Special Meeting Marks City’s 225th Anniversary
Escorted by Town Crier Ed Christopher, Mayor Charles Gosling and his City Council attended their first meeting of 2020 on this, the 225th anniversary of the Corporation of Hamilton.
On January 8th, 1795, the freeholders of the then town of Hamilton came together and held the very first democratic elections.
Hosted by a newly refurbished Bermuda Historical Society Museum, today’s meeting was, as with all Council meetings, open to the public with a restricted session following the open session.
Former Mayors Lawson Mapp and Sutherland Madeiros, along with Museum President Andrew Bermingham and Vice-President John Cox, greeted the Corporation members as they arrved at the historic building in Queen Elizabeth Park. Several onlookers were welcome to observe and take a seat in the gallery as the Council and Executive, tended to the City’s business.
Hamilton Mayor Charles Gosling, delivered opening remarks that traced the history of Hamilton, most notably, the establishment of the Corporation, and expressed the Corporation’s achievements for more than two centuries and the vestiture of Corporation properties and assets in the Mayor and his Council as directed by the Act of 1793.
He said of today’s meeting, “A meeting inside these walls has long been discussed and I’m just so pleased that it is on such an auspicious occasion that we could make it happen.
“I’d like to thank my fellow councilors for your continued guidance and friendship, and I’d like to thank the management and staff at the City who make my job easier with their dedicated and exemplary service. Here’s to 2020 and to the Corporation of Hamilton, long may it continue!”
City Chief Operating Officer, Dwayne Caines, added, “The Corporation is facing some challenging times ahead, its future is uncertain and it’s important to celebrate the longevity of this organization and everything that it has accomplished over the last 225 years. Many hands have shaped Hamilton into the City it is today and we’ll be recognizing our achievements and our people throughout 2020.”
Historical Society Vice-President, John Cox, welcomed the Council and the gallery and gave a history of the Society and its quaint museum.
Bermuda Historical Society President, Andrew Bermingham, said, “The Bermuda Historical Society celebrates its 125th anniversary as the City celebrates it’s 225th anniversary. We thank the City for making this a hallmark day for us, it will go down in history, wherever the fates may lead us.”
“The Bermuda Historical Society Museum is open to the public, Monday through Friday, from 10:30am – 1:00pm. Admission is free.
The next event that forms part of the 225th anniversary celebrations is an ‘all things Hamilton’ art exhibition at the Bermuda Society of Arts, opening on Friday, January 17th at 5:00pm. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, January 15th at 4:00pm. Artists are asked to submit artwork that depicts the City of Hamilton in some shape or form, in any medium. For more information, visit the BSoA’s event page.
Mayor Charles Gosling said, “225 years ago, this very day, the first council of the Corporation of Hamilton was duly elected by the Freeholders of the new town in a democratically held election and then held its first meeting.
“This was the conclusion of an almost 10-year process of lobbying the Legislature, the Governor and the Crown to establish a second port for the ease and convenience of the inhabitants throughout the island.
“Whilst the wisdom of centralizing the commercial and government operations was recognized early on, it took many years to break through the status quo and achieve change. The driving force of Governor Henry Hamilton finally brought about that change and the naming of this town is Bermuda’s gratitude, recognizing his achievement.
“The concept of the town originally set its boundaries in the Crow Lane area and after one failed attempt by some private individuals, a commission was specially drawn up with the remit to identify the boundaries for the new town, establish the prices by which the various properties would be purchased, to subdivide the land into a grid formation with city blocks, wide streets and sidewalks also with certain pieces being set aside for possible future government buildings. The lots once established, would be auctioned off starting from the water’s edge and moving north over the years. The revenue from the auctions would pay off the original funding by the Legislature and the development of the town’s basic infrastructure.
“The incorporation of Hamilton in 1793 had 2 criteria for the town to come into actuality. First was the election by the freeholders of the Council, consisting of a Mayor, 3 Aldermen and 5 Common Councilors. Secondly was the indemnification of the public of Bermuda for all the obligations, financial or otherwise, arising from the actions undertaken in creating the town we now know as Hamilton.
“By 1797 Hamilton had reimbursed the government for the expenses of the Commissioners’ creation and development of the town, costs which included the purchase costs of the land, the purchase from government of the Custom’s House Warehouse and interest penalties on the above. From the very beginning the Corporation paid its own way.
“So not only did the Corporation purchase property from Government in these early days, Government likewise purchased land from the Corporation on which to build the Sessions House as well as what we now know as the Cabinet Building. There was no call back of past generosities, no claims on ownership, or legislation enforcing changes of ownership with claims of eminent domain.
“At the same time the Legislators quick purchase of Corporation land and those under private ownership, shows the acceptance of a centralized economy, trade and government. The move of the capital from St George’s to Hamilton in 1815 simply gave further credence to the town’s motto of “Sparsa Collegit” or “Hamilton Sparsa Collegit” meaning the gathering of the scattered or Hamilton’s gathering of the scattered. This simple universal concept has been the success of Hamilton from 1795 to 2020- one that today is being broken with the virtual removal of visiting cruise ships and the renewed threat of moving the container docks to the extremity of the island.
“Today we challenge ourselves with what is almost a mantra, “Hamilton, Bermuda at its best”. When the original framers of the 1793 Act Incorporating Hamilton, they challenged the future by entrusting in those sitting at this table with the following:
“all and singular the Lands, Lots of Land, Tenements and “Her read it taments”, within the limits of the said Town of Hamilton, with the rents, issues and profits of the same, shall be vested, and the same are hereby declared to be vested fully and absolutely in the said Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the said Town of Hamilton, and their Successors, and assigns forever, to be by them converted to the proper use, benefit and behoove of the said Town of Hamilton, and to no other use, intent or purpose whatever.”
“Ignoring the odd aberration, the Corporation has done well over these 225 years.
“I’d like to thank the Bermuda Historical Society for welcoming us here today. A meeting inside these walls has long been discussed and I’m just so pleased that it is on such an auspicious occasion that we could make it happen. I’d like to thank my fellow councilors for your continued guidance and friendship, and I’d like to thank the management and staff at the City who make my job easier with their dedicated and exemplary service.
“Here’s to 2020 and to the Corporation of Hamilton, long may it last!”
