Memories of Galt, Hespeler, Preston & Cambridge Ontario
Explore the site of a lost village, a historic county jail, and a factory converted into a gleaming event hall, as part of Waterloo Region’s annual Doors Open on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Admission is free from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to 27 buildings and locations across the cities of Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo, … Read more
This year, Cambridge, Ontario, residents remembered the last big Grand River flood on May 17, 1974, with a 50th anniversary event at Cambridge Firehall Museum and Education Centre. It caused millions of dollars of damage in downtown Galt 50 years ago, but it isn’t the only flood anniversary this year. October 15 and 16, 2024, … Read more
After going missing in early June, 2024, the historic plaque in Victoria Park in Cambridge is back where it should be. Cambridge Today reports that the historic bronze plaque was found nearby, and reinstalled by city crews this week. It’s located along Blenheim Road, opposite Mount View Cemetery. Other plaques that went missing simultaneously still … Read more
The last big flood of the Grand River through Cambridge happened May 17, 1974, leaving behind $6.7 million in damages. That’s $42.5 million in 2024 dollar value, according to the Bank of Canada inflation calculator. Nobody died, but several people were rescued from the surging waters by firefighters, police and bystanders. One man was pulled from … Read more
One of my favorite pine trees was brought down overnight in Cambridge Ontario in Mount View Cemetery. Winds of upwards of 80 kilometers an hour blew through my West Galt neighborhood and took down this grand old pine tree in Mount View Cemetery The cemetery opened in 1869 and is home to dozens and dozens … Read more
What do you remember about the Cambridge Reporter? The newspaper closed Sept. 19, 2023, after 157 years of serving Galt, Preston, Hespeler and Blair, which were amalgamated into the City of Cambridge in 1973. At the time, it was believed to be the oldest newspaper operating in Canada, but I’m still trying to confirm that … Read more
UPDATE JULY 2024: Repairs to the historic Dickson Park Grandstand are complete in Cambridge. It looks like the reconstruction of the Dickson Park grandstand will be done by winter 2023. Work involves a top-to-bottom restoration of the 104-year-old historically designated structure. Work started in late July 2023 on the nearly $1.3 million project, funded by … Read more