The Beginning of Roxborough Park

Hamilton, back in the 1920's, was beginning to recognize the significance of alternate modes of transportation to the car and boat. From the Skyway you could see the site of Hamilton's first airport. In 1928 the city purchased 201 acres of land for $197,000. It was leased to Canadian Airways Ltd. and four runways were constructed at a cost of $28,000. As opening day approached, the excitement grew. Firestone flew in their new executive plane, the first of its kind to land in Hamilton. Two of the Goodyear blimps arrived and hovered overhead (not an unfamiliar sight as Hamilton was in the path of the regular blimp run between Toronto and Akron). Premier G. Howard Ferguson was there to greet the crowd who greeted him back with the singing of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and three cheers and a tiger. He attempted to christen an airplane in the traditional manner with a bottle of champagne. After failing several times he finally succeeded in breaking the bottle over the nose of the aircraft, cutting his hand open at the same time. By the 1940's the airport was too small for the larger planes and there was nowhere for them to expand. The city had reached and surrounded the airport. The site was sold to the Hamilton Housing Authority and in 1948 they developed a scheme for housing for veterans on the site. This project became Canada's largest housing project ever, to that date and was officially named Roxborough Park in 1953.

Roxborough Park School officially opened on Wednesday, the tenth of June 1964. Below is a picture of the school when it first opened, the official invitation sent out by the Hamilton Board of Education, and the program from the opening.