Editing Guelph (section)

===Founding of Guelph===
[[File:John Galt bust.jpg|thumb|upright|Bust of John Galt, downtown Guelph]]

[[John Galt (novelist)|John Galt]], the first Superintendent of the [[Canada Company]], was hired to help colonize Upper Canada.<ref name="ldrb.ca">{{cite web |url=https://www.ldrb.ca/pages/books/3500/john-esq-galt/the-autobiography-of-john-galt |title=The Autobiography of John Galt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404035306/https://www.ldrb.ca/pages/books/3500/john-esq-galt/the-autobiography-of-john-galt |publisher=Lord Durham Rare Books|archive-date=April 4, 2015}}</ref> He selected Guelph as the headquarters of this British development firm. Galt was a popular [[Scotland|Scottish]] poet and novelist who also designed the town to attract settlers and farmers to the surrounding countryside.<ref name="encyclopedia">{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]|title=Guelph|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/guelph|access-date=September 8, 2019|last=Stelter|first=G.A.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609040030/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/guelph|archive-date=June 9, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> His design intended the town to resemble a European city centre, complete with squares, broad main streets and narrow side streets, resulting in a variety of block sizes and shapes which are still in place today.<ref name="history">{{cite web|title=About Guelph: History|publisher=City of Guelph|url=http://guelph.ca/living/about-guelph/|access-date=July 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719191644/http://guelph.ca/living/about-guelph/|archive-date=July 19, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The street plan was laid out in a radial street and grid system that branches out from downtown,<ref name="electricscotland.com">{{cite book|url=http://www.electricscotland.com/canada/guelph/guelphbook.pdf|title=Guelph: A People's Heritage 1827-2002|first=Hilary|last=Stead|pages=8–10|access-date=July 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302021902/https://www.electricscotland.com/Canada/guelph/guelphbook.pdf|archive-date=March 2, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> a technique which was also employed in other planned towns of this era, such as [[Buffalo, New York]].<ref name="encyclopedia"/>

[[File:1855 Map of Guelph.jpg|thumb|Map of Guelph, 1855]]

The founding was symbolized by the felling of a tree by Galt and [[William "Tiger" Dunlop]], who would be significant in the history of [[Goderich, Ontario]], on April 23, 1827.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8407AAAAMAAJ&q=1827+guelph++tiger+dunlop|title=A history of agriculture in Ontario|first=George Elmore|last=Reaman|date=March 25, 1970|publisher=Saunders of Toronto|via=Google Books|access-date=January 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013093332/https://books.google.ca/books?id=8407AAAAMAAJ&q=1827+guelph++tiger+dunlop|archive-date=October 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Burrows |first=C. Acton |title=The Annals of the town of Guelph, 1827 - 1877 |year=1877 |publisher=Herald Steam Printing House |location=Guelph |url=https://archive.org/stream/annalstownguelp00burrgoog#page/n18/mode/1up |page=12 |access-date=May 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010055911/https://archive.org/stream/annalstownguelp00burrgoog#page/n18/mode/1up |archive-date=October 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> That was [[St. George's Day]], the [[feast day]] of the [[patron saint]] of [[England]].

The name ''Guelph'' comes, via the Italian ''Guelfo'', from the [[Bavarian language|Bavarian]] ''Welf''. It is a reference to the [[House of Welf]], and was chosen to honour [[George IV of the United Kingdom|King George IV]]—the reigning British monarch at the time of the city's founding—whose family, the [[House of Hanover|Hanover]]ians, descended from the Welfs.<ref name="history"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.firabcn.es/content/areaExpositor/S085013/2051118/featureProduct/920210/2013IntlHandbookUofG.pdf|title=International Handbook 2013|author=University of Guelph<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=2013|website=Media Firabcn Spain|access-date=March 25, 2017|quote=The city was named in 1827 to honour the British Empire’s King George IV, whose family name was Gwelf. The spelling has been altered over time, but it is pronounced just as it was 185 years ago and rhymes with ‘self’.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202053053/http://media.firabcn.es/content/areaExpositor/S085013/2051118/featureProduct/920210/2013IntlHandbookUofG.pdf|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> It is for this reason that the city has the nickname ''The Royal City''.<ref name="electricscotland.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://guelphmuseums.ca/guelph-rome-and-the-origin-of-a-history-myth/|title=Guelph, Rome, and the origin of a History Myth|date=August 2015|publisher=Guelph Museums|access-date=July 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005055055/http://guelphmuseums.ca/guelph-rome-and-the-origin-of-a-history-myth/|archive-date=October 5, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The directors of the Canada Company had actually wanted the city to be named Goderich, because [[F. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich|Viscount Goderich]] had helped form the company, but reluctantly accepted the name Guelph.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WMoff9FmbiMC&q=1827+guelph++village&pg=PA63 |title=The Canada Company and the Huron Tract 1826-1853 |page=64 |first=Robert C. |last=Lee |date=2004 |publisher=Natural History, Inc. |isbn=9781770704428 |access-date=July 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013093250/https://books.google.ca/books?id=WMoff9FmbiMC&pg=PA63&lpg=PA63#v=onepage&q=1827%20guelph%20%20village&f=true |archive-date=October 13, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Galt constructed what was one of the first buildings in the community to house early settlers and the Canada Company office; "The Priory" (built 1827–1828).<ref name="electricscotland.com"/> was located on the banks of the Speed River near the current [[River Run Centre]] for performing arts and could house up to 100 people.<ref name="electricscotland.com"/><ref name="therecord.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.therecord.com/living-story/6757318-historic-priory-residence-ended-up-as-firewood/|title=Historic Priory residence ended up as firewood|first=Cameron|last=Shelley|date=July 2, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Shelley |first=Cameron |date=July 2, 2016 |title=Historic Priory residence ended up as firewood |url=http://www.therecord.com/living-story/6757318-historic-priory-residence-ended-up-as-firewood/ | work=Waterloo Region Record |location=Kitchener |access-date=March 22, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://guelphpostcards.blogspot.ca/2013/03/the-priory.html |website=Guelph in postcards |title=The Priory |last=Shelley |first=Cameron |date=March 6, 2013 |publisher=Cameron Shelley |access-date=March 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323053515/http://guelphpostcards.blogspot.ca/2013/03/the-priory.html |archive-date=March 23, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The building eventually became the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] Priory station on the [[Guelph Junction Railway]] before it was eventually torn down and removed.<ref name="virtualreferencelibrary.ca">{{cite web |website=Digital Archive Ontario |url=https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMDC-PCR-615&R=DC-PCR-615&searchPageType=dao |title=First house in Guelph: Built in 1827, now C.P.R. station, Guelph, Ont. |publisher=Toronto Public Library |access-date=July 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ghra.ca/about.html|publisher=The Guelph Historical Railway Association|title=About the GHRA|access-date=July 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805015056/http://www.ghra.ca/about.html|archive-date=August 5, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> A historical plaque commemorates John Galt's role with the Canada Company in populating [[Upper Canada]]'s [[Huron Tract]], calling it "the most important single attempt at settlement in Canadian history".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.waynecook.com/awellington.html |title=Historical Plaques of Wellington County |publisher=Wayne Cook |quote=Plaque #4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325011227/http://www.waynecook.com/awellington.html |archive-date=March 25, 2017}}</ref> (Galt was responsible for finding settlers for the 42,000 acre Halton Block that would become Guelph and its townships but also for the one million acre Huron Tract that stretched to [[Goderich, Ontario]].)<ref name="electricscotland.com"/>

By the fall of 1827, 70 houses had been built, though some were primitive.<ref name="electricscotland.com"/> In that year, the community had hired its first police constable; the first police station would be opened in 1856 at the town hall and it was moved in 1900 to the Annex building behind the court house.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.guelphpolice.ca/en/about-gps/history.aspx?_mid_=13288 |title=About GPS: History |publisher=Guelph Police Service |access-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330195335/https://www.guelphpolice.ca/en/about-gps/history.aspx?_mid_=13288 |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Also in 1827, the first [[Guelph Farmers' Market]] was built; the Market House was located in the downtown area.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://guelph.ca/living.cfm?smocid=2637 |title=Market History |publisher=City of Guelph |archive-date=November 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101102100221/http://guelph.ca/living.cfm?smocid=2637 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Founded in 1827, James Hodgert's brewery was managed by John Sleeman until he bought a property and opened the Silver Creek Brewery in 1851. (In 1843, there were nine breweries serving the 700 people living in Guelph.)<ref>{{cite book |title=Guelph: A People's Heritage 1827-2002 |url=http://www.electricscotland.com/canada/guelph/guelphbook.pdf |first=Hilary |last=Stead |page=11 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302021902/https://www.electricscotland.com/Canada/guelph/guelphbook.pdf |archive-date=March 2, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:The Spring Mill Distillery in a part of the defunct Allan's Mill built in 1850, Guelph.jpg|thumb|Part of [[Allan's Mill]], built in 1850, still stands in downtown Guelph]]

The first Board of Commerce also started in 1827, to stimulate economic growth; in 1866, it would be renamed the Board of Trade, and in 1919, it became the Chamber of Commerce.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.guelphchamber.com/Explore/history |title=History |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331144024/https://www.guelphchamber.com/Explore/history |archive-date=March 31, 2017 |publisher=Guelph Chamber of Commerce}}</ref> In order to eliminate the need for farmers to take their grain to Galt or Dundas for grinding, the Canada Company built the first grist mill; the Guelph Mill was sold to William Allen in 1832.<ref name="electricscotland.com"/> A sawmill was erected in 1833 by Charles Julius Mickle, originally from Scotland,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electricscotland.com/canada/guelph/historyndx.htm|title=The History of Guelph|website=electricscotland.com}}</ref> on the Marden Creek which runs into the Speed River; its ruin survives today. The Mickle family also built a home nearby, a year earlier. Both properties were off what is now Highway 6, an area that was Guelph Township at the time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ignatiusguelph.ca/about/milestones/|title=Milestones}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/mickle_sara_15E.html|title=Biography – MICKLE, SARA – Volume XV (1921-1930) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography|website=www.biographi.ca}}</ref>

In 1829, the Canada Company fired Galt because of poor bookkeeping and not obeying company policies.<ref name="ldrb.ca"/> He returned to Great Britain penniless and was imprisoned because he was unable to pay his debts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.electricscotland.com/history/other/johngalt.htm |title=Significant Scots - John Galt |website=www.electricscotland.com |access-date=January 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122072733/http://www.electricscotland.com/history/other/johngalt.htm |archive-date=January 22, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1831, Guelph had approximately 800 residents.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/emigrationadvan00cattgoog |quote=1827 guelph established as village. |title=Emigration, the advantages of emigration to Canada, the substance of two lectures |publisher=Simpkin and Marshall |first=William |last=Cattermole |date=May 1831 |access-date=March 25, 2018|page=[https://archive.org/details/emigrationadvan00cattgoog/page/n48 32]|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> For several years, the economy of the village suffered and some residents moved away; relief came in the form of wealthy immigrants from England and Ireland who arrived in 1832.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bZRE9gaBnvAC&q=glenockie&pg=PA48 |title=Shaping the Urban Landscape: Aspects of the Canadian City-Building Process |first=Gilbert |date=1982 |publisher=Carleton University Press |last=Stelter |page=33 |isbn=9780773584860 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013132827/https://books.google.ca/books?id=bZRE9gaBnvAC&pg=PA48#v=onepage&q=glenockie&f=false |archive-date=October 13, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The ''Smith's Canadian Gazetteer'' of 1846 indicates that the town had a jail and court house made of cut stone, a weekly newspaper, five churches/chapels and a population of 1,240; most were from England and Scotland with a few from Ireland. In addition to many tradesmen, the community had 15 stores, seven taverns, and some industry, tanneries, breweries, distilleries and a starch factory. The Post Office was receiving mail daily.<ref>{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Wm. H. |date=1846 |title=Smith's Canadian Gazetteer - Statistical and General Information Respecting all parts of The Upper Province, or Canada West |url=https://archive.org/details/smithscanadianga00smit |location=Toronto |publisher=H. & W. Rowsell |page=[https://archive.org/details/smithscanadianga00smit/page/72 72] |access-date=March 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403155457/https://archive.org/details/smithscanadianga00smit |archive-date=April 3, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>