Originally Published in Heritage Happenings, April 1998
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The fourth Heritage Paper based on the handwritten Waterdown Council Minute Book looks at life in the village from Summer 1916 to the end of World War 1.

Members of Council during this time were Reeves: Mr. J. F. Vance and D. Davies, Councillors: Messrs F. W. Crooker, D. Davies, Richard Smith, Jas. W. Gilliland, Geo. Dougherty, L. M. Stock, J. C. Langford and Jas. V. Markle.

• At the August 1916 meeting Council voted the sum of $20 to the Waterdown-East Flamboro’ Agricultural Society on condition that the village have the free use of their grounds for manly sports.
• During meetings in September, Council agreed to repairs on Mill Street South with stone to be laid at Robertson’s Hill, under the C.P.R. track bridge. Mr. Thomas Allison, County Roads Superintendent to be employed to make the necessary repairs to the Mill Street hill at a cost not to exceed $200 to Waterdown.
• In October, Slater and Copps submitted an account to Council for $57.03 for repairs to the Mill Street Bridge. No further accounts for the road repairs were entered into Council Minutes.
• In December Mr. C. P. McGregor addressed Council thanking the members and the village for their kindness in working so hard to save his property from destruction during the recent fire on the premises.
• The Waterdown Poultry Association was voted a grant of $50 for their Winter Fair, paid to Wm. H. Reid, Secretary-Treasurer.

• The new Waterdown Council at their 8 January 1917 meeting appointed Mr. John Mitchell as Trustee of the Waterdown High School for the years 1917 and 1918.
• Councillors agreed to the purchase of a second 40 gallon wheeled chemical Fire Engine at a cost of $270 from the Johns Manville Co. Limited, and also two dozen galvanized water pails for the Fire Department.
• In February Council authorized the Waterdown Hydro Electric Commission to enter into an agreement with the Toronto-Hamilton Hydro Commision for the supply of power for the lighting of four signs on the Toronto-Hamilton Highway.
• Among the accounts Council paid in February was one for 98 cents from T. W. Bleakley for the freight charges when the Fire Engine was delivered from Toronto.
• Difficulties between Mrs. Cook and Mr. Fred Carson re: the water course or drain through her property on Main Street came before Council in March. Councillors Dougherty, Davies and Smith were appointed to be a Committee by the Reeve to view the premises and se if some amicable settlement could be reached.
• In June a wide variety of health matters and problems came before Council. The Secretary was instructed to notify the owner of the King property (Vinegar Hill) that the premises were to be put in a condition agreeable to the local Board of Health. The Sanitary Inspector and the Medical Health Officer were requested to ascertain what kind of water was being carried down the drain alongside Mr. Eager’s store and the owners and operators of the Waterdown Evaporator to be notified to discontinue their dumping refuse over the bank of the creek and be given two weeks in which to remove the refuse that was already there, all to the satisfaction of the Board of Health. The Medical Health Officer and Sanitary Inspector was also ordered to investigate a complaint laid by Mr. Ferdinand Slater about a stable on the premises of Mr. Richard Attridge.
• Mrs. Annie M. Slater, Secretary-Treasurer of the Women’s Patriotic League was reimbursed for the cost of two wrist watches sent to Miss Ethel Ryckman and Miss Muriel McGregor who were both overseas nursing.
• At the July Council Meeting, health matters still appeared to be a serious concern. Mr. Frank King was requested to have his house on George Street fumigated within two weeks, and Mrs. Cook was given the same amount of time to build a cesspool for her premises on Dundas Street.
• In August Council voted to accept the tender submitted by John Mitchell for the laying of approximately 5,000 square feet of cement sidewalks in the village during 1917 at 18 cents per square foot. Councillors Davies, Smith and Dougherty to superintend the laying of the walks.
• A request from the Military Service Branch was received by Council in October asking for free accommodation for the Exemption Tribunal during its session in Waterdown. The Village Hall was offered to the military for the time they required.
• Mr. John Mitchell’s first bill of $625 for the laying of cement walks was received and paid in October and a further bill of $410.42 paid in November.
• Payment of taxes was discussed at the December council meeting and members agreed to an extension from 14 December to 31 December without exacting the penalty of 5%.
• At a special session of Council on December 19th, Reeve J. F. Vance tendered his resignation as Reeve of Waterdown citing matters relating to County business.

• At the first meeting of the new Council in January 1918, Stewart Gallagher appointed Trustee of the Waterdown High School for 1918 and 1919, Councillors Dougherty and Langford to be the Committee for roads, culverts and bridges and the Women’s Patriotic League continue to receive $15 per month for their work in connection with the war.
• Among the accounts paid in January was one submitted by Mr. William Attridge, Secretary-Treasurer of the High School for $700 required for the maintenance of the building.
• In February Council resolved to award the printing contract and advertising to Mr. Harold Green for 1918 at a cost of $50.
• In March, the first hint of possible future development in East Flamborough mentioned at the Council Meeting with a plan of Survey for Plains Road approved.
• Among the items raised at the June Council meeting was the donation of $50 to the Women’s Patriotic League Garden Party to be held on July 17th at Dr. McGregor’s residence.
• Shortages due to the war effort were raised at the September meeting. The Reeve and Secretary were appointed to look into the fuel situation in the village for the winter season 1918-1919.
• A letter from the Fuel Administrator was read to Councillors at the start of the October meeting stating that an effort would be made to have a speedy shipment of coal to the village.
• At the end of the evening, the date for the November Council meeting was set for Monday, November 11th, but probably because of the historic occasion, it was postponed until the next day when the Councillors voted to invest $1500 in Victory Bonds.

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