History Galt, Ontario

old post office in galt (cambridge) built in 1886, renovated in 2016. (2010 photo)

in late 1700s, developers began buy land around grand river 6 nations indians led joseph brant. 1 speculator, william dickson, wealthy immigrant scotland, bought 90,000 acres (360 km) of land along grand river in 1816; later become galt , dumfries townships. dickson divided land , advertised in scotland immigrants; many attracted , arrived in galt, roxboroughshire , selkirkshire. dickson sold lots these new settlers. centre of planned community @ junction of mill creek , grand river, called shade s mills.

absalom shade, carpenter pennsylvania hired in 1816 william dickson manage lands in dumfries township. later operated general store, mill , distillery in shade s mills, later became galt. in 1819, built small bridge on grand river serve customers on other side; lasted until 1932. shade supplied food , built roads canada company. helped establish grand river navigation company transport goods along river , gore bank in hamilton. shade helped develop railroads in area , among built galt s trinity anglican church in 1844. new streetcar system, galt, preston , hespeler electric railway, (later called grand river railway company) begin operation in 1894, connecting preston , galt. in 1911, line reached hespeler, berlin (later called kitchener) , waterloo; 1916 had been extended brantford/port dover. electric rail system ended passenger services in april, 1955.

dickson decided name post office galt, in honour of john galt of canada company developing entire area. agricultural in years, galt had attracted industry 1840 , became largest town in grand river area until 1900s. galt incorporated village in 1850, town in 1857 , city in 1915. throughout entire period, continued grow based on large industrial base.

the canadian gazetter of 1846 discussed community s water power essential power local industries making area prosperous. @ time population 1000, scotland. there 5 churches, weekly newspaper, fire department, public library, bank , curling club. post office received mail every day. industries in operation included 2 grist mills (each containing 4 run of stones), 2 saw mills, 2 foundries, 2 carding machines , cloth factories, 1 brewery, 2 distilleries, 1 tannery... foundry had opened on grand avenue, dumfries foundry later become goldie & mcculloch, major manufacturer of safes, wood working machinery , engines powered steam or gasoline. continue major operation under several other owners until 2000.

the largest of schools in community, galt grammar school, opened in 1852 william tassie headmaster starting in 1853 @ site of later became galt collegiate. school gained widespread recognition , attracted students across north america. 1872, had been recognized collegiate institute.

galt incorporated town on january 1, 1857, morris c. lutz elected first mayor. 1858, town hall , market house had been built italianate , particularly tuscan, influence. in later years, town hall became city hall , extensively modified. galt incorporated city in 1915.

the population in 1869 4000 , community said 1 of principal manufacturing locations in ontario. railway reached galt in 1879, increasing opportunities of exporting local goods , importing others. in 1889, former dickson mill on grand river converted hydro electric plant operated until july 1911 when power grid niagara falls reached community.

an interurban streetcar connected galt hespeler , nearby preston.

not long after galt had become part of cambridge, in may 1974, flooding on grand river filled city streets water depth of 4 feet. in areas of downtown core, depth 17.4 feet, smashing windows , carrying goods along streets. approximately 75 businesses affected, virtually none covered relevant insurance. flood caused estimated $5 million in damage.