Seven meetings that decided Waterloo County
Despite some controversy, a council meeting was held by 1853
The Battle in Waterloo County, Part Three. Flash from the Past left the county confusion off last week in 1850, as the Reform government failed with legislation to make Galt the seat of a large southern county.
In late 1851, Premier Sir Francis Hincks introduced another bill, permitting a new Waterloo County to separate from the large and cumbersome United County of Waterloo, Wellington and Grey. The new county would be a confederation: five townships (North Dumfries, Waterloo, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich) with two substantial villages (Galt and Preston) — but it could only exist on paper until a courthouse and jail were erected within the county seat.
Was that seat to be Galt at the county’s southern end? Maybe northerly Crosshill? Perhaps Berlin which had recently been named Waterloo Township seat over Preston, winning primarily because of its central setting? That location factor was equally crucial in the county battle. Hincks’ government appointed a provisional County of Waterloo council composed of the 10 reeves and deputy reeves of the five townships plus the two village reeves. Those 12 men would determine the county seat.
Seven often-fractious meetings of the provisional council took place in Berlin between May 3 and July 24 and decided the future of Waterloo County. While it is engrossing to follow the arguments and invective at each of these meetings there isn’t space to do so here. Again, I refer readers to Geoffrey Hayes’ “Waterloo County: An Illustrated History.” Here is a quick summary from that chapter.
Meeting one was May 3, 1852. Wilmot Township proposed and got Dr. John Scott, reeve of Waterloo Township, elected provisional county warden. Scott’s inaugural speech urged Berlin as county seat. Two factions were obvious from the beginning: Absalom Shade of Galt, Jacob Hespeler of Preston, Charles McGeorge and Duncan Ferguson of North Dumthe fries Township composed the main anti-Berlin, pro-Galt block; Woolwich, Wellesley and Waterloo Townships were firmly in the pro-Berlin corner; while Wilmot was wobbly. Council authorized Scott to advertise for a courthouse and jail site.
Meeting two (May 18) saw tavern-keeper Frederick Gaukel offer to donate two-and-a-half acres along Weber Street in Berlin for county buildings. Council accepted, while defeating a delaying tactic by Shade. Thus, Berlin became the prospective county seat.
Meeting three (May 31) featured Shade trying another tactic, presenting a report about the county’s heavy debt and urging that no assessment be made for the buildings. Once more, council defeated him and went on to consider four sets of courthouse plans that had been submitted.
Shade and three others again opposed, but lost 7 to 4. One plan was approved and construction tenders were called.
Meeting four (June 14) saw Shade’s group present several petitions including one from Wilmot Township residents urging delay. On a motion by Wellesley Township reeve Gabriel Hawke, the petitions were tabled — in effect, ignored. Council went on to approve the tender of Mellish and Russell of Brantford with Shade, McGeorge and Hespeler balking.
Meeting five (June 21) was held with the four dissidents absent. A bylaw finalized the courthouse and jail debentures.
Meeting six (June 28) featured a parade and ceremony. Cannon fire and a thunderstorm combined to provide background as several groups marched to Weber Street where ground was broken, the courthouse cornerstone laid and speeches made.
Meeting seven (July 24) was a last gasp by Shade’s quartet who was furious about the way their earlier petitions had been shelved. By a vote of 6 to 4, their motion was denied.
Through the fall of 1852, loose ends were tidied up. In early December, with all its obligations met, provisional council sent a delegation to Quebec City. Members informed the Legislative Assembly that Berlin, complete with courthouse and jail, was the seat of a new confederation of townships and communities to be known henceforth as the County of Waterloo.
On January 24, 1853, the modern courthouse welcomed the first meeting of Waterloo County’s official council. This “confederation” continued for 120 years.