In short, the T.B. McQueston bridge - built in the 1930s - has four pillars, each with an empty niche that was supposed to be filled with a statue. Politics and religion got in the way of deciding on the statues, and as a result the niches remain empty nearly 80 years later. I hope you enjoy visiting this little bit of Hamilton's history.
Cache is a bison tube. Please bring your own pen to sign the log, and re-hide the cache as you found it, or better.
I'd recommend picking this one up by parking at Princess Point (waypointed) and making a hike out of it. You can find 'Window to Paradise' (GC5W60R) and 'Cootes Paradise Fishway' (GC5W585). You'll need to climb up a whole bunch of steps to get there (see the picture gallery) so be prepared for a good workout! Terrain does not consider that hike....only the terrain at GZ.
You are looking for a large bison tube. Alternatively I have waymarked a pull-off area on the eastbound lanes of York. There are no-parking signs here, so caching with a partner is recommended.
If you are interested, here is the full article:
Forgotten Pillars of The Past - The Hamilton Spectator - January 15, 2015
Waiting two years for road work is one thing; how about seven decades to finish a bridge?
The 1930s-era Thomas B. McQuesten High Level Bridge has four empty niches where statues are supposed to preside over passing motorists.
McQuesten himself would be a safe bet to fill one of the niches, but suggesting other candidates will reopen a can of worms, figures Margaret Houghton.
"It always does," said the Hamilton historian and archivist at the public library.
As Ontario's highway minister, McQuesten oversaw the construction of the bridge, which spans the Desjardins Canal.
To fill the niches, the Hamilton politician proposed a local MP, former lieutenant-governor, a former defence minister and a late soldier.
However, as previously noted by Spectator columnists Paul Wilson and Jeff Mahoney, all four happened to be Presbyterian, which sparked outrage among other denominations.
And that ended that. Since then, other attempts to fill the city-owned bridge's niches have fizzled, Houghton noted.
The city has no plans to give it another go.
Coun. Aidan Johnson says he'd love to see statues in the empty bridge towers but only if enough money is available to do a decent job amid competing public art projects.
Hamiltonians also need to have a say as to what fills those voids, Johnson added.
"There has to be broad community consultation as to what art to put there."
Houghton doesn't seem to be holding her breath:
"I don't think anyone will ever agree on who should go into the niches."
