Dundas in Hamilton, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Boundary Stone of Richard Hatt c.1804

Marked Property of Early Industrialist and Namesake of Hatt Street

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 15, 2024

1. Boundary Stone of Richard Hatt c.1804 Marker

Inscription. Richard Hatt was an ambitious English businessman who came to Dundas in 1801. The large milling complex he built at the junction of Governor's Road and Spencer Creek, known as the Dundas Mills, transformed the quiet valley into an industrial centre and gave the Town its present name.

Stones like this once marked the boundaries of Hatt's enormous property in Dundas. They bear his initials, alongside an identifying number. This stone was originally placed on what is now the east side of Highway 8 just south of Bullocks Corners. This was the extreme northwest corner of Hatt's land. In October of 1974 the stone mysteriously disappeared while the Dept of Highways was doing roadwork in the area. After much local outcry it was anonymously deposited on the front lawn of the Dundas Museum & Archives in the early hours of the morning. It was then officially donated to the Museum by the Town and has resided here ever since.

Erected by Dundas Museum and Archives.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1804.

Location. 43° 16.087′ N, 79° 57.544′ W. Marker is in Hamilton, Ontario. It is in Dundas. It is at the

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intersection of Albert Street and Park Street West, on the left when traveling north on Albert Street. The marker is on the grounds of the Dundas Museum and Archives. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hamilton ON L9H 1X8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe,

in the Hamilton-Halton-Brant Area,

and specifically in the Toronto Metropolitan Area.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Punching and Shearing Machine c.1904 (a few steps from this marker); Stone Carriage Step c. 1860 (a few steps from this marker); Dundas Doctor's Office c.1848 (a few steps from this marker); Bertram Steam Hammer c. 1939 (within shouting distance of this marker); Gwyn Memorial Sundial 1927 (within shouting distance of this marker); Dundas Cenotaph (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); 102nd Wentworth Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); The 25-Pounder Gun/Howitzer (approx. 0.6 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hamilton.

Also see . . . Dictionary of Canadian Biography - Hatt, Richard.

In 1800 he purchased land for a flour-mill on the nearby Spencer Creek, three miles above its inlet to Coote’s Paradise. Here he established a milling complex, known as the Dundas Mills, that soon became the dominant enterprise at the Head of the Lake. By his death it included a distillery, a potashery, a general store, two sawmills, a coopery, a blacksmith shop, several farms, and numerous houses, storehouses, and other buildings.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 15, 2024

2. Boundary Stone of Richard Hatt c.1804 Marker

(Submitted on May 15, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Boundary Stone of Richard Hatt image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 15, 2024

3. Boundary Stone of Richard Hatt

Credits. This page was last revised on May 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 263 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 15, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.