Caledonia: Along the Grand River

Geoffrey Hayes is an assistant professor of history at the University of
Waterloo.

These pleasant, well-written histories of Fergus and Caledonia, two
towns located along southwestern Ontario’s Grand River, consist of
short, interesting anecdotes gathered by longtime area residents. The
communities grew from the Grand’s economic potential, but then reached
an economic plateau as the river became more of a scenic feature than a
symbol of economic prosperity.

Mestern’s book on Fergus includes profiles of famous locals (e.g.,
the Beatty brothers) as well as obscure stories (just how did John
Ironside get those oranges in the store window in 1868?). Martindale’s
book on Caledonia is equally charming, though better organized, and also
includes stories on local personalities such as Chief Beaver (a local
artist) and Marlene Heddle (who, in 1936, was named by The Toronto Star
as “Canada’s Loveliest Child”) Town halls, local bands, hockey
teams, and women’s organizations were all central features of these
towns, and they are given equal prominence in the books.

Charmingly parochial with their oral accounts, well illustrated, and
carefully indexed, these books will be eagerly embraced by the
communities they celebrate.