Paul Langan

  Here is a great Hespeler born goalie now in retirement.  Russell Howard Gillow (born September 2, 1940 in Hespeler, Ontario) is a retired professional ice  hockey player who played 109 games in the World Hockey Association with the Los Angeles Sharks and San Diego Mariners. As a 32-year-old rookie in the 1972–73 WHA season, Gillow was 2nd to Cleveland's Gerry Cheevers in lowest goals against average and helped the Los Angeles Sharks to a 3rd-place finish and playoff berth. When Bruce Gamble suffered a career ending heart attack while playing for the Flyers they were left without a backup goalie during a West Coast road trip, far away from their minor league affiliates. Russ Gillow was playing for the Spokan Jets of the Western International Hockey League when he was offered a job by the Flyers.  Gillow dressed as Doug Favell's backup for just one game. While he never made it back to the NHL, the World Hockey Associated came calling the next season and Gillow would go onto pla

  Today is the 65th anniversary of the tragic rail crash in Galt, Ontario that claimed two lives. Canadian Pacific doubleheader through freight train #903 slammed into "extra" train #5186 which was working at the station and pulled out of the siding. The crash which destroyed the bridge and the spectacle of the damaged engines, just southeast of Galt Collegiate Institute was a site many have never forgotten. In January 2021, I released a  book on the crash titled, "Tragedy in Galt, the May 2nd, 1956 CP Rail Crash." The book features interviews with 4 surviving train crew completed between 1998 and 2020. Available at Wordsworth Books Waterloo , Amazon Worldwide , Kobo and Google Play. I also have limited copies at my house you could pick up in my mailbox.

  With all the insanity relating to the present housing pricing, it is fun to look back. This 11 page report was made to highlight Hespeler to any businesses or individuals thinking of moving here. Enjoy reading this. Here is the LINK . 

 As I mentioned in a previous post, I am working on making all my Hespeler, Ontario related booklets, catalogues that are in the Public Domain available to the public. Some are on the internet now, some are in my collection. I combine the best versions I can find and post them. This catalogue from the 1909 from the  Hespeler Manufacturing Company Ltd of wood working machinery has beautiful photos of the types of machinery used in making wood products. As the catalogue states., Manufacturers of High Grade Wood Tools - Hespeler Ontario. Here is the LINK to the catalogue. My book on Hespeler History - The Authorized Winfield Brewster Collection comes out in time for the holidays 2021.

  If you moved to Hespeler in the last twenty five years or so you remember the Stamped and Enamelled Ware Company Ltd on Guelph Avenue as the American Standard plant . It used to make bathtubs at the plant.  If you moved here recently, 80% of the Stamped Enamelled Plant and historic Hespeler Grist Mill has been wiped out. One building was saved and turned into condos and one new apartment building was built. The Stamped and Enamelled Ware Company has a very rich history. The catalogue has lots of interesting pots, pans, etc. that were made there. This publication is in the public domain. I tried to improve the quality of it. I hope everyone will enjoy seeing what one factory in Hespeler used to make. Click HERE for the 1918 catalogue. Feel free to share this post with friends. The Stamped and Enamelled Ware Plant, Hespeler, Ontario

Enjoy this film from the early 1900's showing the R Forbes Mill on Queen Street West. In 1874 Robert Forbes of Scotland purchased the Randall, Farr & Co. Woollen Mill on Queen St. West in Hespeler. The company was incorporated in 1888 as R. Forbes & Co. Ltd. with Robert's sons George and James serving as president and company director respectively. In 1895 with the passing of Robert and James, George took over full operation of the company building it into the largest textile mill in the British Commonwealth. George continued to lead the company until 1928 when it was sold to the Dominion Woollens and Worsteds Co. Ltd. Dominion Woollens and Worsteds Ltd. came into Hespeler in 1928 when the company purchased the R. Forbes Company Ltd. mill at what is now Queen St. West in Cambridge. The company would operate in Hespeler until 1959 when it went into receivership and was purchased by Silknit. As the largest woollens and worsteds mill in the British colonies at the time, th