In mid March, 2021, I slipped down to the Kitchener / Waterloo region for the sole purpose of grabbing some stock photography. I was able to capture what I wanted and much more. Although the area is emerging as the tech centre for Canada, there is quite a bit of history to be found from a more industrial age in the city. Of course, the arrival of the Pennsylvania Dutch at the turn of the 19th century certainly has left its mark on the region.
Here’s a quick look at six spots of historical significance that are easy to find…
Waterloo Region Historic Sites
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Kitchener VIA Station
The current train station that stands at the corner of Weber Street and Victoria Street in downtown Kitchener, Ontario, Canada was built in 1897 by the Grand Trunk Railway. It replaced a smaller station that was built a few decades earlier in 1856.
Originally named Berlin Station, it was switched to Kitchener Station when the city changed its name during World War 1. Canadian National has been anything but kind to the structure over the years. A prominent clock tower once stood above the front entrance but that was removed in 1966 by CN. The station was even slated for demolition by CN in 1978 but they were stopped.
Since, the building has been designated a Railway Heritage Station under the Canadian Heritage Railway Station Protection Act. It is still active, receiving a couple VIA trains each day, along with GO Transit service on weekdays.
Old City Hall Clock Tower (Victoria Park)
This one has an interesting story and one that’s a bit controversial with longtime residents of Kitchener. The clock tower was included in the Kitchener City Hall that opened in 1924. However, just under fifty years later, the city hall building was demolished in favour of the one that stands now. The decision to raze the building was not a favourite of the people of Kitchener.
The clock tower was dismantled stone by stone and put into storage. In 1995, it was reassembled in its current location at the eastern gates of Victoria Park. The spot is just off downtown, off Joseph Street.
The Tannery (Lang Tannery Building)
Certainly not beautiful. But, The Tannery will catch your eye. Located at 151 Charles Street, the Lang Tannery Company constructed this building between 1896 and 1917. Until 1954, it was the largest leather tanning facility in the entire British Empire.
The Tannery began redevelopment in 2009 and has been converted to retail and office space. Throughout the 350,000 square foot facility these days, you’re much more likely to find Google employees than anyone who actually knows what a tannery even is.
Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower
It looks like something that would fit right in at The Shire from the Lord Of The Rings. The Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower is a 18.9 metre or 62 foot tall structure made of fieldstone. It was built in 1926 to commemorate the arrival of Mennonites (Pennsylvania Dutch) to the area.
Now under the care of Parks Canada, until 2008 visitors could enter through the single entrance and climb the wooden stairs to the top. It is now gated off. The weather vein at the top of the tower is in the shape of a conestoga wagon which many of the Pennsylvania Dutch used to travel to the area.
Located at Kuntz Park, this is an excellent access point for the Walter Bean Grand River Trail. This multi-use trail follows the river for 25 kilometres. The park can be found at the end of Lookout Lane in the southern part of Kitchener, just north of Highway 401.
Galt Arena Gardens
A hockey arena? Aren’t there old hockey arenas all over Ontario? Well, yes. But, the Galt Arena Gardens is not only historically significant to Waterloo Region but to the entire world.
The venue at 98 Shade Street in Cambridge (Galt) opened in January, 1922. It is the oldest continuously operating ice hockey arena in the world. Originally, it had seating for 2,000 spectators. After some renovations, that number has been reduced to 1,100.
Currently home to the Cambridge Redhawks of the GOJHL, the Galt Arena Gardens housed an OHA Junior A (now Ontario Hockey League) franchise from 1943 to 1955. Over that time, the team was called the Canadians, Red Wings, Rockets and Black Hawks.
The legend is that Gordie Howe played junior hockey here before his legendary NHL career got under way. However, Howe appeared in just a single game with the Galt Red Wings in 1944-45. After the game, he was deemed ineligible to compete at the level. The game was later erased from the record after the opponent withdrew from the league.
Other NHL alumni who played in the venue include Bronco Horvath, Terry Sawchuk and Marty Pavelich, among others.
Old Galt City Hall
I had no plans to see this one. After visiting the Galt Arena Gardens, I thought I’d swoop over to the downtown for some candid street shots. I parked near this building and it really stood out. Plus, it gave me a chance to really give the range of the Tamron 18-200mm zoom lens a workout.
This Italianate Design building opened in November, 1858, a year after Galt was incorporated as a town. The Galt City Hall was built of local limestone and fieldstone. The building at 46 Dickson Street was renovated in 1965 and 1990 and, together with the newer adjacent building, make up the City Hall for the City of Cambridge.
Related Driving Tour Videos Of This Area
We’ve previously published driving tour videos of this area at our YouTube Channel.
Cambridge (Galt, Preston, Hespeler)
