Table Of ContentCALEDONIA
Along the Grand River
The scenic park at the Caledonia dam is lined with fishermen during the spring
season. The summer months bring tourists and residents to this popular site
along the Grand River.
CALEDONIA
Along the Grand River
BARBARA MARTINDALE
NATURAL HERITAGE / NATURAL HISTORY INC,
Caledonia: Along the Grand River
by Barbara Martindale
Published by Natural Heritage / Natural History Inc.
P.O. Box 95, Station "O", Toronto, Ontario M4A 2M8
Copyright © 1995 Barbara Martindale
No portion of this book, with the exception of brief extracts for the purpose
of literary review, may be reproduced in any form without the permission
of the publisher.
Design and typesetting: Robin Brass Studio
Printed and bound in Canada by Hignell Printing Limited,
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data
Martindale, Barbara
Caledonia : along the Grand River
ISBN 0-920474-81-0
i. Caledonia (Haldimand, Ont.) - History.
I. Title
FC3099.C34M37 1994 97i-3'36 094-93-437-9
FI059.5.C34M37 1994
FRONT COVER: Bowling Green at Edinburgh Square Heritage
and Cultural Centre. (Courtesy Jean McClung)
BACK COVER: Raft Race on the Grand River. (Courtesy Jean McClung)
Natural Heritage / Natural History Inc. gratefully acknowledges the assistance
of the Canada Council, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Government of
Ontario through the Ministry of Citizenship, Tourism and Recreation.
To the historians of Caledonia ~
Mary Nelles
Earl Gillespie
Harrison Martindale
la 1940 street scene looking north from the bridge
Contents
PROLOGUE 9
INTRODUCTION 13
WHEN IT ALL BEGAN 15
From the Haldimand Grant to the Grand River
Navigation Company 15
There's More to the Legend: Captain John Norton 17
BY RIVER AND RAIL 23
Navigation on the Grand River 23
Transportation on the Rails 26
CALEDONIA FAIR 32
THE INCURABLE OPTIMIST 35
The McKinnon Lifestyle 37
James Little 39
William Moore 42
WELL LOVED AND REMEMBERED 43
The Good Old Days of the Opera House 43
A "Lovable" Constable 45
The MacGregor Concert Bureau 46
O.T. Scott 49
A Real Sweetheart: Eva Marlene Heddle 51
The Rt. Honourable Arthur Meighen (1874-1960) 52
Pauline Johnson: Famous Canadian Poet 53
Peter Robertson, Inventor of the Robertson Screwnail 57
An Area Knight: Sir Byron Edmund Walker 58
William Doyle 60
Bruce E. French 60
Mrs. Fleming's "English Pink Ointment" 61
He Walked Alone 63
The Six Nations Artist 64
LANDMARKS 67
Edinburgh Square 67
The Old Town Hall 69
The Landmark - The Caledonia Bridge 73
Former Bridges 75
The Bridge Without A Reason 77
The Old Mill 78
Built To Take Tolls 79
THE OLDEST SURVIVING BUSINESS: CALEDONIA'S
NEWSPAPER 81
FOUNDRIES AND FACTORIES 84
Caledonia's Gypsum History 85
THERE WAS ONCE A CONCERT BAND 89
LETTERS FROM WORLD WAR i 91
MORE STORIES OF TOWN LIFE 95
The Bakery — Caledonia's Oldest Family Business 95
Caledonia's Women's Institute 97
A Husband's View of the Women's Institute 98
Dentistry of Another Era 99
Thousands Are Called Home in 1927 99
An Anniversary Broadcast 101
Hockey Popularity 103
Baseball 105
The Day The Ice Goes Out 106
BIG CREEK BOAT FARM ; 108
CALEDONIA SCENES 110
MEMORIES 112
by O.T. Scott, 1956
NOTES AND PICTURE CREDITS 115
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS & INFORMATION 119
SOURCES 120
INDEX 121
Prologue
Caledonia's settlement isn't too different from other small towns along
the Grand River, now designated as a Canadian Heritage River. The
area along the Grand River banks was ripe for settlement during the
early iSoo's, when river transportation played a major role in the pio-
neering of this country. Ultimately canal building in the 183.0*8 had an
effect on where settlements would spring up. Caledonia's development
is a result.
Of course, there is much more to the story when we learn of two early
villages, one to the east and the other to the west. Who were the movers
and shakers to pull those two villages into what would be Caledonia?
In this era, some 150 years later, Caledonia and area people are becom-
ing increasingly proud of their heritage. The history of landmarks, build-
ings, businesses and forefathers is important to them. Whether they are
new to the community, longtime residents or visitors who are interested
in features, symbols, ancestors or progress, the meaning behind what
once was is significant. It gives us all a certain perspective.
For this reason, Caledonia: Along the Grand River has been written.
There are at least another ten volumes to the Caledonia and area story,
but one has to begin and end somewhere in one publication.
The simple, story-like style was intentional. For most people it will
provide enough information to know a bit about the area's history in
which they either live or have an interest. For the historian who wants
more detail, it will whet their appetite to search further.
There are many, many people who have provided information for this
book. Each and everyone will know who they are, and the contribution
they made whether it was filling in a detail, lending a valued photograph
or presenting information about a family member never told nor pub-
lished before. Thank you.
9
Description:Caledonia, just south of Hamilton, has a history closely tied to the heritage of the Grand River. From the Grand River Navigation Company of the 1830s to the current nine-span bridge in the centre of town, the river and the community have shared a special relationship. Intriguing entrepreneurs, town
