MADE-IN-HAMILTON

The Old Customs House, home of the Ontario Workers Arts and Heritage Centre (Photo-credit: OWAHC)

Canadian Westinghouse CO. Ltd., Winding Coils, CA 1949. Photo by Superior Engravers Ltd. Courtesy Special Collections, HPL

Car Assembly Line, Studebaker Plant - Hamilton 1957.
From the collection of Studebaker National Museum Archives.
Southbend, Indiana.

Made-in-Hamilton Heritage Project Moving Head

The Ontario Workers Arts and Heritage Centre (OWAHC) is a partner in this multi-faceted initiative committed to documenting and presenting Hamilton's industrial past. A major component is the Millenium Industrial Trail which will link various industrial sites throughout the Hamilton area. Working with staff at OWAHC, adult learners from the Workers Education Centre are contributing to its development by assisting in the research, editing and writing of guide books. Look for a full report of this "Reading The Museum" demonstration project in the next newsletter. For now, here is more information on the "Made-in-Hamilton" initiative.

What is the Made-in-Hamilton Heritage Project?

The idea for a "Made-in-Hamilton" industrial heritage exhibit was brought forward by Ed Thomas, a Hamilton worker, who has long been involved with the Ontario Workers Arts and Heritage Centre. Developing this theme has been of interest to various groups and individuals in Hamilton over the past decade. It evolved with the input of a Steering Committee into a project which has the potential to become vast in scope. Building a complete story of the area's industrial heritage will involve a number of related initiatives over time. Each step will have to be viable on its own and a logical tie-in to the broader Made-in-Hamilton Heritage Project.