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Tt is naturally difficult for | first the younger generation living | the ameng daily scenes of comâ€"| tuat mercial activity, social privi~.totl leges, and in the enjoyment of | who every day progress to visualize | less the city site as it appeared He when Abraham Erb first beheld | Ca" it in the year 1806. Pen Where the wheels of comâ€" due merce now turn in their unâ€" ::: remitting round, where broad 6,0 and well kept streets are flankâ€" P'n ed by busy mercantile estabâ€" bl lishments, and stately residenâ€" ol ces stand, was then a dreary pel waste of cedar swamp. :: THIS OLD CHRONICLE PICTURE It shows how the village appeared Abrsham Erb‘s axe, a little % southeast of where the Union | ; Mills formerly stood, has been evolved the present city in which we carry on our business | ! Step by step the city has adâ€"| wanced, and like the growing : of a tree has hardly been perâ€" 1 ceptible. It is theâ€" result of work commenced by Aardy j pieneers, making for themâ€" ‘ selves a home in the wilderâ€" | ness. As they succeeded, others, attracted by the beacon of suc-'l cese, followed in their wake. Each succeeding year broughtl its failures, its tria)s and its triumphs, _ but _ perseverance and â€" pluck prevailed. The pioneers of over one hundred years ago were largely depen-? dent om physical energy and’ muscular force, and to the unâ€" stinted exercise of these hardy virtues in the initiatory step of settlement is due the prosperity of what is now one of the most thriving cities in the Dominion. Choose Name Just how the name _ WALlCTâ€"| loo" was chosen is not quite clear, but old settliers inform the writer that it came to be an accepted name among the early residents from the fact| that most of them had come | from the neighborhood of the | Waterloo of the F:t,herlnnd.{ It was a name dear to memory‘ It was a name dear to memory and early associations and thus became the name of their new home in an alien land. The name became known to @thers of similar nationality seeking companionship of compatriots. Erb First Settler According | to Ezra Eby‘s biographical _ history of the County of Waterloo published in 16496, Abraham Erb was the W ATER LOO And Its Founding m â€" the small clearing with the first strokes of the name ‘Waterâ€" first settler of the land were the town now stands to perpeâ€" tuate his memory. Contrary to the wish of his brother, John who deemed the locality warthâ€" less, he located there in 1806. He was one of numerous who came from Franklin County, Pennsyivania, led by the inâ€" ducements of a German Syndiâ€" cate formed in that State, who had secured a sound title to 6,000 acres of land for $4,000. Previous to this time considerâ€" able difficulty had been exâ€" perienced in attracting settlers, owing to doubts entertained respecting . the validity â€" and security of the land titles held by Richard Beasley who had claimed to have purchased the property from the Indians with whom the earlier settlers had to deal. Abraham Erb became the possessor of nine hundred acres of land from the state and was followed into the cedar swamp by a number of people from the State of Penaâ€" sylvania. The majority of these early settlers were of German origin, forced to seek a refuge in the British American colâ€" | onies from _ the persecution | they were subjected to in conâ€" |sequence of their â€" religious scruples in the matter of lmilihry service and judicial \ Firemen W aterloo The first section of &el Grand River Railway and the Lake Erie and Northern Railâ€" way have been an integral part of the life of Waterloo county and adjacent areas to the south since the first secâ€" tion was opened in 1894. The first section was in the Galt, Preston, and peler area. 8 _ The Preston and Berlin seeâ€" tion was built in 1994. Track Laying Then followed the eompb-l tion of the line from Berlin to Waterloo. The track for a time ended at the north end of Caroline street near Erb street, Wateriloo, due to the difficulty of getting around the corner from Caroline street is believed to be the earliest picture of Old Berlin. THIS ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IS IN VERY POOR CONDITION , and Hesâ€" came to Waterioo. Mostly Mennonites With few > exceptions people were adherents : Mennonite faith. They fied in their daily hves, D they were accustomed to bnttle' with difficulties and overcome obstacles, and as such were well adapted to the pioneer life of Canada. They were men â€" of sterling . character, strong purpose and wide intelâ€" ligence and entered heartily and sturdily into the rigorous In order to do this, a corner| of a warchouse of Seagram: Distillers had to be removed to provide sufficient space beâ€" tween the warehouse and the Grand Trunk track. When re building of the wall was comâ€" pleted and scaffolding removed the Grand Trunk Hined their track over blocking the way. Firemen Use Track Crew Not to be outdome in that regard, the late Joseph Seaâ€" gram ordered the tearing down of a further portion. When that was completed he arranged for the municipal fire departâ€" ment with two lines of hose to prevent further eccupation on the part of he Grand Trunk The hose was used freely on he Grand Trunk crew, until the eleotric line was laid in place, in a matter of a few hours. This permitted the railway to reach its proposed freight shed on Erb street and really completed â€"th e construction work of the Grand River Raiâ€" and across Erb street. (Continued on Page 5) and settled in They were was exempliâ€" Municipal History | Village Charter Obtained in 1857 ‘ The municipal history of the city of Waterloo dates from the year when a village charter was obtained, and on the 1st. of January, 1857 the place asâ€" sumed the dignity of an inâ€" corporated village with the following gentlemen composing the first council: Reeve, Moses Springer, counciHors, Daniel Snider, â€" Hartmann _ Schnart, John Hoffman â€" and â€" Jacob Teuscher, with W. Roberts as clerk. The nmtachinery of selfâ€" government was set in motion and evidently performed satisâ€" factory service, as the followâ€" ing year found the same eouncil returned by acclamaâ€" tion for five successive years Mr. Springer occupied the first magisterial chair. In 1862 Daniel Snider was accorded the honour for one year, and was followed by John Hoffâ€" man, who retained the position until 1867, when Moses Springâ€" er was again elected and conâ€" tinued in the office untd 18â€" TO. Then Moses Springer was again chosen and held the reeveship until the village beâ€" town four clerks helid office. Mr. Roberts was in office only one year, S. 3. Bowers followâ€" ed for three years and J. J. Bowman: for seven years r. Colquhoun was then appointed and remained in office until after the incorporation as & Town Accepts Ward System On incorporation as a town the ward system was adopted and the first town council was composed of the following: Mayor, Mosses Springer; counâ€" cillorsâ€"North _ Ward, John Killer, G. Heimbecker & Jacob Bricker; East Ward, John Shuh George Moore & Simon Snyder South Ward, Waliter Wells, Abs. Merner and David Kunts; West Ward, Wm Snider, J. Kalbfleisnch and J. B. Hughes. HOSPITAL SE DONATED 3Y JOSEPH SEAGKAM Joseph Seagram, who foundâ€" ed the distillery in Waterico purchased the piece of land in Kitchener surrounded by Green street, Park St, Mount Hope street and King street. This section of land was known as the Greenbush where young men from the twin towns used to waylay each other and fight. When the land was surveyâ€" ed it was discovered that it lay entirely in Berlin. Mr. Seaâ€" gram was so loyal to Waterkoo that he wouldn‘t build a home in the rival town. He gave the land as a site for a hospital that would serve both communâ€" ities. evolution In 1889 the Chronicic was partly _ owned by _ David Bean. Before purchasing the Chronicle he was gdncipnl of the Elmira Public and Continuation School. counciHors, _ Daniel | th: Hartmann _ Schnarr, | as ffman â€" and â€" Jacob| 76 with W. Roberts as| C! e machinery of selfâ€", 9; nt was set in motion | G« ntly nerformed -&-\-Sl 1889 the Chronicle was in 1876. During In 1887 the population had 8P increased that a deputy n’ . was added to the personmel « » the council in 1899 the now Municipal Act reduced the 10â€" presentation to a mayor aad > six councillors From the deé® of town incorporation uniil the present the mayors amd their terms of office have beem as follows: Moses Springer, 18â€" 16â€"17; Geo. Randall, 1818, Christian Kumph, 1879â€"80, 88â€" 9; Benjamin Devitt, 188&-_.; Geo. Moore, 1884, 1890; Wnn Snider, 1885â€"6, 91â€"2; Jacob Conrad, 1887; Walitee Wels, 1893, R. Y. Fish, 1894; Simen Snyder, 1895â€"7; J. B. Hughes, 1898; Geo. Diebel, 1899â€"1900; David Bean, 1901â€"3 Jacob Uffelmann, 1904â€"5; E. F. Seam gram, 1906â€"7; J. B. Fischer, 1908; Andrew Weidenhammer, 1909; Levi Graybill, 1910â€"11; John B. Fischer, 1912â€"13; John R. Kaufman, 1914â€"15; Dr. W. L. Hiliard, 1916â€"17; W. L. Kutt, 1918â€"19; Dan Bohlender, 1920â€"21; W. G. Weichel, ‘19â€" 22â€"23; William _ Henderson, 1924â€"25; W. D. Brill, 1926â€"28; Louis Dietrich 1929â€"30; Wilâ€" liam â€" Uffelman 1931; Das Bohlender 1932; W. W. Fricâ€" key 1933â€"34; H. E. Ratz 1985â€" 36; Wesley McKersie 1937â€"40; W. A. Brill 1941â€"42; Frank B. Relyea 1943; Albert E. Heer 1944â€"46; Wilfred L. Hil liard 1947â€"48° Veron Baumaz 1949â€"51; D. A. Roberts 195%â€" 53; Frank Bauer 1954â€"55; Lee J. Whitney 1956â€". Just after incorporation &8 & ~ village, Jacob C. Snider donâ€" | ated the lot in front of where .. the public library now stands for the site of a municipal buildilg om which a small structure was erected which . served as a town hall and fire haill This building did duty until the present city hall building was erected in 1866 st a cost of $10,000. byâ€"laws passed by the village council was one to establish Mount Hope cemetery, which received its official assent on the 14th of January, 1867. Azn opening of the Grand Tronk Railway, the branch having its terminus here for some years until extended to Elmira im 1889. The terminal point was now stands. Strong opposition was made to the rails crossing King street on account of the menace to public safety. Start Street Railway ' The opening of the streot railway between Waterloo and Berlin in 1889 was another prominent milestone im the onward march. The original charter for the construction and operation of the road was obtained by Wm. Snider, J. B. Snider, Simon Snyder and D. L. Bowman. These gentliemen, however did not proceed with the construction but disposed of the charter and franchise to an American organization whe went on with the work and afâ€" terwards sold their interest to a Canadian company in which the local capitalists were proâ€" minent members. In 1889 the road was opened for traffie and run as a horse car line until 1894 when the system was changed to electricity and am improved â€" service given. Ir 1903 the connecting link was made with the Galt and Prestom electric railway, and today it is operated as a freight lime. Well kept roads, walks, and sewers denote a wise adminisâ€" tration and a progressive policy that has given Waterloo: the name of a wellâ€"kept and wellâ€" governed city. The construction of â€" cement walks was | comâ€" menced in 1895 on the Looal Improvement Plan, m the town‘s important