Concession Branch - Upcoming Renovations

Starting the week of February 9, renovation preparations are underway in anticipation of the March 2 start. Computer availability may be limited, and the Living Room space is closed. Renovations are expected to wrap up by late Spring. Thank you for your patience.

Published:
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - 1:00pm
Sherwood Branch - Upcoming Renovations

Renovation preparations are underway in anticipation of the March 2 start. Starting the week of February 23, the 2nd Floor will be closed. The Children's collection will be temporarily available on the 1st Floor. Renovations are expected to wrap up by late Spring. Thank you for your patience.

Published:
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - 1:00pm
Family Day Closure

All HPL Branches are closed on Family Day, Monday, February 16. Bookmobile is off the Road. Extended Access and Study Hall is not available. Regular service hours resume on Tuesday, February 17. 

Published:
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - 1:00pm
Central Library - Living Room Renovation Preparation

Starting Tuesday, February 10, the First Floor Living Room will be unavailable due to renovation preparations. Study and work spaces are available on Floors 2-3. 

Please note the Noon Hour Concert on Friday, February 13, will be held at Terryberry Branch instead. 

Thank you for your patience.

Published:
Friday, February 6, 2026 - 9:00am
Bookmobile Service Modification

Please note the following Bookmobile visit updates.

Tuesday, February 10
McMaster University will be 3:30-4 pm (instead of 3:30-4:30 pm
Greencedar will be 5-5:30 pm (instead of 4-5 pm)
Mountview will be 6-6:30 pm (instead of 5:30-6:30 pm)

Friday, February 13
Winona (11am-Noon) - Cancelled
Queen Victoria (3-4pm) - Cancelled

Family Day, Monday, February 16 
Bookmobile is off the road.

Tuesday, February 17
McMaster University (3:30-4:30pm) - Cancelled
Thursday, February 19
Rockton (10:30am-11:30am) - Cancelled
Bennetto 5-5:30pm (instead of 4-5:30pm)

Published:
Monday, February 2, 2026 - 3:15pm
Carlisle Branch Accessible Washroom Out of Order

The accessible washroom at Carlisle Branch is not working. We aim to get it fixed quickly.

Published:
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - 12:30pm
Central Library - Sunday Hours Paused

Effective Sunday, February 1, Sunday service hours at Central Library will be paused. 

Sunday Hours will continue at Dundas, Red Hill, Terryberry, Turner Park, Valley Park and Waterdown Branches from 1-5pm.

www.hpl.ca/hours 

Published:
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - 11:00am
Central Library - Daily Hours Update

Starting Monday, February 2, Central Library's daily hours will move back to a 9 am opening instead of 8 am, Monday through Saturday. Please make note of this new service change for your next visit. www.hpl.ca/hours 

Published:
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - 11:00am

Woodhouse Collection - Listing of Volumes 1-8

#8-1

Mr. Merrilees.

Wood-burning locomotive about 1877. H & NW Ry. Hamilton - Barrie

Front: left to right: 1.---; 2.---; 3.---; 4. James Hanes, Conductor, died 1923,

later in charge of G.T.R. yards Cannon & Ferguson; 5.---; 6. John Oneil, Engineer,

later was first engineer on Dundas Dummy.

In cab: left to right: 1.---; 2.---

 

#8-2

 

#8-3

Woodley Farm now Dundas Golf Club

About 1900

 

#8-4

 

#8-5

About 1905

 

#8-6

Accident on the Canada Great Western Railway, near Dundas

at Cramer's Lane, Apr. 1859

 

#8-7

T.H.&B. over H. & D. - Aberdeen Ave.

1896

Mr. Merrilees. maybe Dummy #2

 

#8-8

Sydenham Ravine Bridge in the days of the single track

C.N.R. bridge at Sydenham Creek about 1895

Note single track

 

#8-9

1895=The first T.H. & B. Trestle at Binkley's Hollow fell down

Jan. 9, 1895 while erecting another "A" frame, tie beams near the

Hamilton end split at the bolts and the whole structure collapsed.

3 men were badly hurt. T.H. & B. Ry Trestle at Binkley's Hollow.

 

#8-10

1895

T.H. & B. at Binkley's Hollow

 

#8-11

T.H. & B.

1895=The Binkley's Hollow Trestle was rebuilt after falling down

The Binkley's Hollow Bridge was rebuilt May 2, 1895

Today it is an earth fill

 

#8-12

May 1895.

The Ancaster Creek will flow through this culvert at Binkley's

 

#8-13

June 1895

The culvert finished the earth fill for the embankment is started

 

#8-14

 

#8-15

Hamilton & Dundas Railway Station, Dundas

NW corner Hatt & Foundry St.

left: 1st type of car; right: 2nd type of car

Dummy #2 about 1882.

People from left to right: George Holden, Joe Sweet - conductor, George C. Holden, J. Weatherston, C.J. Myles - lessor of the railway, Wyck Harrison - conductor, Jas. Sturrock - master mechanic, Len Nichol, Harry Nichol, P. Bird - engineer, John O'Neil - engineer, Eddie Kelk - clerk, John Healey, Pete Gallagher, The man leaning against the car and the man on the steps are unknown

 

#8-16

Note the tar sidewalk in front of skating rink - lower right

burned hard coal - no smoke - quiet

#1 & 2 condemned 1896 and #4 ordered

 

#8-17

Dummy #4 - The Last. The only one with twin cylinders. New car #20 The 3rd & last type

The car was originally #20, then #220, then #181. it finished up as a chicken coop.

Dummy #4 was used for stringing trolley wire on the Grand River Ry at Preston on the (then) Preston & Berlin Ry. It was later sold to John B. SMith & Sons, Ltd. lumber mfrs., Callander?, or to the South Western Traction Co (London - Pt. Stanley. maybe to both. In 1906 it was sold to Booth??

Dummies #3 & 4 crashed together Oct. 9, 1897 near the marsh x #3 was smashed, but Chas Sturrock rebuilt it. #3 sold in Mar 1899 to C. Beck Co Ltd. of Penetanguishene lumber dealers. used there for 25 years until 1924, then blocked up on ties near the mill at Penetanguishene. Total life 45 years. 1/2 million miles

from left to right: Nathan MacPherson, freight clerk;...;son of Jim Sturrock; Billy McDonnell, Eng'r & Cond'r 50 years; Hell Fire Jack Platt; Tom Newell = on back of car. Sect. Foreman operated gravel train, etc.; Jack Campbell son of Porky; John Bertram; John Fry; William Hall; unknown boys & in doorway Wick Harrison - cond'r; Mark B. Thomas, agent for lessees;---;---;Harry Perkins; Bill Norton; W.F." Porky" Campbell; Dan McIntosh behind the 7 boys; seven boys at right unknown

 

#8-18

#1 Dummy - 1879 - in the factory of the

Fulton Works, Philadelphia, Pa.

 

#8-19

[Dummy]

 

#8-20

Dummy #4

1. ---; 2.---; 3. Frank Nelson; 4. Bill Sheehan; 5. Alex Crooks; 6. John Fry; 7. Mark B. Thomas; 8. Louie (Lewis) Johnson; 9. Bill McDonald (Wm Alex) for 50 years Engr & Cond'r; 10. Tom Newell; 11. Wick Harrison; 12. Eddie Kelk; 13. Porky Campbell (Wm); 14. Charlie Brady says "I think that is me" Edick?

 

#8-21

[Hamilton & Dundas Street Railway]

 

#8-22

Dummy #4 with second type of cars

 

#8-23

Dec. 6, 1911

 

#8-24

Dec. 6, 1911

 

#8-25

The old Order changeth, 'tis true

But the Competition is keen.

Is this unfair competition at the

Half Way House?

Bus vs. Radials. Jim Grightmire started bus line

in Aug. 1923

 

#8-26

Ancaster

not a Canada Coach Line Bus

 

#8-27

Main St. W. Hamilton at West Hamilton

The Hamilton-Dundas Railway meets competition from

Jim Grightmire's Bluejay bus line,

Ham - Dund, 1922. Who's trying to put whom out of business

 

#8-28

1891

Just east of Sydenham Road Bridge

 

#8-29

1891

Just east of Sydenham Road Bridge

 

#8-30

1891

Just east of Sydenham Road Bridge

 

#8-31

 

#8-32

Master H.H. Pirie and his bicycle - the 1st "boneshaker" in Dundas

Niblett druggist had first

H. Pirie with the first "boneshaker" in Dundas

 

#8-33

Family Carriage of Hugh Moore

Dundas Grocer

1838-1882

 

#8-34

Archie Sturrock built this at Pt.Huron from Parts

& brought to Dundas

 

#8-35

Chas Spasking's Rambler. 1st car in Dundas. Sold 6-1905 to W.E.S. Knowles

 

#8-36

Entrance to Dundas Driving Park.

Dick Hyde, caretaker

 

#8-37

Dundas Fair at the Driving Park about 1898

[same as #5-14]

 

#8-38

Hindoo Koosh Picnic

1922

 

#8-39

 

#8-40

The log cabin is the "wigwam" formerly the property of

the Khan, moved here by Wm Lawson & G.C. Wilson

 

#8-41

 

#8-42

 

#8-43

 

#8-44

 

#8-45

 

#8-46

 

#8-47

Driving Park to Cemetery, Dundas

 

#8-48

 

#8-49

First movie theatre in Dundas. Memorial Square. 1909

Wonderland operated by Jack Sourbier. His son Herschel sang "illustrated songs"

Later this was brick veneered.

now John Forbes' Tinsmith Shop on west side of Memorial Square

The 1st movie in Dundas 1908-09

Sold to Thomas E. & Edward Paling

 

#8-50

Scarlet Fever Isolation Hospital. 1903.

Below the hill on the old Ancaster Road

Forsythe, Dundas (photographer)

Deaths: Tom McLaughlin; (Loveday) ---McLaughlin; ?Jim Visheau; Miss ____ Cochenour dau of Tom; ?Jack Wyckman lost 3 sisters did not die

1. Richard Hyde; 2. Mr. McLaughlin? caretaker; 3. Chief of Police Twiss; 4. Miss McLaughlin, dau of caretaker; 5. Nurse Hamilton (came here from Hamilton); 6. Wm Lawson, Mayor.