James Fenwick

Other Events:

• Interesting: fire, life story
• Residence: 536 King St. E., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-351042
• Occupation: 1871, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Finisher
• Occupation: 1881, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Machinist
• Occupation: 1891, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Machinist
• Residence: 1891, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican
• Public Service: 8 Nov 1892, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Preston Fire Brigade
• Occupation: 1901, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Machinist
• Occupation: 1911, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Machinist, Foundry
• Residence: 1911, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican

Notes:

James Fenwick was born 26 Jun 1846 and took an active part in the affairs of Preston. A machinist by trade he worked for Clare Bros. Ltd. He served on Preston's Light and Water Commission. He raised the electric light wires in 1893 and in 1895 was awarded a 5 years contract to produce electricity for Preston street lights. He set up a water-powered generator in Blair to produce the electricity and was paid 17 cents for the power used each night.


Cambridge Mosaic , Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [abbreviated snippet from original text in book]
_______________

BLAIR SUPPLIED PRESTON WITH HYDRO, ELECTRIC POWER

BY Nonie Beck Pryce

James Fenwick owned and operated the first electric light plant in Preston in 1891. Records in the Town Treasurer's office show that the first account in Preston's books was registered in 1891 when they paid $407,00 for street lighting. There were power shortages and the burden fell on the shoulders of the owner. Mr. Fenwick first operated his steam plant and dynamo in Harry Hamacher's Carriage Shop on King Street. The street lights were turned off at twelve o 'clock. I believe that on moonlight nights they did not come on.

A steam plant was expensive and waterpower was much cheaper so the plant was moved to Blair on the property of Charles Beck. There was a big stone building on this property which had first been a tannery, run by Bechtels, then a distillery owned by Thomas Reed.

Even in those days there were dry speels, and the water power had to be supplemented with steam generated power.

In winter storms raged bringing down poles and wires. A Privately owned plant had lots of trouble. Collections were made from customers every Monday morning. While in Blair an opposition plant was started by John Shearer, chiefly supplying light for homes.

After a number of years Mr. Fenwick moved back to Preston, renting a room and steam power from Clare Bros. In 1910 Preston built a municipal plant and agreed to take 600 horsepower from Hydro, Community" dances were blacked out at midnight unless arrangements were made to have the power left on, then a fee of a dollar an hour was charged.

Grand River Womens' Institute

Public Service:
From Minute Book of Preston Fire Brigade

James married Susanna Maier 8 Aug 1870, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Susanna (daughter of John Meyer and Elizabeth) was born 13 May 1851, , Germany; died 10 Nov 1931, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 12 Nov 1931, Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Ida Henning
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-112313
• Residence: 1891, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic
• Residence: 1911, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Catholic

Ida married Frank William Henning 30 Apr 1900, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Frank (son of Joseph Henning and Annie Elizabeth Aspenleiter) was born 19 Sep 1872, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 27 Sep 1945, Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Nettie Angell
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-351044
• Residence: 1891, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic
• Occupation: 1911, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Libraian, Public Library
• Residence: 1911, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican

Nettie married Alfred W. Angell 19 Jun 1918, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Alfred was born 1879, Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada; died 4 Nov 1960, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Preston Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Amelia McCurry
• Name: Melia Fenwick
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-88294
• Residence: 1891, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic
• Residence: 1911, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican

Amelia married Henry J. McCurry 17 Apr 1899, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Henry (son of Patrick McCurry and Emily Foley) was born 14 Feb 1876, Parry Sound, Parry Sound District, Ontario; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-231043
• Residence: 1911, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-88295

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-88296
• Residence: 1911, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-231046
• Residence: 1911, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican