The inspiration for this cache series was the average Cambridge
resident's confusion on where the boundaries are for Galt, Preston
& Hespeler. Since all three of these communities grow into each
other to form Cambridge, the boundaries are not that obvious.
This cache series is dedicated to exploring Galt's boundaries.
This cache is for the EAST GALT region which is bordered by
the Grand River (on the west), Samuelson St./Clyde Rd. (on the
north), Shellard Sideroad (on the east), and the southern city
limits. The cache container is firmly attached, please do not
attempt to remove.
Collect the numeric clue on the cache lid or cache log in each
of the Where the heck (in Cambridge) am I? Galt caches to
determine where to find the final.
Where
the heck (in Cambridge) am I? West Galt
Where the heck (in Cambridge) am I? North Galt
Where the heck (in Cambridge) am I? East Galt
Where the heck (in Cambridge) am I? SouthEast Galt
Where the heck (in Cambridge) am I? Galt Final
For those interested in the history lesson, read on...
The City of Cambridge was created in January, 1973. It was
formed by the amalgamation of the City of Galt, the Towns of
Hespeler and Preston, and parts of the Townships of Waterloo and
North Dumfries. The history of the area is a diverse and
interesting one.
In 1816, a large block of land originally owned by the Six
Nations Indians was purchased by William Dickson - a Scotsman who
dreamed of founding a settlement to attract his fellow lowland
countrymen. Scots from the "old country" immigrated to the village
called Shade's Mill. In 1827, the Canada Company Commissioner, John
Galt, visited the area and, in his honour, the village was re-named
Galt.
John Erb, a Pennsylvanian, built a sawmill on land bordering the
Speed River in 1806. He called his settlement Cambridge Mills.
During the 1830's, the village grew rapidly and when William
Scollick surveyed the community in 1834, he re-named it in honour
of his English home town - Preston.
Originally a hamlet called Bergeytown, and then named New Hope
by its Pennsylvanian settlers, a thriving town grew on the banks of
the Speed River. One prominent citizen was Jacob Hespeler who built
a dike and diverted the river to provide power to his gristmill. He
also opened a sawmill, a distillery, a woollen mill and a cooper
shop. In 1859, the town adopted the name Hespeler.