By Alan Harrington
May 24th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
There are probably hundreds, if not thousands of people who don’t fully understand what the holiday we are celebrating this weekend is all about. Alan Harrington tells you why it matters
Victoria Day is the time when we remember the birthday of a Queen who ruled the most powerful country in the world about 200 years ago. Is there anything in town that relates to her?
There is actually: an old green fountain at the City Hall on the corner of Brant and Ontario Streets honours her son, who went on to succeed her as King Edward VII.
Edward VII became King when his mother Queen Victoria died in 1901, and King Edward VII ruled from 1901 to 1910.
The fountain was manufactured in Hamilton and originally had a horse trough. And the glass ball on top was larger than the one today.
The fountain, likely the oldest piece of public art in the city is highlighted in the Burlington Historical Society digital collection and is an important stop on the annual Downtown Heritage Walks conducted during Burlington Heritage Month in February.
The King Edward VII fountain was dedicated 108 years ago, on 2 May 1912 by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Sir John Gibson.
In the left background is the south elevation of the Trader’s Bank, Brant Street. The carriage on the left conveyed his honour Lieut.-Governor Sir John Gibson, who unveiled the fountain, and Reeve M. C. Smith. The Sons of England float, on the right, carried, clockwise from the centre front: John Bull (represented by Sam Oakes); British soldier (Alf Matthews); Canadian soldier (Charles Rump); Britannia (Jennie Dearing); Miss Canada (Ida Ladle); and Sons of England representative (W. Metcalfe).
The parade and dedication ceremony drew people from far and wide.
Those parades were major events in those days.
The fountain was originally located at the foot of Brant Street and Water Street (now Lakeshore) next to what today is the Lakeshore Coffee House.
The Hamilton Spectator reported 4,000 people witnessing the unveiling on the 2nd anniversary of Edward VII’s death.
The fountain was tucked in between what was then a Royal Bank and the Roxy movie Theatre where there were often long line ups to watch a movie.
The fountain was later moved to Spencer Smith park.
The fountain, manufactured in Hamilton, originally had a water trough for horses. The glass ball on top was larger than the one today.
The fountain after its first restoration with the water troughs in place.
The fountain spent a considerable amount of time in storage until it was restored by the Optimist Club of Burlington and relocated to City Hall for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977
Time once again eroded the features of the fountain. After some encouragement from local concerned citizens, the city agreed the fountain needed work.
And so, it has been carefully removed and taken to the repair shop.
The four Lion Heads at each corner (for the corners of the earth) match the four lion heads under the City Hall clock. Great Britain was once the most powerful country on earth – it stretched to the four corners of the earth.
As for the man the fountain was created to honour: Edward (Prince Albert) known as Bertie, was in the Golden Horseshoe in 1860 when he visited Toronto and Niagara Falls. He never did get to Burlington.
Taken away to be restored.
The fountain may be small but it stands its ground. It is the oldest public object still on display in the City of Burlington and has been there as our small town has grown to a great city.
But time and weather are hard on such treasures.
Yes it should have been cleaned and returned for Victoria Day.
I would like to think the fountain has had some restoration attention given to it recently. Since Covid appeared I have not seen the fountain..Just a few months ago it was a complete disgrace. Rusty and very dirty. Is this how our city takes care of our part of history. Shame on you..
David W Marsden.
It’s only a matter of time until the woke crowd wants it removed due to some prior grievance anyway