The Tao of Hespeler
Feb 7th, 2010 | By James Hillis | Section: CommunityThis article is in no way an attempt to attack anyone for there views, but just an attempt to explain why we in Hespeler hold the name and our past so dear.
So why do we hold on to the Hespeler name? Technically it no longer exists, and half the people living in Hespeler in all likelihood are not really concerned with it, and i don’t hold it against anyone for that, but those of us that grew up here have a strange mysticism about the Village on the Speed. And I am going to tell you why.
Many of us have family members that go back two or three generations, some even more. Many of the Old Hespeler residents had family members that were responsible for building what was once a thriving little town and like to think that we are keepers of our ancestors flame. Anyone under 40 may not understand what this town meant back then. Our location puts us in a weird spot as it is, but can you imagine what it was like even before the 401 cut through us? To go to Galt meant a bus ride, and not a Grand River transit bus, it was almost a day trip way back when. Now the 401 separates us from the rest of Cambridge(so it seems), and at one time,yes we were self sufficient. A fully operating mall, movie theater etc..
It was always a tight knit town, the Textile Mills employed many of the residents and everyone knew everyone. You could go to almost any local store and there was always credit waiting there for you, many times I was sent down Cooper Street to Eatons Varitey store to pick up grocerys with no money, just get what was needed and My mom or Dad would pay when they had it. We had a volunteer fire department and when something happened almost everyone in town would hear the fire siren and go to watch the men fight what ever fire there was. Hockey Sticks and Fine furniture were made here and the Speed River was majestic. Frank brix used to come to your house to cut your hair if you were sick or unable to get out. The textile festivals were something to behold, with a big parade and everything. Christmas eve would include a visit from santa down at town hall and a little something for all the kids. You knew the Police and of course they knew you. For my generation things changed a little bit and not for the better of course, at one time all kids from Hespeler went to Preston High School, but we were the first that had to deal with going to Galt Collegiate and that “here come the Hespeler rowdies” attitude.
So Hespeler holds something over us, as i am sure residents of Preston,Galt and every other small town in the 60’s and 70’s felt. Change is not what scares us, it is inevitable and ongoing and we know that, all we are trying to do is save a little piece of our Soul, and if we are wrong to do that then as the song say’s”I don’t want to be right”
For more of growing up in Hespeler check out Cooper Street Relic
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What James describes was similar where I grew up, in Deep River Ontario. My family moved to this little town of 5000 people in 1965, when I was just a little kid. No one locked their doors, and everyone knew everyone. The main employer was and is Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories, often referred to it as The Plant.
Many of the people I grew up with and I have since grown up and moved away to bigger cities, but we’ll always be small-town-people in our hearts. I think that’s why that although I’m an import, I too think Hespeler is great.
Louise Langlais (owner of Hespeler Animal Hospital, which ironically is in Galt)
Louise! I too lived in Deep River and found the people and the town one of the most interesting to live in.
Where else could you meet a real scientist and a brain doctor drinking at the local hotel. The hospital employees were from all over the world and brought their home cultures to the Deep. Lazy summers on the many beaches on the Ottawa, hunting and fishing, snow shoeing and cross country sking through the many trails was and still is first class. I lived in an old log cabin at point Alexander that was used by the hydro team at Rolfton and I used to go through a 50 pound bag of peanuts and bird seed a month feedin all my fury and featherd friends. I look forward to my next visit back to the Deep and like you will enjoy the fact that Hespeler and Deep River has that same small town feeling that makes you feel warm and fuzzy. I miss the friendly folks that knew more about what you were up too then they let on. I can’t wait to get back and have a Walleye Pickerel fry down at the river edge. Just got to find the time!
Hi Louise, Nice to see you posting again.. It’s ok to live in Galt.. lol
I also live in Galt.. the people are great here. I raised my children in West Galt.
I also lived in Preston until TCE came knocking at my basement door.
I grew up in Hespeler.. which I have to admit is where my heart is..
You can never replace small towns or the great memories..
The issue is… the amount of tax dollars, this council continues to throw at downtown Galt…
With little or no regard for the rest of Cambridge..
Sorry, you’re right.. I thought she was saying she lived in Galt.. I just re-read it..
I thought she was saying she owns Hespeler Animal Hospital but lived in Galt as if that was a bad thing
Someone else came on this weekend making comments about hating the people in Galt..(in jest of course)..and I mistakenly thought that was where she was going with her comments.. ( my mistake)
Hespeler, where my Inspiration comes from!