Harold L. H. Witter

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-67999

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-67994
• Immigration: 1861, , Canada
• Immigration: 1881, , Canada
• Occupation: 1901, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer Moulder
• Occupation: 1911, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer, Knife Works
• Residence: 1911, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican

James married Rebecca Jane Robb 26 Oct 1882, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada. Rebecca (daughter of James Robb and Ellen Graham) was born 16 Apr 1858, , Ontario, Canada; died 1941; was buried , Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Rebecca Jane Witter
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-67995
• Residence: 1911, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-73981

James — Ellen Graham. Ellen was born 1 Aug 1831, , Ireland; died 6 Sep 1912, Cockburn Island, Manitoulin, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Ellen Robb
• Occupation: tollgate operator
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-73986

Notes:

Man inherits lock for old Galt tollgate.


The lock Ken Simpson holds is large and heavy, made to withstand the perils of time. It was passed down to him from his father, Oscar, and once secured the tollgate that crossed the old Stone road at the corner of Main Street and the Dundas Highway.

Most people would be surprised to learn that if you lived in Galt in the 1800s, or were a farmer just down the highway towards Dundas, and you wanted to use that road, you were required to pay a toll.

More than a half-century ago Howard Cant discovered A photograph of the old toll gate amongst his souvenirs of the past. The Galt Reporter reprinted it almost immediately, evoking many memories for old-time residents. But by a strange coincidence, 79-year-old Albert Robb was visiting town from Thessalon and had been interviewed by a reporter just days before. It was his first visit to his old hometown in 60 years, since he left Galt at the age of 19 in 1890. As a boy his chore was to open the gate for travellers over the old road.

Albert's mother, Mrs. Jas. Robb, had operated the toll gate before Patrick White. The fee at that time was five Cents. White, who was also a milkman in town, was the last gatekeeper. He lived in close proximity to the tollgate headquarters, in a big white frame house in which his grandson, Ed Taylor, was to inhabit. Pat White's sons, Jim and Ed, took turns as gatekeepers. By then, the fee had gone up to 10 cents a vehicle, though farmers paid a reduced annual fee because of their frequent use of the road to do business.

The old Stone road to Dundas, originally of corduroy construction, was privately built. It had been the main incoming road to Galt since the town was founded in 1816, and it had been difficult to build, as it crossed the Beverly Swamp, where it is said that some people who entered were never seen again.

AS for the lock that came down to Ken Simpson, the story of how it made its way into his hands is rather interesting.

As was noted, Ken inherited the lock from his father Oscar. Oscar was given the lock from Harold Jenkins. Jenkins, who never married, was a local thrasher who went to the Ed Taylor farm (where the Swiss Chalet/Harvey's, as well as South Cambridge Centre are now located) to thrash. Hooked over the granary board in the barn, which became a coal shed, was this lock, a lock that was old even then.

Said Harold to Ed: "If you're going to leave that lock there, then I'm going to take it home."

Replied Ed: "Well, if you're going to take it home, I'm going to get the key for you."

Jenkins had quite a collection of historical memorabilia and wanted the lock to go to Oscar Simpson, who farmed out near Branchton. Among the Jenkins' memorabilia was a bike that his older brother once rode over a high wire stretched across Niagara Falls. For years, recalls Ken, the bike sat collecting dust up in the hayloft of the Branchton Hotel barn that Harold's mother had run. She was a Hammer stein from the States, and related to the musical Oscar Hammerstein of Rodgers and Hammerstein fame.

Journalist Dave Menary is a lifelong residence of Cambridge. His column runs every Tuesday.

Cambridge Times 14 Jan 2003