to renovate everything properly. That will turn Auchmar into a business that makes all surrounding businesses, facilities and neighbors happy.

Are they asking for too much?

Is there a super-hero for history out there?

As I look out the window over a clear and sunny Hamilton skyline, I wonder when my History-man will come. I also ponder on how much I’ve missed.

In this, the year 2009, 126 years after Sir Isaac closed his eyes forever, how much of HIS beloved city still remains? Well, we’ll always have our pictures.

Hallway in basement

Another Hallway

Basement Shelves

By: Daniel Cumerlato

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NOTE: All photos were taken by Stephanie Cumerlato
and are Copyright of Haunted Hamilton.

References:

1. The Hamilton Spectator
2. Haunted Hamilton MessageBoard
3. Auchmar.info website - http://www.auchmar.info/index.html
4. Wentworth Landmarks – Pub. Hamilton Spectator Press (1897) –
Mrs. Dick-Lauder + collaboration

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