London In 1812 and 1912

I am not very good at looking ahead - so what was London like 200 and 100 years ago ? Here is where Daniel Brock’s book “Fragments From the Forks - London Ontario’s Legacy”, The Aylmer Expess Ltd., 2011 comes in handy. The following are highlights for the two years.
1812:
There are only two entries.

Mahlon Burwell is elected in June to represent the sixth Parliament of the Upper Canada for the riding of Oxford and Middlesex. The election apparently was rigged. Like that is not going to happen again !
Captain Peter Chambers of the 41^st. Regiment of Foot together with the flank companies of Oxford Militia march along the Commissioners Road to Delaware. This was to create a diversion on General William Hull’s flank.

London at that time consisted of trees, swamp, quicksand, and rock. There is no indication as to whether or not the squirrels, skunks, raccoons, and deer supported the British or the Americans. The mosquitoes, of course, went after both.

1912:
On January 23 the Young Hebrews’ Social Club is organized.

In March the first Ukrainian Mass is celebrated in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church.

On May 25 Beckwith Havens , a staff member of the Glen Curtis Aeroplane Factory, conducts the first air flight over London. Apparently, it started at Carling Farm (to the east of London) flew over Tecumseh Park (at the forks of the Thames), and lasted a whole twenty minutes.

On May 29 the Governor-General the Duke of Connaught, the Duchess, and their daughter Princess Patricia, pay an official visit to London.

On June 7 the London Humane Society is formed. and Lt.-Col. William M. Gartshore is elected President.

William M. Gartshore,

Ivey Family London Room, London Public Library, London, Ontario, Canada

The London Fire Department receives its’ first motorized fire truck on September 9^th - “Kaiser Bill”. In 1913 the truck is hit by a train.

On December 21 Knollwood Park, Pottersburg, Ealing, and Chelsea Green are annexed to London. The annexations are apparently due to the need to boost London’s population to 50,000 so that the city can run street cars on Sundays.