Originally Published in Heritage Happenings, February 1998
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During the Fall, while being prepared for the Archives, the handwritten Waterdown Council Minute Book for 1911-21 was read and revealed many interesting items on the social history of the village. Some of these entries have been extracted as the next few Heritage Papers.

During 1912-1914, prior to the outbreak of W.W.I., the following served on Waterdown Council: Reeve: J. F. Vance, Councillors: J. J. Creen, Jacob Metzger, Fred Thomas, James J. Burns, D. Davies, Wm. Edge and J. H. Prudham.

Among the expenses discussed and paid for:

• The Printing Contract for the year 1912 set at $20, awarded to the Dundas Star on the condition that they get the advertising done in a Hamilton paper.
• Fred D. Morden paid $5.40 for the installation of electric lighting in the Council Chambers on 12 February.
• The Bell House and prison cells were reinsured for the period 1912-1914 for $6.50 each per annum on 11 March.
• Annual Licences for Mr. A. E. Alton and Mr. P. H. Metzger for Billiard Tables be set at $10 for the 1st table and $5 for each additional table. Closing time to be 10pm weekdays, 11:30 Saturdays.
• Ed Hughson, R. Zimmerman and J. Smiley were each paid .20cents an hour for snow shovelling in February.
• At 11 November meeting Mr. John Mitchell was paid $32 for supplying cement pipe, Mr. James E. Eager $7.83 for nails and Dr. J. O. McGregor $9.75 for medical attendance on smallpox patients.
• At 16 December meeting, a large number of accounts settled that included: $20 grant to the Agricultural Society, $5 for 6 months salary of Medical Officer of Health, $4 for postage and stationary, $2.40 to George Gilmer for repairs to the Fire Engine, $15 to J. J. Griffin for turning on and off the street lights and $9 to Peter McGregor, Police Magistrate for a book to record convictions, etc.

• Waterdown Public Library granted $75 for the year by Council at 10 March 1913 meeting.
• At the same meeting the Clerk instructed by Council members to place in the bank $25.33 found in the house of Mrs. Cooler on her being removed to the House of Refuge, to be held in trust for defraying her funeral expenses. F. W. Crooker paid $3.50, O. B. Griffin paid .39cents and James E. Eager paid $8.45 for clothing supplied to indigent.
• Council paid $5 to John Smiley for 25 visits delivering provisions to smallpox patients on 11 August.
• On 8 September, Councillors Davies and Metzger were requested to examine the claim of Miss A. James regarding an accident on a sidewalk and given power to settle the claim. A month later Council paid in full settlement of $12 for her injuries sustained from falling on the defective sidewalk.

• At the first meeting of Council on 12 January 1914, members asked to pay for four poles erected on the skating rink on Dr. McGregor’s property at a cost of $1 each. Later in the meeting, it was agreed to pay Mr. William A. Drummond for the work.
• Agreement by Council on 1 May that sidewalks be laid on John, Albert, Queen and Mill Streets during the year.

Among the appointments made:

• Dr. McClenahan appointed High School Trustee for the Waterdown Board of Education for the years 1912-13.
• Mr. John Daley appointed to the local Board of Health for 1912.
• Dr. Hopper named Medical Officer of Health for the village on 12 August 1912.
• Mr. John Nicholson appointed Trustee for the Waterdown Board of Education for the years 1913-1914.
• Mr. Philip Davidson appointed to replace Dr. McClenahan as High School Trustee on the Waterdown Board of Education 10 February 1913 following his move to Hamilton. Re-appointed in January 1914 for a term of 2 years.

Among the business items discussed and resolved:

• By-Law No. 189 to close a portion of Hill Street and By-Law No. 190 to re-direct a portion of Mill Street in the village by the Southern Ontario Pacific Railway on 12 February 1912.
• At 11 March meeting Council decided to object to the crossing by the railway company of the road allowance between Lots 5 & 6, Concession 3, East Flamborough Township as according to the plans submitted, the grade was too steep, being 1 in 6, and the view of the trains badly obstructed.
• On 10 May Dr. McClenahan empowered to employ a medical man to attend smallpox patients within the village of Waterdown if he deems assistance is necessary and a committee to be appointed to provide accommodation for any such Waterdown smallpox cases.
• Mr. John Vance given permission to have a gasoline tank and street outfit in front of his store on Dundas Street at 14 October meeting.
• At 14 October meeting first mention of opening a portion of the Townline between Waterdown and East Flamborough known as Hamilton Street.
• Council requested the Waterdown School Board at 16 December meeting to build a fence on their property on Mill Street, so the village’s interests would be sufficiently safeguarded.

• At 10 February 1913 meeting the C.P.R. granted permission to construct a drain across the road on Mill Street so as to empty on north side of track.
• The Waterdown Hydro System instructed by Council 10 March to install and furnish 5 lamps extra for the streets and charge the Light Corporation of Waterdown.
• At 14 April meeting, Councillor Edge who had missed three consecutive Council meeting without notice was removed from office.
• Prior to the Council meeting of 12 May, at the Board of Health meeting, the Medical Officer of Health was ordered to vaccinate all school children for smallpox who had not previously been vaccinated, on the alternative of staying home from school for two weeks because of a smallpox scare in the village.
• Council offered at their 12 May meeting to assume 40% of the total cost of building a new High School in the village should the Board of Education request a By-Law to construct one, but later in the year at 10 November meeting, they agreed to assume 50% of the cost up to $25,000.
• On October 13, a deputation of prominent citizens appeared before Council re: selling of cigarettes to minors and children out at night. The Constable was instructed to enforce the law to correct the situation.
• Clerk instructed to purchase 6 signs limiting the speed of automobiles in the village from the Ontario Motor League on 10 November.

• During the first meeting of Council on 27 January 1914, members voted to accept Mr. Thomas Dent’s offer that would allow the village to use the hollow on his property, corner of Mill and Union Streets as a Village Dump, providing the Village pay for and install the necessary tile to take care of the stream.
• On 27 January, a special session of Council was held to consider the feasibility of a radial electric railway which would connect Hamilton to Georgian Bay via Waterdown, Guelph, Elora, Arthur and the Beaver Valley. Councillors Edge and R. Smith moved and seconded that the Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario be requested on behalf of the Municipal Council of the village of Waterdown to enquire into, examine, investigate and report upon the costs of constructing and operating such a project.
• At the 9 February meeting the Clerk reported on a communication received regarding votes for married women.

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