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People and organizations
C34 · Corporate body · 1978-2013

The first circulating library in Guelph appeared in the rear of the general store operated by one of the city's early merchants, Thomas Sandilands, in 1832. For more than fifteen years, this small collection of books remained the closest thing to a public library in Guelph. On January 14, 1850, a number of local citizens met for the purpose of organizing a Farmers' and Mechanics' Institute in Guelph. Within a few months, a library was collected and a reading room was opened for the use of the members. In addition to the operation of a lending library, the objective of the Guelph Farmers' and Mechanics' Institute was to encourage the diffusion of knowledge among its members through the delivery of lectures and instruction in reading. With the passage of the Free Libraries Act in 1882, Guelph became one of the first communities in Ontario to take advantage of the Act's provisions to establish a public library supported by local taxes. In 1883, the Guelph Free Public Library was founded. The Mechanics' Institute agreed to transfer its holdings and jurisdiction to the new Board of Management of the Guelph Free Public Library on March 15, 1883. The new library occupied premises adjacent to the former City Hall building until 1905. As the library grew and services expanded, a new facility was needed.
The City of Guelph was one of the first North American municipalities to receive a grant from the Carnegie Foundation, a philanthropic charity of American steel magnate, Andrew Carnegie, to build a new library. When the new Carnegie Library was completed in 1905, the Guelph Public Library moved to its present location at the corner of Norfolk and Paisley Streets.

The Carnegie building, though beautiful, proved too small for Guelph's growing population. In 1964, the Carnegie Library was demolished and, after months in a temporary residence, the current main library opened its doors in November of 1965. A new addition to the main library building was completed in 1975.

The Guelph Public Library continued to grow in order to meet the demands of the City's physical expansion and growth in population. During the late 70's and early 80's, a traveling bookmobile and two satellite branches were added, providing citizens with neighbourhood libraries where they could easily browse for reading material. A third branch in the West End was completed in 2001. Further growth in the City's south end resulted in a fourth branch, Westminster Square, located at 100-31 Farley Drive which opened in November 2006. A fifth branch, the East Side Branch, opened in May 2010.

With the addition of the virtual library, the Guelph Public Library is fulfilling its mission to serve the changing needs of the local population by becoming a gateway to the information networks of the world.

Goldie (family)
C4 · Family · 1824 - [194-?]

The Goldie family members were prominent mill owners, citizens and politicians in Guelph. James Goldie (1824-1912) and his wife, Frances Owen (1824-1908) and young son Thomas (1850-1892), moved to Guelph in 1850 from Utica, New York, where James had learned the milling trade. After his arrival in Guelph, James Goldie bought and rebuilt two mills in the area. In 1860, he purchased a barrel and stave factory, located on present-day Speedvale Avenue by the Speed River. On this site, he built a flour mill and a new house for his family. In 1866, he also purchased the burned out remains and land of the People's Mill on Cardigan Street by the river. When this mill was rebuilt, he sold the Speedvale mill to John Pipe in 1867-1868. The family then moved into a house on Cardigan Street. By this time, James and Frances Goldie had four more sons, named John (1852-1904), James Owen (1854-1922), Roswell (1862-1931) and Lincoln (1894-1931).

Like his father, Thomas Goldie became a well educated man, having studied at the Wellington District Grammar School, McGill University in Montreal, and the Eastman National Business College in Poughkeepsie, New York. He also gained valuable business experience while working in Milwaukee and Montreal.

In 1876, Thomas Goldie married Emma J. Mitchell (1853-1940). She and Thomas lived in the house known as Rosehurst, originally built for Dr. William Clarke. Thomas and Emma had five children: Frances (1879- ), Ruth (1881- ), Thomas Leon (1882-1916), Roswell Thompson (1887- ) and Emma Gwendolyn (1890- ).

Thomas Goldie became the manager of his father's mill and acted as president, while his brothers, James Owen and Roswell, were vice-president and secretary of the company respectively. During these years, the mill continued to flourish with the addition of railway spur lines built in 1881 and 1888.

Thomas Goldie became involved in local politics and was elected as an alderman for the St. David's Ward in 1881, 1883, 1884, and 1885-1890, serving on various committees and boards.

Thomas also served as a high school trustee, from 1882 to 1884, and was an active leader of the Wellington Conservative Association, especially in Guelph. For nine years, he also served as the Chairman of the Board of Managers of Knox Church in Guelph.

In 1891, Thomas Goldie was elected mayor of Guelph and proceeded with an ambitious campaign of public works improvments, including the waterworks and distribution system, electrical delivery system, and construction of permanent sidewalks. He was also responsible for the hiring of Guelph's first City Engineer to manage these local improvement projects. Thomas was re-elected mayor in January, 1892. He died on February 4, 1892, the second of Guelph's mayors to die while in office.

For more historical information on the Goldie family, please see B.M. Durtnell's article: Guelph's Beloved Mayor. The article can be found in the Guelph Historical Society's publication, Historic Guelph, volume XXIX, September 1990, p. 4-15.

Goldie family collection
C4 · Family · ca. 1845-ca. 1970]

The Goldie family were prominent mill owners, citizens and politicians in Guelph. James Goldie (1824-1912) and his wife, Frances Owen (1824-1908) and young son Thomas (1850-1892), moved to Guelph in 1850 from Utica, New York, where James had learned the milling trade. After his arrival in Guelph, James Goldie bought and rebuilt two mills in the area. In 1860, he purchased a barrel and stave factory, located on present-day Speedvale Avenue by the Speed River. On this site, he built a flour mill and a new house for his family. In 1866, he also purchased the burned out remains and land of the People's Mill on Cardigan Street by the river. When this mill was rebuilt, he sold the Speedvale mill to John Pipe in 1867-1868. The family then moved into a house on Cardigan Street. By this time, James and Frances Goldie had four more sons, named John (1852-1904), James Owen (1854-1922), Roswell (1862-1931) and Lincoln (1894-1931).
Like his father, Thomas Goldie became a well educated man, having studied at the Wellington District Grammar School, McGill University in Montreal, and the Eastman National Business College in Poughkeepsie, New York. He also gained valuable business experience while working in Milwaukee and Montreal.

In 1876, Thomas Goldie married Emma J. Mitchell (1853-1940). She and Thomas lived in the house known as Rosehurst, originally built for Dr. William Clarke. Thomas and Emma had five children: Frances (1879- ), Ruth (1881- ), Thomas Leon (1882-1916), Roswell Thompson (1887- ) and Emma Gwendolyn (1890- ).

Thomas Goldie became the manager of his father's mill and acted as president, while his brothers, James Owen and Roswell, were vice-president and secretary of the company respectively. During these years, the mill continued to flourish with the addition of railway spur lines built in 1881 and 1888.

Thomas Goldie became involved in local politics and was elected as an alderman for the St. David's Ward in 1881, 1883, 1884, and 1885-1890, serving on various committees and boards.

Thomas also served as a high school trustee, from 1882 to 1884, and was an active leader of the Wellington Conservative Association, especially in Guelph. For nine years, he also served as the Chairman of the Board of Managers of Knox Church in Guelph.

In 1891, Thomas Goldie was elected mayor of Guelph and proceeded with an ambitious campaign of public works improvments, including the waterworks and distribution system, electrical delivery system, and construction of permanent sidewalks. He was also responsible for the hiring of Guelph's first City Engineer to manage these local improvement projects. Thomas was re-elected mayor in January, 1892. He died on February 4, 1892, the second of Guelph's mayors to die while in office.

For more historical information on the Goldie family, please see B.M. Durtnell's article: Guelph's Beloved Mayor. The article can be found in the Guelph Historical Society's publication, Historic Guelph, volume XXIX, September 1990, p. 4-15.