Material Progress begets new ideas—Public Meeting—Formation of Galt Subscription and Circulating Library in 1836—Full list of its members —Sweet and sad Recollections of bygone days—A valuable institution —Curling on Altrieve Lake with Maple Blocks—Galt Club Established in 1838—The Drama in Galt’s early days—Rob Roy and Bailie Nicol Jarvie as done by leading villagers—Comical incident not in the play.

So many public and private improvements in progress, it need scarcely be said, produced a scene of unusual bustle and activity in the village. The Queen’s Arms, which naturally became the centre of village gatherings and gossip, was crowded to its utmost capacity. Tradesmen and storekeepers began to feel the benefit of the capital being expended, and certain very natural results soon followed. Pictures of the future of Galt began to be drawn in rather roseate colours, and schemes of social and intellectual progress and improvement in harmony with the future importance of the place, became the order of the day.

A public meeting was held in the School-house on the 25th December, 1835—Christmas day—to discuss the best means of establishing a public library. The Rev. John Bayne was called to the chair, and Mr. Wm. McColl, teacher, was appointed secretary. After passing some resolutions, the meeting adjourned till a future day.

On January 9th, 1836, another meeting took place, which was held at the Queen’s Arms, Dr. Bayne in the chair, and Mr. Alex. Burnett acting as secretary. At this meeting an Association fairly started into life, under the formidable name of the Galt Subscription and Circulating Library. Who the business committee were, does not appear, but at a subsequent meeting—Mr. Daniel Armstrong in the chair—Messrs. Jas. Cowan, John Gowinlock and John Goodall, were appointed to “negociate a loan with the Hon. Wm, Dickson on the joint security of all the committee.” The sum of £25 was afterwards obtained, and constituted the amount of the first purchase of books. Mr. Hugh Hunter was the first librarian, but he was soon succeeded by Mr. George Lee, and subsequently by Mrs. Johnson, in whose frame dwelling on the corner of Main and Ainslie Streets, the library continued until it closed its existence as a separate institution.

Although small at its inception, the Galt Subscription and Circulating Library became an efficient and useful institution, and all honour is justly due to those public-spirited citizens who originated it. Besides those already mentioned, the following are among those who took an active part in the management of the library during its early years:—Messrs. William Trotter, Paul G. Huffman, James Fraser, Thomas Rich, H. G. Barlow, W. H. Benn, James Wyllie, John McKenzie, James Harris, John D. Campbell, John Telfer, David Shiels, Francis Hogg, Andrew Elliott. James Wilson, Francis McElroy, Andrew Moscrip and James C. Longan.

Few things could throw more light on the names of those who may be justly called the brave-hearted Pioneers of the settlement, than a list of the members of this Library Association during the first years of its existence. The original list has, fortunately, fallen into our hands, and was scanned with intense interest, recalling as it did and must do to every one familiar with the past, so many of the “characters” in Galt’s early history, as well as so many sweet and sad recollections of bygone days.

As a tribute to, and in order to preserve the memories of these good men and true, we annex in a foot-note a complete list of all who appear as members of the Association up to 1843, when the ancient record from which we quote, abruptly closes.

[Nearly all the members of Galt Circulating Library joined in 1830. Those who joined during any subsequent year, have the year mentioned after their names. (A)—Thomas Adams, J. K. Andrews, Peter Anderson, Daniel Armstrong, John Angus, Alexander Addison, 1840 ; Alexander Adair, 1840; John Anderson, 1841. (B)—George Brydon, H. G. Barlow, George Barrie, Alexander Burnett, James Bunyan, Rev. John Bayne, Arthur Burnett, H. C. Barnaby, 1837; George Bruce, 1837; John Bell, 1839; John Brown, 1839; William Brown, 1839; Walter H. Bern, 1840; Walter Brydon, 1843. (C)—Walter Cowan, James Cowan, Waterloo; James Cowan, Plains; Thomas Cleghorn, Robert Cranston, John Campbell, Thos. Chisholm, T. G. Chapman, Richd. Common, George Colcleugh, 1839; Andrew Cavers, 1841; James Crozier,1842. (D)—John Douglass, Thos. Dalg-liesh, James Dowswell, James Dalgliesh, Walter Deans, 1837; Joseph De Murphy, 1839; John Davidson, 1842. (E)- Andrew Elliott, Robert Em-ond, 1841; Alexander Easton, 1842. (F)—James Fraser, William Ferguson, Alexander Fraser, 1837; John Fleming, 1839; Lionel Foster, 1840; Robert Forbes, 1840; David H. Forbes, 1840. (G)—John Gowinlock, John Goodall, Hugh Girvin, Robert Gowinlock, 1839; George Gowinlock, 1840; Robert Gillespie, 1841. (H)—William Henderson, Archibald Hunter, James Harris, Walter Hastie, John Henderson, John Hutson, P. G. Huffman, Francis Hogg, James Hogg, Hugh Hunter, James Henderson, 1838; Adam Hood, 1839; James Henderson, (Mill Creek), 1841; Walter Hope, 1840. (I)—Richd. Irwin, Wm. Irwin. (J)—Wm Jackson, Daniel Jamieson, Francis Jackson, 1837; James Jardine, 1840. (K)—James Kay, Jas. Kersell, William Kerr. (L)—William Laidlaw, John Laidlaw, George Landreth, John Lee, Andrew Lake, 1837; James (J. Longan, 1838; James Little, William Little, 1840; George Lee, 1842. (M)—John Mitchell, John Miller, Andrew Mathieson, Dr. Robert Miller, John Moscrip, Andrew Moscrip, George Martin, George Moore, Robert Menzie, William Manson, 1837; Thomas Marshall, 1838; Andrew Malcom, Robert McDougall, Thomas McBean, Alexander R. McDonald, M. McNaught, Archibald McColl, John McKenzie, John McGregor, 1837; George McDonald, 1837; Alexander McKay, 1837 ; Peter McIntyre, 1838; Thomas McKenzie, 1839; Francis McElroy, 1839; William McKenzie. (N)— Henry North. (P)—Joseph Purvis (R)—Robert Rodgers, Thomas Rich, William Rankin, Adam Reid, Thomas Richardson, Hector Rennelson, John Robinson, 1837; Dr.-Richardson, 1840. (S)—David Shiel, A. Shade, James Smith, Atum Scott, John Smith, Adam Shaw, George Scott, James Smith, John Scott, 1837; Margret Spiers, 1837; James Scott, 1839. (T)—John Telfer, James Tenant, Thomas Turnbull, Thomas Taylor, Robert Turnbull, James Thompson, William Trotter, Adam Turnbull. (V)—William Veitch. (W)—John Wright, James Wilson, James Wyllie, James White, George Wyllie, 1839; Robert Wilson, 1841; Robert Wallace, 1841. (Y)—Thomas Younger.]

The first year the income of the Association, including the £25 borrowed, was £53 13s. 6d. of which the sum of £39 was spent, and a balance of £13 remained on hand. It continued a most useful existence until the year 1854, when it was merged into the Galt Mechanics’ Institute, reference to which will be found further on.

One of the most valued institutions of Galt—the Gore District Mutual Fire Insurance Company—had its rise in 1837. The first meeting took place at Burley’s Hotel, Hamilton, in the month of April. The company did not commence operations till June, 1839, however, when Brantford was selected as its head-quarters, with Mr. John A. Wilkes as President, Mr. William Walker, Secretary, and Messrs. Allen Good, Richard Wilkins, A. Huntingdon, Henry Moyle, Wm. Richardson, and Abraham Cook, Directors Mr. Thomas Rich, of Galt, became connected with the company as Travelling Agent in 1846, and its business was always large in Galt and vicinity.

Some mismanagement having occurred in the affairs of the company, the annual meeting in June, 1863, was somewhat stormy, and resulted in a sweeping change in the Directorate, Messrs. John Fleming, James Crombie, John Davidson, Richard S. Strong, Morris C. Lutz, and Richard Blain, of Galt, being among those elected. The head office of the company was shortly afterwards removed to Galt, where it has ever since remained. The Gore District Mutual has been over forty years inexistence, and it may be truly said, is now more prosperous and useful than during its earlier years.

It is not surprising that, being so largely settled by Scotchmen, Galt early practised the game of Curling, so much in vogue in the land of the “mountain and the flood.” The first game of which we have been able to find any recollection, took place on Altrieye lake, as it is called, a pretty sheet of water near Mr. James S. Cowan’s residence, about two miles west of the town. Among those who took part in it were Messrs. Robert Wallace, sr., who was on a visit from Brantford, Robert Wallace, jr., of Galt, John Warnock, of Beverly, and Hugh and John Wallace, of Dumfries. They made blocks out of the maple tree, putting in pieces of iron as handles, and all though labouring under some disadvantages, the survivors describe it as a jolly and long-to-be-remembered meeting. This game took place in the winter of 1836 or ’37.

The origin of the Galt Curling Club dates from 1838, but it was not placed on a permanent footing until a meeting which took place at Mr. John Young’s Union Hotel, in the fall of 1841. The occasion was celebrated by a dinner, at which Mr. John Davidson presided, and Mr. Thomas Blacklock acted as vice-chairman. There was a large attendance, and, as usual at that time, much jollity. One of the incidents of the dinner was a song entitled, “The Galt Curling Club 0,” composed and sung by Mr. James Ainslie, who had shortly before taken up his residence in the village. Before commencing dinner, the club was duly formed and placed under the management of the following officers:—

Chaplain—Rev. James Roy.
President—Mr. William Dickson.
Vice-President—Mr. John Davidson.
Secretary—Mr. Thomas Blacklock.
Skips—Doctor Miller, James Kirkpatrick, Thomas Blacklock, and Robert Wallace.

From that day till this, Galt has never been without its Curling Club, and in 1879 the stones whirl up as merrily to the “Tee,” as they did in 1841—but Oh, how changed the players! Messrs. James Allan and Robert Ovens have kept up their connection with the club most of the time throughout the entire period, but they are the only members who have done so, Mr. Robert Wallace, now of Hamilton, having removed a few years ago. When some have dropped off, however, others have been ready to take their places, and, consequently, during the last thirty-eight years, Galt Curling Club has been one ot the most noted “institutions” of the place. It has always been a tough club to tackle, and has well sustained the credit of the town in numerous friendly contests with other clubs.

The Canadian branch of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club was joined in 1866, since which time the curlers of Galt have competed for eight medals. Out of seven of these contests they came forth victorious, beating Guelph, Elora (twice), the New Dominion, Ayr, the Ontario and Burlington, and Hamilton City Clubs. Only on one occasion, when playing for the Royal Caledonian Medals, has the Galt Club suffered defeat.

The buoyancy of spirits which characterized the community at this period, overflowed in another direction, and resulted in a spirited and somewhat ambitious effort to cater for the public amusement. Recognizing the truth of the old adage about all work and no play, a number of the villagers formed themselves into a Dramatic Company, and soon created a pleasurable little ripple of excitement by the announcement that they would at an early day appear in public.

Their first appearance was in some part of the old Red store, which was fitted up with rising seats for the occasion, but as soon as the Township Hall was finished, it became the place for holding entertainments, and. how ill-fitted it was for the purpose, only those who recollect “Noah’s Ark,” as it was called, will understand. It was, however, made as presentable as possible. The scenery was painted by Mr. Glennie, whose musical abilities have already been referred to. This gentleman was also skilful in handling the brush, and a landscape by moonlight, which was among his scenes, would have done no discredit to the boards of Covent Garden or Drury Lane.

Among the plays presented were, the Gentle Shepherd, the Tragedy of Douglass, and Rob Roy, and the excited interest on the first night when the bell rang for the curtain to rise, could only be realized by those who actually saw it. The principal characters in Rob Roy were taken by the following gentlemen: Rob Roy—Thomas Rich. Bailie Nichol Jarvie—Thomas Blacklock; Mattie, Bailie Jarvie’s maid—Archibald Cairns; Helen, Rob Roy’s wife —Thomas Bain, who was then employed by Mr. Alexander Addison as a cabinet maker; Dugald Crater—James S. Glennie; Major Galbraith—Henry McCrum; Captain Thornton—Adam Hood. Among others who took part in this or other plays were: Messrs. William Brown, James Craig, Adam Scott, and John Batters.

Mr. Adam Ainslie acted as prompter, and wrote and delivered a clever prologue on the opening night. He also composed a chorus, “Hurrah for the village of Galt, boys,” the tenor of which, as well as of the prologue, was prophetic of what a great place Galt was to become, and, to use the language of our informant, it has “all happened since and a great deal more.” The company played on several occasions, paid Beverly a visit, and created great fun and amusement.

Not a few comical incidents have been handed down as having transpired during these dramatic entertainments. One night during the run of Rob Roy, Mr. Craig, in consequence of a laughable blunder, received a wound which it was at first feared might prove no laughable matter. At a certain point in the play, he met Rob Roy (Mr. Rich), in mortal combat, and it was arranged that Craig was to fall at a certain thrust of Mr. Rich’s sword, mortally wounded, into the arms of one of the other players. At the time agreed upon, Mr. Rich made his sword thrust, but in the excitement of the moment, Craig forgot to fall, and consequently received a severe cut in one of his arms, which bled quite freely! This unexpected contretemp rather threw things into disorder for a few moments, but when the audience took in the situation, caused great merriment. It always was a most difficult thing, according to Artemus Ward, to die on the stage to slow music!

Through means of these entertainments several deserving institutions in the village were assisted. The members of the company paid their own expenses, which in some instances were very considerable, and it is remembered that they gave over fifty dollars to assist the Circulating Library, which had then recently been commenced, and also paid off the balance of the debt which was due Mr. Shade upon the village School which stood at the head of Main Street.

The possibility of starting a newspaper to chronicle the doings, and particularly to sound the praises, of Galt, also began to be canvassed. But the experience of the aspiring villagers in the newspaper line did not begin till three or four years later, and an amusing experience it was.