Hello Ward 8 Neighbours,
Century Manor, the last remaining part of the original Hamilton Asylum, is becoming something of a tourist destination for urban exploring trespassers in this area of the province – creating a concern for advocates looking to preserve and protect the building.
For more details, please continue reading below…
The Hamilton Spectator has recently highlighted Andrew Cross, an “urban explorer” from another area of the province, who has recently made a clandestine visit into Century Manor and posted his video online.
Amongst many details, Cross mentioned that the ease of access to the 1880s era building, indicating that he jumped through a first-story window whose plywood was torn off.
Cross is not the only one, according to many local residents or visitors to nearby St. Joseph’s Healthcare campus. The Ward 8 office receives reports of trespassing or vandalism at the manor at least once a week.
It’s also frustrating for those who have banded together to help preserve and save the manor, whose heritage dates back to 1884. Many fear the mansion will be demolished over liability concerns, or accidentally in a fire.
Advocates are calling on the province to protect the crumbling manor before it’s too late. According to spokesperson Alanna Myles, Infrastructure Ontario already keeps windows boarded up and doors bolted shut,“Repairs are made to the Century Manor building as required to maintain and protect the facility,” she told the Spec.
In addition to advocates, other neighbours have seen carloads of people at the Manor on weekends and, as one neighbour told the Spec, someone has tried to burn through the plywood covering the windows, suggesting things have spiralled out of control.
“It has become a literal tourist attraction. I talked to someone who was trying to break in the other day who came in from Windsor.”
Leanne Pluthero to the Hamilton Spectator
Councillor John-Paul Danko told the Spec he began hearing more trespassing complaints at Century Manor after the Progressive Conservative government reneged on a deal to sell the brow property to Mohawk College — which had planned to restore the building — and later rezoned the land to allow residential development.
Myles, the Infrastructure Ontario spokesperson, told the Spec that the province is still studying “future potential uses” for the land and building, with the Spectator mentioning that Mohawk College said this week it is still interested in expanding onto the property.
Councillor Danko said he’d still like to see the original deal to save the manor go through, but for now he wants the province to increase security at the mansion, including adding cameras. Council approved his motion Wednesday to reach out to the provincial facility manager about those safety concerns.
“We want to avoid that worst-case scenario of a fire or other damage that would make demolition inevitable,” Danko told the Spec. Public safety is also a worry in a decaying building full of mould, asbestos and visibly peeling lead paint.
Questions or concerns?
If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact our office here.