King_William_Street_(Hamilton,_Ontario)

King William Street (Hamilton, Ontario)

King William Street is a Lower City collector road in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It starts off at the western-end at James Street North and is a one-way street (Eastbound) until Mary Street, where it becomes a two-way street that ends at Wentworth Street North.

History

In 1922, CKOC radio station (1150 on the AM dial) started up. As of April 2007, it is the oldest radio station in English Canada; second oldest overall. On the air since May 1, 1922. Originally ran as Top-40 format, today it's an "Oldies" radio station. In 1927, CHML, (900 on the AM dial), began operations as a response to censorship of political discussions by Hamilton's first radio station, CKOC. The original owners were Maple Leaf Radio Company, and the "HML" in the callsign stood for "Hamilton Maple Leaf". CHML's broadcast station is on Main Street West in the Lower City. Originally, CKOC's broadcasted from the corner of King William and John Streets and was an offshoot of the Wentworth Radio and Supply Company owned by Herb Slack. He figured he could sell more radios if he also owned a radio station and in the spring of 1922 the station became only the third radio station in all of Canada. Other broadcast locations over the years for CKOC include, the 11th floor of the Royal Connaught Hotel in the downtown core, the Lister Block building on James & King Williams Streets and a studio on Garfield Avenue near King & Sherman Avenue North. Today the radio station is based on the Mountain on Upper Wentworth Street, just North of Limeridge Mall.

Landmarks

Note: Listing of Landmarks from West to East.

Hamilton City Centre (Mall, formerly the Eaton's Centre)
Lloyd D. Jackson Square (Mall)
Lister Block Building
Fever Night Club
Downtown Bingo Hall (back-end)
Hamilton Central Fire Department (just north of King William Street on John Street North)
Seventy-Seven Night Club
The Underground, Steel City Music Venue
Children's International Learning Centre
Theatre Aquarius, Dofasco Centre for the Performing Arts, downtown
Hamilton Regional Police station
Tweedsmuir Elementary School (demolished in 2006)
Budget Motor Inn (motel)