History of Cambridge, ON

Then the City of Cambridge was founded in 1973 with the amalgamation of 3 cities Galt, Presto, and Hespeler.

The first city to be part of Cambridge is Galt. It began to form along the Grand River in the early 1800s. Because the river provides rich electricity it attracts industries such as grist mills, visual pillars, foundries textile industries, distilleries, and tanneries. The wealth of jobs and the demand of the merchant have attracted many European immigrants.

The railway reached Galt in 1879. This attracted many businesses. The Galt Grammar School opened in 1852. As a boy from a boarding school, we soon established ourselves as one of the top schools in Ontario. In 1884 it became a school for boys and girls. After World War I this renowned building was renamed the Galt Collegiate center. A large post office was set up in the center of Galt in 1886. This fine piece of architecture was designated a Canadian site in 1993. It is currently being renovated and converted into a public library.

The second city to eventually become part of Cambridge is Preston. It was founded by a group of Pennsylvania Mennonites who bought the land from six Indian tribes in the early 1800s. Long before the city merged into Cambridge it was home to many taverns and hotels. The spring of sulfur attracted many visitors because it had the healing power of arthritic conditions due to its high mineral content. In the early years, Preston began to attract a few industries that included furniture manufacturing, cart manufacturing, milling, and foundation.

As the population continued to grow some industries exploded in the river of speed. This included the production of shoes, textiles, and the production of stoves.

Hespeler, the third city to be part of Cambridge, was founded in 1798 when the land was purchased from the first Indians of the United Nations by the Pennsylvania Mennonites. The city was an industrial center that attracted mills, hides, shoe manufacturers, metalworkers, and sawmills.