Map of the Town of Waterloo, circa 1890.
Map of the Town of Waterloo, circa 1890. |
Waterloo was settled in 1806 by Abraham Erb, a Mennonite from Pennsylvania. He built a sawmill on Beaver, now Laurel, Creek and in 1816 constructed the area's first grist mill. Farmers from miles around used this facility to grind their wheat into flour, an important nineteenth century staple. This industry promoted the settlement's importance as a commercial and social centre. Erb named his settlement Waterloo Township, created in 1816 and named after the famous British victory in Europe.
Although there was much interest by prospective settlers, Erb refused to divide his land into lots. In 1828, he sold his two mills and most of his land to Jacob Schneider, or Snider, another immigrant from Pennsylvania who was equally reluctant to divide his land. It wasn't until the early 1850s that Snider's son Elias sold 320 acres of his land to John Hoffman and Isaac Weaver who subdivided and sold lots at auction. Within three years Waterloo was incorporated as a village. Continued economic prosperity and growth led to Waterloo becoming a town in 1876 and a city in 1948.
By 1948, Waterloo was an active centre industrially and commercially. Several insurance companies developed home offices in the City. There was a brewery and a large distillery, furniture manufacturing and metal foundries. Houses built by the industrialists were large, surrounded by verandahs and usually facing the main, tree-lined streets. Workers houses were neat yellow brick structures within walking distance of factories and stores.
Since 1948, many changes have taken place in Waterloo. The financial and insurance business continues to thrive but the industrial base has been replaced by high technology. Many of these new companies have arisen from the University of Waterloo, founded in 1957 and Wilfrid Laurier University which grew out of Waterloo College, a former Lutheran off-campus college of the University of Western Ontario in London.
With a population of over 104,000 (2003), the City continues to grow and expand. But Waterloo proudly maintains a small town atmosphere and exhibits the stability and individuality established by our community's founders.
Written by Ellis Little for the publication "Waterloo Historical Walking Tours".