Originally Published in Heritage Happenings, January 1998
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During the Fall, Miss Elizabeth Beeforth spent Wednesday afternoons reading and indexing a Waterdown Council Minute Book for the Archives. This acquisition revealed many interesting items on the social history of the village and some of these entries have been extracted as the next few Heritage Papers.

In 1911 the following served on Waterdown Council: J. F. Vance, Reeve, Councillors: J. J. Creen, James Simons, Jacob Metzger, Richard Smith.

Among the expenses discussed and paid for:

• In May Miss Smiley paid $25 for taking care of Mrs. Christian Davis for 25 days, and Miss Langton paid $2 for her care of Mrs. Christian for 2 days.
• In June a motion by Mr. Metzger, seconded by Mr. Creen to purchase a steel jail cell for 2 prisoners at a cost of $250 and a uniform for the Constable at a cost of $18.
• Mr. George Gilmer paid 75 cents for a new handle to the Fire Engine and Mr. E. J. Sawell & Son $70 for painting of the exterior of the Bellhouse as per contract.
• Mr. Fred Thomas paid $36.35 for repairs to the Mill Street bridge in July.
• The Bellringer to receive $12 for 2 months salary, the Constable, John Smiley to receive $25 for 3 months work and the Clerk-Treasurer, Mr. J. C. Medlar to receive $50 for 6 months work.
• During 1911 Mr. Edge was paid every month for fumigating houses in the village.
• The Public Library awarded a grant of $35 for 1911.
• In December William Attridge paid $2.25 for 9 loads of gravel.

Other Business dealt with by Council:

• At the last Council meeting in June tenders for sidewalks on both sides of Vinegar Hill called for.
  Mr. Fred Carson awarded the contract* at a price of twelve and a half cents per square foot in July. Sidewalk to be installed on the outside of the shade trees and to be completed by September 1st.
  *The total cost of the project is unclear, as from 11th September to the end of the year, Mr. Carson is paid varying amounts of $100-$400 per month by Council for cement walks.

• In August the Reeve and Clerk authorized to sign the plans that allowed for the closure of Leather and Hill Streets (both south of Dundas Street) for the South Ontario Pacific Railway.
• Council requests the South Ontario Pacific Railway Company that a passenger station be built within the village, as the one proposed on their plans is a mile from the village centre.

• On June 12, the third reading of By-Law #183 re; Electric Power for the Village of Waterdown was moved by J. J. Creen and seconded by Jas. Simons that an agreement signed with Hydro to have electric power in the village be signed by the Reeve and Clerk.
• At a special meeting of Council on October 10th, the official signing between the Village of Waterdown and The Hydro Electric Power Commission for Ontario took place.
• Later that month at another special meeting, Council met to discuss a By-Law for the issuing of Debentures for $5,000 to cover the cost of electric light and power.

© The Waterdown-East Flamborough Heritage Society 1998, 2023.