The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce was originally designated as the Peterborough Board of Trade which was established in 1889. This designation was changed by order-in-council to the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce on April 26, 1922.
It was in May of 1819 that the first settlers came to the region in Newcastle District which is now known as Peterborough. One of these settlers was Adam Scott (1796-1838), and he erected a saw and grist mill on the west bank of the Otonabee River (at the location where King Street now crosses the river). This location, then known as Scott's Plains, was to become the City of Peterborough. The area had been previously surveyed by Samuel Wilmot in 1818, and at that time, he recommended to the surveyor general that land be set aside for the development of a town at the junction of Smith, Douro, North Monaghan and Otonabee Townships, along the shores of the Otonabee River. In 1825, the recommended townsite was surveyed again by Richard Birdsall and the creation of a town plan was undertaken. From 1819 to 1825, the only inhabitants of Scott's Plains were Adam Scott's family and a few hired men. This changed with the arrival of the Peter Robinson immigrants in 1825 who numbered close to 2,000 people. Many of them settled in the townships surrounding Scott's Plains, which was renamed in 1826, to Peterboro by Sir Peregrine Maitland, in honour of Peter Robinson. By 1827, there were 20 buildings located within the townsite, and in the summer of 1828, another 20 houses were built. Shops, taverns, schools and churches were built within the town boundaries. Timber, and then lumber, dominated the Peterborough industrial scene from 1825 to 1875, but it was not the only form of industry. Peterborough also had a tannery, three iron foundries, and several woolen and grain mills. The location of Peterborough along the shores of the Otonabee was extremely important in the development of Peterborough as a manufacturing centre. The river provided not only water power, but a means of transportation for both people and goods. In 1890, Edison Electric, later known as Canadian General Electric, set up a plant in Peterborough, and by 1892, it became the site of the CGE head office for Canadian Operations. In 1900, Quaker Oats also came to Peterborough. Not only did Quaker employ a substantial number of people, they also used locally grown grains in the production of their cereals. The period between 1875 and 1930 was one of rapid industrial growth in Peterborough. As well, the population was constantly increasing. In 1838, the population was between eight and nine hundred and by the 1852 census, it had risen to 2,191. In 1871 it had increased to 4,611 and it became necessary for Peterborough to annex land from the surrounding townships. In 1872, 239 acres were annexed from Smith, 50 acres from Douro, and 581 acres from North Monaghan. After the annexation, the population was close to 7,000 inhabitants. Peterborough officially became a city in 1904 and by 1921 the population had increased to 21,000.
Reverend Samuel Armour opened the Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational Institute on May 1, 1826. The school, originally known as the Peterborough Government School, was first located in the back playground of present day Central Public School on Murray Street in Peterborough. As the population increased, due to immigration, the Common School (public school) students moved into smaller schools while the Grammar School (high school) students stayed in the original school building. By 1854 the school trustees had leased an old church, on the corner of Hunter and Sheridan Streets, to hold the school but the student population soon grew too large. In 1855 plans to build a new school had begun. The new building was completed in 1859 and was intended to be used by both common and grammar school students. It was located where the present day Central School is built. The new school was known as the Union School. By 1868 the principal of the school asked that girls be allowed to attend grammar school. A new building was constructed west of the Union School to allow for the increased student population. In 1871, with a government bill abolishing the term grammar school and replacing it with collegiate, the Union School became the Collegiate Institute. Due to overcrowding and various moves within the buildings it soon came time for the Collegiate to have its own building, separate from the public school. On August 1, 1907 the cornerstone for the new school was laid. The new school opened in 1908 on the corner of Aylmer and McDonnel Streets near the Armouries. In 1927 a vocational school was added to the P.C.I. Students and staff at the school helped in a variety of projects including creation and publication of the student monthly newsletter "The Collegiate Echoes" which began publication in 1905. The Collegiate has played a major role in the shaping of Peterborough through the changes that the community has sustained during the years of settlement, growth, war, poverty, industrialization and computerization. (Taken from: "Echoes Sesquicentennial Edition." 1977.)
The Peterborough Common Press was a self-supporting weekly community newspaper covering Peterborough and surrounding areas. It was run by Harry Underwood and Clifford Maynes and operated only in the 1970's. (Taken from: "Peterborough The Electric City." Windsor Publications: The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, 1987.) The "Common Press" invited members of the public to submit articles, letters, ideas and time to help support itself. It was printed by the Quinte Web Press in Tweed using a photo-offset technique.(Taken from: "The Peterborough Common Press." November 2, 1976.)
The Peterborough Community Concert Association was formally established in 1942 when the Peterborough Music Club joined Community Concerts of America, Inc. It was formed under the leadership of Dr. J.J. Craig, a well known Peterborough dentist, and a group of business people interested in bringing outstanding musical talent to Peterborough. The objectives of the Association were to "build and maintain through nonprofit plan a permanent concert audience on a strictly membership basis; to cultivate in the citizens of Peterborough and its surrounding area interest in good music; to provide for its members an opportunity to hear good music in the form of concerts and recitals, of which there will be a minimum of three presented annually; and to foster and encourage public appreciation of music and the teaching of music, history of music, and music appreciation in the schools of Peterborough and its surrounding area." Peterborough did have a concert association which existed before 1942, but unfortunately, all written records of this association have been lost. Over the years, the Peterborough Community Concert Association was able to bring many big name artists and groups to Peterborough including Ephriam Zimbalist, the Munich Chamber Orchestra, and Liona Boyd. In 1987, the Peterborough Community Concert Association broke its ties with Community Concerts of America, Inc. due to high commissions and the high American dollar and comparatively low Canadian dollar. The Peterborough Concert Association was the result of this split and it has continued to function effectively, holding five to six concerts a year and maintaining the high artistic standards set in previous years.
In 1859 the Junior Cricket Club was formed as a younger member of the Peterborough Cricket Club. The Peterborough Cricket Club produced amateur minstrel shows in the 1890's at Victoria Hall in the Bradburn Opera House. (Taken from: Jones, Elwood and Bruce Dyer. "Peterborough The Electric City." Burlington: Windsor Publications (Canada) Ltd., 1987.)
Previous to 1908, Peterborough's fire brigade ran on a totally voluntary basis. The volunteers were paid a fifteen dollar yearly honorarium for their efforts. From 1886 to 1908, the fire department was housed in the town buildings on the southeast corner of the market square and it shared quarters with the police department. On New Year's Day 1908, a new fire station was opened on Aylmer Street. In the same year, it was decided by the City of Peterborough that a permanent fire brigade was necessary. The change from voluntary to permanent brigade took place on June 30, 1908, and was marked by a grand procession of the old fire brigade.
The Peterborough Fire brigade was established in 1850 and until 1908, the brigade ran on a totally voluntary basis. The volunteers were paid a fifteen dollar yearly honorarium for their efforts. The first Captain of the brigade was Robert Swayne. The first Chief Engineer was W.S. Conger and the Assistant Engineer was John R. Benson. From 1886 to 1908, the fire department was housed in the town buildings on the southeast corner of the market square and it shared quarters with the police department. On New Year's Day 1908, a new fire station was opened on Aylmer Street. In the same year, it was decided by the City of Peterborough that a permanent fire brigade was necessary. The change from voluntary to permanent brigade took place on June 30, 1908, and was marked by a grand procession of the old fire brigade. The personnel of the permanent brigade consisted of a Chief, Assistant Chief, two drivers, three paid firemen and six call men.
The Peterborough Free Press was published by members of the Peterborough Newspaper Guild and university students concerned about the strike at the Peterborough Examiner. (Taken from: "The Peterborough Free Press." December 18, 1968.)
The Peterborough Historical Atlas was created by the Peterborough Historical Atlas Foundation which started in 1974. The Foundation was formed to produce and to publish an Illustrated Historical Atlas of Peterborough County 1825-1875 in the 19th century manner in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Peter Robinson settlers. The Foundation was chaired by Jane Deyman and A.O.C. Cole was the general editor. Jean Murray Cole was a co-editor. Professors Alan Brunger, Bruce Hodgins, R.B. Johnston, Elwood Jones and Gordon Roper, all of Trent University, helped to write various parts of the Atlas. When the Atlas was published in 1975 it received a number of awards such as a communications award from Heritage Canada; a local histories award from the Canadian Historical Association; and a local societies award from the Ontario Historical Society. The Foundation donated a number of copies of the Atlas to schools and, from the proceeds of the sale of the Atlas, the Foundation was able to give a number of gifts. The Foundation gave financial gifts to Hutchinson House, the Peterborough Historical Society, the Peterborough Public Library, Lang Pioneer Village, the Journal for Canadian Studies and Trent University. Trent also received an endowment fund called the Peterborough Historical Atlas prize which an undergraduate student would be able to win with the best written paper or project on a Canadian topic. The prize was to be awarded in Canadian Reference books. Not only did the Foundation publish the Atlas but it helped publish Kawartha Heritage in 1981. The Foundation wound up its activities in 1985.
The Peterborough Horticultural Society was established April 9, 1861 by a few gentlemen interested in horticulture. Within a few weeks time the new horticulture club was registered in Toronto. Rev. Vincent Clementi was the first president. The first exhibition, which consisted of exhibits of flowers, fruits and vegetables, was held September 20, 1861. The first two day show was held in 1872. In 1885 the Society, with the help of the Peterborough Council, started a town beautification project in the Court House park. In 1898 the first lawn and garden competition was held. Eventually the Society joined with other societies to form the Ontario Horticultural Society. There were junior members as well as the adult members.
The Peterborough Humane Society opened its doors to stray, sick and abused animals around the 1940's. The objectives of the Society were to prevent cruelty to animals and birds; to provide shelter and food for animals and birds which were lost, injured or abandoned; to provide unclaimed animals and birds with homes; to investigate complaints of cruelty to animals and birds; and to create public interest in humane work. The Society had a president, secretary, officers, a board of directors and a council as well as a women's auxiliary and affiliation with other societies such as the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. The Humane Society formerly operated from a building on Townsend Street in Peterborough. In 1957, the shelter on Lansdowne Street was built.
The Peterborough Law Association was incorporated in 1879 in order to enable the local bar to establish and receive grants from the law society for a law library in the court house. The local bar had a library and rented a library from a local firm for $12.00 a year. In 1893 the Association paid the firm $22.00 and removed their library from the firm. This left the library depleted and hence the application for grants from the Law Society. The Law Association in Peterborough developed committees to look after the library and had a chief librarian. It celebrated its one hundredth anniversary in 1979 with a dinner and notable guest speaker. Since its inception the Peterborough Law Association has received innumerable gifts and donations in the form of books and paintings such as books of Sir John Beverly Robinson from his son Christopher Robinson Q.C. and a set of Supreme Court Reports from USA President Calvin Coolidge.
Construction of the Peterborough Lift Lock began in 1896 and finished in 1904. It opened the Otonabee River to navigation connecting Rice Lake and the Kawarthas.(Taken from: Francis, Daniel."I Remember....An Oral History of the Trent-Severn Waterway."Peterborough: Friends of the Trent-Severn Waterway, 1984.) The Lift Lock is considered one of the great engineering projects of the century and is the world's second highest lift lock. The photograph was produced as a souvenir from the town of Peterborough to people who visited it.
The Peterborough Light and Power Company was a private electrical utility company that operated between 1884 and 1913 in the city of Peterborough. By 1913, it had a total of 2320 hydro poles in operation, and provided electricity for residences, streetlights, industries, and the street railway. It was expropriated by the city of Peterborough in 1913.
The land which is now Peterborough County was originally part of Newcastle District before 1841, and the Colbourne District until 1850, the year when districts were replaced by counties in Upper Canada. At this time the United Counties of Peterborough and Victoria was created. In 1861, Victoria County was given independence from Peterborough. Peterborough County is made up of the following townships: Galway, Cavendish, Anstruther, Chandos, Harvey, Burleigh, Methuen, Ennismore, Smith, Douro, Dummer, Belmont, North Monaghan, Otonabee and Asphodel. (taken from "Illustrated Historical Atlas of Peterborough County 1825-1875." Peterborough: The Peterborough Historical Atlas Foundation Inc., 1975.)
The Peterborough Museum and Archives (formally known as the Peterborough Centennial Museum) originated from the need in the city for a new museum. The Peterborough District Historical and Art Museum Foundation was established in 1961 to fund and establish a new museum and safeguard remnants of the Victoria Museum collection. Originally Victoria Museum grew out of the Peterborough Historical Society's efforts to preserve the past. The museum had a number of cases of birds and animals, Indigenous curios, old documents, antique firearms, an old canoe and displays of minerals. T.A.S. Hay became the first curator when the Victoria Museum moved from Inverlea Park to the top floor of the new library building on April 23, 1912. G.H. Clarke became the next curator as Hay died in 1917 and at the same time the Library Board took over stewardship of the museum. By the 1950's much of the museum's collection had been dispersed to other sources in the Peterborough area. The Historical Society re-established itself and the museum became renewed with display cases on the upper floor and in the basement of the library. On November 19, 1966 the Historical Society transferred ownership of the Victoria Museum collection to the Peterborough District Historical and Art Museum Foundation since the society was not incorporated. Eventually the artifacts which were part of the Victoria Museum's collections and later under library stewardship came to be housed in the Peterborough Museum and Archives. On October 28, 1967 the Peterborough Museum and Archives was officially opened on Armour Hill and the collections of the Victoria Museum became a part of the Peterborough Museum's collections. (Taken from: Doherty, Ken "Preserving Peterborough's Past: 150 Years of Museums and History." Occasional Paper 16. Peterborough Historical Society, November 1995.)
Peterborough Normal School was officially opened on September 15, 1908 and operated until the late 1960's. The school was located in Peterborough, Ontario, and several hundred teachers were trained there over the years of operation. The first principal was Duncan Walker.
The Peterborough Presbyterial Women's Missionary Society is a community of Christians involved in local and world missions.
The land which is now Peterborough County was originally part of Newcastle District before 1841, and the Colbourne District until 1850, the year when districts were replaced by counties in Upper Canada. At this time the United Counties of Peterborough and Victoria was created. In 1861, Victoria County was given independence from Peterborough. Peterbourgh County is made up of the following townships: Galway, Cavendish, Anstruther, Chandos, Harvey, Burleigh, Methuen, Ennismore, Smith, Douro, Dummer, Belmont, North Monaghan, Otonabee, and Asphodel. (taken from Illustrated Historical Atlas of Peterborough County 1825-1875. Peterborough: The Peterborough Historical Atlas Foundation Inc., 1975.)
The Peterborough Social Planning Council (PSPC) was developed to promote greater co-ordination between different providers of social services in Peterborough and area. It was to provide consumers of social services the opportunity to have input into the social system and to identify the needs and problems, and receive recommendations about services and activities. The PSPC was to build a data base, to be open to the public, with information of existing services. In 1978 the PSPC reported on the task force on Children's Services. It conducted various research projects on existing and future implementation of social services. It provided a community forum for preparation of briefs in response to the published intentions of governments. The PSPC monitored the emergence of urban and rural planning developments. It also encouraged and assisted groups establish programs in needed areas. The PSPC was located on King Street in 1978 in space given to them from the United Way office.
The first normal school for the training of elementary school teachers opened in Toronto in 1847. In 1850 a system of township model schools was established. They were specially designated elementary schools where teachers or potential teachers could observe existing practice under supervision. The successful candidates received Third Class Certificates valid for three years. In 1880 there were forty-seven model schools. Candidates were awarded First or Second Class Certificates after attendance at normal school. At times there were two year courses at normal schools. Model schools were abolished in 1924 and with them the Third Class Certificate. In 1936 the Second Class Certificate was discontinued except at the Ottawa Normal School. In 1874 the Ottawa Normal School was established and in 1900 the London Normal School. In 1908 normal schools were opened in Hamilton, Peterborough, and Stratford. Peterborough Normal School was officially opened on September 15, 1908 and operated until the late 1960's. Several hundred teachers were trained there over the years of operation. The first principal was Duncan Walker. In 1973 the Peterborough Teachers' College (formerly the Peterborough Normal School) closed its doors and the staff moved to the Faculty of Education, Queen's University.
The Peterborough Women's Committee was a local organization which lobbied at various levels of government and also provided resource material on women's issues. The committee opened a resource centre for women, published a directory of services available locally for and by women, and held all-candidates' meetings. The committee was in existence between 1977 and 1987.
The Charles E. Goad map making company was established in Montreal, Quebec, in 1875. In its business of creating fire insurance plans, the Charles E. Goad map making company was the most comprehensive company in its coverage of Canada. By 1885, the company was firmly established in Canada and by 1910, Goad and his surveyors had created fire insurance plans for more than 1300 Canadian communities. When Charles E. Goad died that same year, the company was taken over by his three sons, who continued to run the business under the name Chas. E. Goad Company. In 1911 an agreement was reached between the Chas. E. Goad Company and the Canadian Fire Underwriters' Association, by which the Goad Company was to create and revise plans for the Association exclusively. The Canadian Fire Underwriters' Association was founded in 1883 for the purpose of standardizing fire insurance rules. This agreement ended in 1917, and in 1918, the Canadian Fire Underwriters' Association established its own plan making department. It was named the Underwriters' Survey Bureau Limited. At the same time, the Bureau acquired the exclusive rights from the Chas. E. Goad Company to revise and reprint the Goad plans. The Goad Company, which continued to exist until 1930, stopped producing fire insurance plans. In March 1931, the Underwriters' Survey Bureau purchased all of the assets of the Chas. E. Goad Company, including copyright. The Underwriters' Survey Bureau continued to produce fire insurance plans for the cities and towns in Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes. The Canadian Fire Underwriters' Association remained responsible for the production of plans in the western provinces and the B.C. Underwriters' Association was responsible for plans in British Columbia. In 1960, these regional operations were amalgamated with the production of plans under the centralized Plan Division of the Canadian Underwriters' Association. In 1975, the Association changed its name to the Insurer's Advisory Organization, and at the same time, decided to cease fire insurance plan production and sell all plan inventory. This was the end of 100 years of continuous fire insurance plan production in Canada. (Taken from: Hayward, Robert J. "Fire Insurance Plans in the National Map Collection." Ottawa: Library and Archives Canada, 1977.)
