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Remember Thorold's earliest bylaws?

From paving the road from Port Robinson to Thorold, to establishing a cemetery, in this week's history column, we recall some of the earliest bylaws passed in council
thorold-council-1898
Thorold Council 1898. Photo: John H. Thompson

The most important bylaw affecting the township appears in the records as follows:

“A meeting of the freeholders and householders of the Township of Thorold was held at the town hall, Allanburgh, March 10 1855, to consider the propriety of building a macadamized road from Thorold village to the limits of the township at Port Robinson and to obtain the sanction and support of the various towns and villages to carry the same to Port Colborne.”

“At a meeting of the qualified municipal electors of the Township of Thorold, held at the town hall, Allanburgh, on Sept. 29 1855, in pursuance of public notice, to take into consideration the propriety of passing the bylaw for raising 5,000 pounds, by way of loan for the stock taken in the Port Robinson and Thorold macadamized road. A poll was taken, and the majority in favour of the bylaw was 17.”

The most important bylaws passed by the Thorold town and village councils have been as follows:

“Bylaw passed on November 8th, 1852, to loan the St. Catharines, Thorold and Suspension Bridge Road Company the sum of $8,000.

A bylaw to authorize the St. Catharines and Welland Canal Gas Company to lay down pipes, etc. in the Village of Thorold, was passed March 26th, 1855.

A bylaw establishing a market in the Village of Thorold was passed December 13th, 1856.

February 18th, 1874—bylaw for $6,000 for the building of a High School.

May 4th, 1874—bylaw passed to impound animals running at large.

An act to incorporate the town of Thorold assented to 21 Dec., 1874.

Voted on June 29th, 1877, and carried—bylaw to raise $8,000 to purchase a steam fire-engine; bylaw finally passed July 3, 1877.

Bylaw establishing fire limits passed April 15, 1878.

A bylaw to authorize the corporation of the Town of Thorold to aid the St. Catharines and Niagara Central Railway by guaranteeing the payment of interest only on $20,000 of debentures for 20 years, was passed Jan. 12, 1885.

A bylaw to raise by way of loan $3,000 for the purpose of purchasing a plot of ground for a cemetery, was passed Jan. 18, 1886.

A bylaw to raise by way of loan $8,000 for erecting and operating an electric light plant, passed July 29, 1887.

A bylaw for the issue of $6,000 debentures, for consolidating the indebtedness of the town, was passed August 19, 1889.

A bylaw to authorize the issue of $7,000 debentures to consolidate the outstanding indebtedness and to meet current expenses, was passed May 31, 1890.”

- From Thorold Township and Town, 1786-1932, Published by John H. Thompson.