Wellington County By Fred Dahms Copyright © The Ontario Historical Society, 2009 Ce document est protégé par la loi sur le droit d’auteur. L’utilisation des services d’Érudit (y compris la reproduction) est assujettie à sa politique d’utilisation que vous pouvez consulter en ligne. https://apropos.erudit.org/fr/usagers/politique-dutilisation/ Cet article est diffusé et préservé par Érudit. Érudit est un consortium interuniversitaire sans but lucratif composé de l’Université de Montréal, l’Université Laval et l’Université du Québec à Montréal. Il a pour mission la promotion et la valorisation de la recherche. https://www.erudit.org/fr/ Document généré le 5 avr. 2021 21:39 Ontario History Wellington County By Fred Dahms Karen Dearlove Volume 101, numéro 1, spring 2009 URI : https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1065685ar DOI : https://doi.org/10.7202/1065685ar Aller au sommaire du numéro Éditeur(s) The Ontario Historical Society ISSN 0030-2953 (imprimé) 2371-4654 (numérique) Découvrir la revue Citer ce compte rendu Dearlove, K. (2009). Compte rendu de [Wellington County By Fred Dahms]. Ontario History, 101(1), 115–116. https://doi.org/10.7202/1065685ar https://apropos.erudit.org/fr/usagers/politique-dutilisation/ https://www.erudit.org/fr/ https://www.erudit.org/fr/ https://www.erudit.org/fr/revues/onhistory/ https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1065685ar https://doi.org/10.7202/1065685ar https://www.erudit.org/fr/revues/onhistory/2009-v101-n1-onhistory04955/ https://www.erudit.org/fr/revues/onhistory/ 11�book rev�ews regarding this shift. Overall I find A Silent Revolution an intriguing addition to Canadian historical geography and a text that would be fascinat- ing for exploration at higher levels of under- graduate or graduate classroom study. This text would be invaluable to those seeking to explore aspects of historical change in Ham- ilton and Victoria, as Baskerville’s meticu- lous attention to records of the time commu- nicates a vast amount of detail. Still, I find this volume most significant in its broader contributions to understanding historical gendered identities. Baskerville’s findings provide an intriguing examination of wom- en’s identities as property owners, and of the shifts in laws and governance that influenced the ability of women to conduct themselves as people in control of wealth. Glenna Harris, McMaster University Fred Dahms’ interest and background in geography is evident throughout the readable text and abundance of lavish pho- tographs in Wellington County. A founding member of the University of Guelph’s Depart- ment of Geography, Dahms’ enthusiasm and appreciation for his subject is clear. Author of several non-academic books exploring the history and geography that characterizes the small communities and landscapes of Cana- da, Dahms’ newest work is a treat for amateur historians and geographers, as well as resi- dents of Wellington County or day-trippers searching for an afternoon’s adventure. Dahms begins with the natural envi- ronment, exploring the ancient geographic development of the area and the impact of water and stone on the settlement of Wel- lington County. From the gorges on the Grand River, to Luther Marsh and the ket- tle lake at Puslinch, Dahms clearly describes the natural history and heritage. He explains how settlers exploited these natural features, by harnessing the power of water for mills or quarrying limestone for building material and gravel. Wellington County also addresses the impact of the human exploitation on the natural environment—the intensification of the annual flooding throughout the water- shed, for instance—and responses, such as building dams for flood control along the major waterways. The second chapter is devoted to the architectural history of stone building in the county, especially the abundance of limestone structures in Guelph and Fergus. Dahms’ text reads like heritage walking tours of these communities, highlighting the sig- nificant architectural treasures as well as providing tidbits of historical background. Throughout this chapter he links the past with the present, providing stories and ex- amples of how cherished and well-preserved historical buildings have been transformed for new uses. The Wellington County Mu- Wellington County By Fred Dahms Erin: Boston Mills Press, 2008. 158 pages. $39.95 hardcover. ISBN 1-55046-502-3 (www.bostonmillspress.com) 11� ONTARIO HISTORY seum and Archives, for example, inhabits an impressive building originally constructed as the Wellington County Home of Industry and Refuge, a poorhouse. Dahms explores the rural landscape of Wellington County through case studies of present agricultural endeavours. In one he examines the history of the family farm at Blythwood, from its beginnings in 1863 to the present day. Other examples look at what Dahms calls “modern pioneers,” like the Blue Haven Farm, a hobby farm in Eramosa Town- ship. As with his previous chapters, this one links the past to the present by highlighting the agricultural history of the area, including the Mennonite heritage and the University of Guelph’s School of Agriculture, and by la- menting the decline in family farms in recent years. Three chapters concentrate on the built communities in Wellington County, starting with a chapter-long portrait of Guelph. While the text goes back and forth between past and present, the majority of content highlights the modern city, its buildings and amenities. The neighbouring rival communities of Elora and Fergus are presented in a single chapter. Dahms contrasts Elora, heavily dependent on tourism, with Fergus, which still has an indus- trial base. In both cases he praises efforts to preserve historic buildings for modern uses, a persistent theme throughout the book. The chapter titled “Mill Towns, Historic Villages and Ghost Towns” is especially interesting for the backyard tourist. Even those readers famil- iar with Wellington County will find stories about settlements that have long since disap- peared—places they may have never heard of before. Dahms presents several reasons for the decline of these communities, including the beginning of rural mail delivery in 1911, the influx of motor vehicles and paved roads, and the general decline of industry in once- thriving mill towns. Chapter seven, “Arts and Artisans in Wellington County,” seems somewhat out of place in this otherwise cohesive volume. However, tourists to the county, as well as backyard tourists, may find the information useful and enjoyable. Dahms’ conclusion, “Towards a Sus- tainable Future,” brings together the themes explored throughout the book. He again la- ments family farms threatened by agribusi- ness, highlighting the environmental hazards posed by pesticide and chemical run-off. Ur- ban sprawl, sewage treatment, landfill sites, water supply, and urban congestion are all modern problems that threaten the commu- nities of Wellington County. Yet Dahms does not paint an overwhelmingly gloomy pic- ture of the future. He praises provincial and municipal plans that address these growth issues. He lauds local conservation authori- ties that preserve natural environments, and make efforts to preserve the built heritage. Concerned citizens, Dahms explains, are the key to preserving the history and natural her- itage of the area. Wellington County is both a visually beautiful book and an insightful one. Al- though it may be of limited use for academic historians, it might serve as a starting place for researching some of the interesting sto- ries of Wellington County, especially the long-deserted “ghost towns.” Dahms in- cludes a bibliography of his sources to guide further research. But for amateur historians and geographers it is an excellent example of a well-researched book of local interest that is both readable and knowledgeable. It is es- pecially of interest for those wishing to ex- plore Wellington County for the first time, or local citizens looking to learn more about their own communities. Karen Dearlove McMaster University