History of Springer Market Square
The following notes about the history of the area now known as Springer Market Square were provided by the Cataraqui Archaeological Research Foundation (CARF), which is conducting an archeological excavation of the site prior to reclamation of the square. CARF can be found online at: www.carf.info.
ARCHEOLOGY
Archeological investigation must precede construction work on sites that have the potential to contain significant information about our past. Kingston's City Hall is a National Historic Site and the Market has existed on this site for over 200 years. Archeological testing in 2002 and 2003 uncovered portions of the early 1800s to 1840s Market surface and evidence of the merchants wares, stone foundations of the 1840s Market wing, massive stone steps leading to its lower level, limestone drains, the weigh house, and water pipes for the horse fountain. It is expected that more of the Market wing walls and stone steps will be identified and recorded. Evidence of the fire and its destruction is also expected along with more of the Market surface.
ABORIGINAL & FRENCH
There was incidental occupation of the waterfront, including the Market Square area, by aboriginal people, but we have no discrete evidence. The first structures situated in the Market Square vicinity date from the French occupation of the area. Military earthworks associated with Fort Frontenac extended east to west across the centre of the square during the period of the Seven Years War 1756-63. These simple outworks were obliterated during the early years of Loyalist settlement and no remains are expected to come to light.
LOYALISTS TO THE WAR OF 1812
The Market Square was laid out as part of the original town plan in 1784 and the first Market regulations published in 1811. It was the focal point for the local trade in foodstuffs and fuel, all the consumables that supported day to day life in early Kingston. It was also where the town sentinel was posted and a small picket barracks was situated approximately under the south wing of the current City Hall. It was a small 'T'-shaped building constructed of wood approximately 35' x 22'. Associated with the picket barracks was a small outbuilding situated where the west wing of City Hall now stands. These small military buildings existed from the War of 1812 to 1831 when they were auctioned off to the public and dismantled. It is unlikely that any remnants of the Guard House will be discovered during excavation.
FIRST HALF OF THE 19th CENTURY
During the first half of the 19th century, a series of temporary wooden market houses called shambles were erected for the benefit of market vendors. The shambles were extremely flimsy and either burnt or collapsed under their own weight. Antiquarian Edwin Horsey described the market of 1820 ... "The Market Square was not then of much account ... in the centre was the main guard house, outside of which the bands of the regiments played . . . the shambles of frame had been erected for the third time...." Some evidence of these buildings may be found.
As early as 1834 the District Magistrates envisioned a combined Market House and Town Hall. As much as we today associate the Market Square with City Hall, it must be remembered that this use was an innovation; the Market Square was not originally intended as the site for a City Hall.
FIRST CAPITAL PERIOD & BEYOND
In 1840 a catastrophic fire destroyed much of the downtown and the nondescript shambles had to be replaced yet again. At this point plans for a grandiose City Hall and a Market shambles were adopted and by 1844 today's building was completed. As originally constructed, the west wing, or Market wing of the building extended all the way to King Street.
In 1865 yet another fire ravaged Market Square and destroyed the whole of the west wing. It was rebuilt in the abbreviated form that we see today. Structural evidence of this original wing is still to be discovered.
