The streets of Guelph tell a fascinating story of change and evolution over the years, with names reflecting the city's rich history and development. Names like Fleet, Manchester, and Devonshire once marked familiar streets south of Waterloo Avenue but are now known as Yorkshire, Glasgow, and Dublin Streets. This is just one example of the many transformations that Guelph's street names have undergone, offering a glimpse into a time when the city was very different from what we know today.
That name didn't always know Waterloo Avenue itself—it was once Market Street, a bustling area with an electric street railway running down its centre. Interestingly, the name "Waterloo" wasn't attached to this street initially but was used for what is now Fountain Street. It's fascinating how these subtle changes and adaptations reveal how Guelph evolved.
For those familiar with the area, the south of Waterloo neighbourhood presents a particularly intriguing puzzle. Streets like Bristol Street, which today runs through this area, were once known by various names—Bedford, Bristol, and Webster—depending on the segment. As you sift through old maps and atlases of Guelph, it's easy to get lost in the shifting street names. Some streets have disappeared altogether, while others, like the Speed River, seem to have altered their course over time with some human intervention.
One of the best sources for unravelling the history of Guelph's streets is Ross Irwin's book, Guelph: Origin of Street Names, 1827-2008. The book meticulously traces the history behind many of the city's street names and provides an eye-opening account of how things have changed. It's a marvel that Guelph once had two Bridge and three John Streets. It's no wonder that giving directions back in those days must have been challenging!
While some name changes seem logical, such as eliminating duplicate street names, others reveal a deeper story about urban planning and the desire for consistency. For example, renaming Fleet, Manchester, and Devonshire to Yorkshire, Glasgow, and Dublin Streets south of Waterloo Avenue helped maintain consistency with their northern counterparts. The changes were part of a significant wave of renaming in 1956, which eliminated many duplicated street names and consistency applied across the city's streets.
Interestingly, some of these old names have made a comeback. Once abandoned, the name "Argyle" resurfaced in the late 1960s for a new street in a subdivision west of the Hanlon Expressway, proving that even old names can have a second life.
Guelph's old street names live on old maps, atlases, and even in unexpected places for those who enjoy exploring history through the streets they walk. For example, a small, embedded sidewalk stone at the corner of Dublin Street South and Essex Street serves as a tangible reminder of days gone by—memorializing a street name that may no longer be in use but has undoubtedly left its mark on the city's history.
As Guelph continues to grow and evolve, these historical street names remind us of the city's journey through time, a journey that is embedded in every corner of the streets we walk today.
The streets of Guelph tell a fascinating story of change and evolution over the years, with names reflecting the city's rich history and development. Names like Fleet, Manchester, and Devonshire once marked familiar streets south of Waterloo Avenue but are now known as Yorkshire, Glasgow, and Dublin Streets. This is just one example of the many transformations that Guelph's street names have undergone, offering a glimpse into a time when the city was very different from what we know today.
That name didn't always know Waterloo Avenue itself—it was once Market Street, a bustling area with an electric street railway running down its centre. Interestingly, the name "Waterloo" wasn't attached to this street initially but was used for what is now Fountain Street. It's fascinating how these subtle changes and adaptations reveal how Guelph evolved.
For those familiar with the area, the south of Waterloo neighbourhood presents a particularly intriguing puzzle. Streets like Bristol Street, which today runs through this area, were once known by various names—Bedford, Bristol, and Webster—depending on the segment. As you sift through old maps and atlases of Guelph, it's easy to get lost in the shifting street names. Some streets have disappeared altogether, while others, like the Speed River, seem to have altered their course over time with some human intervention.
One of the best sources for unravelling the history of Guelph's streets is Ross Irwin's book, Guelph: Origin of Street Names, 1827-2008. The book meticulously traces the history behind many of the city's street names and provides an eye-opening account of how things have changed. It's a marvel that Guelph once had two Bridge and three John Streets. It's no wonder that giving directions back in those days must have been challenging!
While some name changes seem logical, such as eliminating duplicate street names, others reveal a deeper story about urban planning and the desire for consistency. For example, renaming Fleet, Manchester, and Devonshire to Yorkshire, Glasgow, and Dublin Streets south of Waterloo Avenue helped maintain consistency with their northern counterparts. The changes were part of a significant wave of renaming in 1956, which eliminated many duplicated street names and consistency applied across the city's streets.
Interestingly, some of these old names have made a comeback. Once abandoned, the name "Argyle" resurfaced in the late 1960s for a new street in a subdivision west of the Hanlon Expressway, proving that even old names can have a second life.
Guelph's old street names live on old maps, atlases, and even in unexpected places for those who enjoy exploring history through the streets they walk. For example, a small, embedded sidewalk stone at the corner of Dublin Street South and Essex Street serves as a tangible reminder of days gone by—memorializing a street name that may no longer be in use but has undoubtedly left its mark on the city's history.
As Guelph continues to grow and evolve, these historical street names remind us of the city's journey through time, a journey that is embedded in every corner of the streets we walk today.
*With files from the Guelph Public Library.