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Ballinahinch

Houses completed in 1848Ontario building and structure stubs
Ballinahinch pos 1909s BK Copy
Ballinahinch pos 1909s BK Copy

Ballinahinch is a mid-Victorian mansion in Hamilton, Canada. It is recognized as an historic building under the Ontario Heritage Act. Ballinahinch dates back to 1848 when merchant Æneas Kennedy commissioned a home from architect William Thomas. Thomas provided plans for a stone villa to be located on a recessed site at the head of James Street South. He recommended Hamilton builder Peter Balfour to construct the residence, which was initially called Wilderness House, and was built between 1849-1850.Fire destroyed Wilderness House on December 11, 1853. The subsequent reconstruction may have included some changes from Thomas’ original design. Kennedy died on November 8, 1854. In 1858, Mrs. Kennedy married Robert Ferrie, who joined her at Wilderness House. The estate was sold to Edward Martin, a lawyer, about 1871. A descendant of the Martins of Galway, Ireland, who resided in the village of Ballinahinch, Martin renamed his Hamilton house Ballinahinch. In the twentieth century, Ballinahinch became one of numerous southwest Hamilton homes purchased by developer Sam Henson, who renamed it Henson Park and divided it into several flats, as post world war II taxes rose and the house became too expensive for a single family.In 1980, Ballinahinch was substantially renovated as a residential condominium. This project included reconstruction of the long-demolished gatekeeper's lodge. Nina Chapple, former City of Hamilton Senior Cultural Planner, said “Ballinahinch is one of the last remaining buildings of a compound of stone 1850s estates that ran across along the lower shoulder of the escarpment. It was an absolutely stunning district in its day.”

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Ballinahinch (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Ballinahinch
James Street South, Hamilton

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N 43.24706 ° E -79.87477 °
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Ballinahinch

James Street South 316
L8P 3B9 Hamilton
Ontario, Canada
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Ballinahinch pos 1909s BK Copy
Ballinahinch pos 1909s BK Copy
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Royal Hamilton College of Music

The Royal Hamilton College of Music was a Canadian music conservatory in Hamilton, Ontario that was actively providing higher education in music during the late 19th century and 20th century. The college was founded as the Hamilton Conservatory of Music in 1897 by C. L. M. Harris, who served as the school's first director through 1907. From 1904 until its closing in 1980 due to financial reasons the school was located at premises on James St South. In 1906 the school became affiliated with the University of Toronto through which the school awarded Bachelor of Music degrees through 1918. The school also offered its own associate, licentiate, and fellow diplomas and offered bachelor's degrees through the University of Trinity College, thereby offering three different examination systems during its history. In 1907 J. E. P. Aldous, Bruce Carey, and W. H. Hewlett became co-directors of the college. Hewlett became sole director in 1918, a position he held until 1939. Other directors of the college included Cyril Hampshire (1939–44), Reginald Bedford (1944-8), Reginald Godden (1948–53), Lorne Betts (1953–59), Harold Jerome (1959–67), Gladys Whitehead (1967–74), and Jonathan Watts (1974–80).In its heyday the Conservatory boasted a faculty of 60 and a student enrollment of more than 1,000. In the late 1970s the Hamilton Conservatory of Music experienced severe financial problems. Despite the concerted efforts of the community the HCM closed in 1980. The building was converted to other uses and then abandoned; losing its connection as a cultural center. In 1997 the building was purchased by Vitek Wincza. It was re-opened as the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts with a vision of a place where music, dance and the visual arts could exist, intermingle and flourish together. In so doing he hoped to put the arts community back in touch with its proud past while creating a cornerstone of an exciting future. Since its re-opening the Hamilton Conservatory for the Art has become a vibrant, all arts educational facility that offers over 100 arts programs for people of all ages. In addition to the school, HCA’s charitable arm, Culture for Kids in the Arts, is dedicated to providing arts education to young people across Hamilton, regardless of their financial circumstances. HCA is also home to a variety of professional arts activities including the HCA Piano Concert Series, HCA Gallery and HCA Dance Theatre and hosts Guitar Hamilton and other guest events year-round.