Galt/Cambridge can boast of one of the longest running markets

‘Shade’s Mills’ market still going after 200 years

Many Ontario communities claim the oldest continuously operating farmers’ market. It’s an unprovable assertion.

Most markets sprang up organically in the early days of Upper Canada’s villages and towns, so exact dates were never noted. Markets began informally, when area farmers started randomly bringing produce to a community, perhaps even going door-to-door.

Either by coming to an agreement among themselves or at the request of residents, it was then decided that, on certain days at a certain place, open-air sales would take place … much better for seller and consumer.

Soon village heads decided that more formalized market set-ups were preferred. First, a permanent open-air location with a few rules, then a shelter and, if growth warranted, a sturdy building … and more rules.

That leads us to Galt Farmers’ Market, one of the longest running markets in southwestern Ontario and a credible claimant to “oldest.”

It is now called Cambridge Farmers’ Market, but let’s stick with the historical name the community bore from c1825 to 1973.

For 10 years before that, the tiny settlement was called Shade’s Mills and undoubtedly had informal markets in those historically hazier days. Town founder William Dickson Sr. originally hoped to shift the growing community’s centre, including its market, to the west side of the Grand River, on the site of modern-day Queen’s Square.

A map he prepared in 1836 shows the phrase Market Place on that spot. Alas, there was too much resistance to abandoning the community’s growing business section on the east shore.

Author Jim Quantrell in his book “A Part of Our Past” notes that there must have already been an east side market site for such strong opposition to a new setting across the river.

There is much speculation as to the exact original location, but best guess points to an open-air market right at the site of today’s market building.

In 1856, Galt’s early stone school building (erected in 1849 on Dickson Street), became the vegetable and poultry market once Central school was built.

Just two years later, when Galt’s first civic hall was opened (still standing at 46 Dickson St.), its full name was Town Hall and Market House, because butchers and meat sellers were given the ground floor.

From 1858 until the mid-1880s, there were two markets: one in the old school structure and, close by, one in the town hall. Then, in 1887, a one-storey market building at Ainslie and Dickson streets welcomed the veggie/poultry vendors, but the meat people remained at city hall.

Within 10 years, that was remedied with a large two-storey addition to the 1887 building. All was in one place finally … as it is today.

Bylaws regulated market operations. One decreed that the market could open any day except Sunday and farm products could be sold nowhere else in the town.

Galt’s market clerk wielded authority over the official scales, over public conduct at market, over food quality and over health rules.

In the 20th century, Galt city council designated Wednesdays and Saturdays as special market days, replacing the every-day-except-Sunday schedule. This assured market-goers that more than just a few vendors would set up.

For many decades, Galt’s retail grocers had purchased most of their store stock at the market, but that ended when improved transportation and refrigeration meant that national grocery distributors supplied the shops.

Market popularity also suffered with the emergence of supermarkets. As happened with most citybased farmers’ markets, customers abandoned Galt Farmers’ Market.

Cities and towns with markets have used innovative ideas to keep their historic markets operating, featuring craftspeople, nonfood vendors, entertainers, cooking lessons, etc. to help attract visitors.

In 2024, good Saturday crowds help Galt Farmers’ Market keep alive its almost 200-year tradition … albeit since 1973 under the name Cambridge Farmers’ Market. That begs the question: Why do the other two components of Cambridge, Preston and Hespeler, maintain small modern markets under their original names?

RYCH MILLS COLLECTION PHOTO A big parade has either just finished or is ready to start. A.J. Allan’s decorated horse-drawn bus is in front of the market. The postmark says April 1907: so the scene is likely 1906 … but what holiday?

RYCH MILLS COLLECTION PHOTO A late 1940s-early ’50s view shows several of the same farmers’ vehicles as in the 1947 view. Standing guard over the market is Wesley United Church, which opened in 1879. For many years, Galt’s bands used the market building for their practice sessions.

RYCH MILLS COLLECTION PHOTO Less than 10 years after the two-storey addition opened, Stedman Brothers of Brantford issued this Galt postcard. It shows how well the 1896 two-storey addition fit with the smaller 1887 building to the right.

CITY OF CAMBRIDGE ARCHIVES PHOTO Horses had disappeared by the time of this 1947 market scene. Many farmers and customers fill the outside market: the interior would have been packed also.

AL FINDLAY PHOTO/RYCH MILLS COLLECTION Cambridge historian Al Findlay documented his community in hundreds of photographs throughout the 1960s to 2000s. This uncommon view shows the market entrance facing Dickson Street.