Grand & Toy, stationers, opened their first Hamilton outlet in 1956. They shut their stores in the suburbs eight years ago, and now downtown will fall too. Meanwhile, at the other end of Jackson Square, Roots is still in business even though it too left the suburbs of Hamilton behind.

Three years ago they tore down the Thomas Building, beside the Lister Block on James North. The facade is now in a thousand pieces, but will rise again. Why can't that method work for the buildings under threat on Gore Park?

Clobbered Cranberry mustard, a fridge magnet with your now-demolished school on it, city maps from a century ago find everything Hamilton at a new shop on James Street North.

The Big Top, at the corner of Main and Sherman for more than 60 years, just finished some renovations. The owners made the most amazing discovery.

Grove Hall, still beautiful and used every day, has provided recreation on the grounds of the old Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital for more than 80 years. Soon it will be torn down.

The restaurant across from the Barton Street Hilton has been known as the Crowbar ever since the jail was built. There have been many proprietors along the way, and Maria is the latest. She takes no guff, but can show kindness to the men in jailhouse orange.

Mori and Ray always bet $100 on the Grey Cup. Somebody had to lose, but they didn't have to cough up gracefully. How about a Brink's truck full of pennies? A toilet full of concrete? The winnings stashed in a mess of smelly sardines?