Sir Adam Beck Road

Supported by bipartisan public ownership advocates, the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario began in a small way in 1910, but through Beck's aggressive promotion of "Power At Cost," thousands of new industrial, retail and household customers were soon added. By charging initial low rates to induce a large demand, then building huge, efficient generating stations whose low costs permitted further rate reductions, Beck rapidly expanded his system and drove most of his private competitors out of business. 

Stratford was one of the original 12 municipalities  between Toronto and London that jumped on board. In 1908, Stratford and the other municipalities signed a 30 year contract to use low-cost hydro from Niagara. Most of the municipalities had their first power in 1911.

Beck also browbeat balky municipalities, tyrannized provincial governments with his powerful following, and abused his regulatory authority to hamper private rivals. Eventually, he overreached himself and Ernest C. Drury's government cancelled his electric railway scheme. George H. Ferguson (Ontario premier from 1923 to 1930) also kept Beck and Hydro on a short leash.

As principal founder and guiding genius of Ontario Hydro, Beck helped establish the public enterprise tradition in Canada, though his methods did little to render such enterprises more politically accountable. Source: Canadian Encyclopedia

The Great Steam Boat Race:  The Water Lily

There had been boats on the millpond shortly after the Canada Company had built the first dam in the 1830s. Stratford’s first boat club-The Stratford Boat Club-had been formed in 1845. A second group, the Avon Boat Club had been formed in 1864, and the next year held a regatta on Queen Victoria's birthday, May 24, 1865. A dozen years later, on Victoria Day 1877, The Great Steamboat Race took place. 

Two steamboats came to the Avon River about 1877 when William Jeffrey built and launched a 17 foot paddle-wheeler (Firefly) said to be the first built in Perth County. About the same time D. Nichol produced his 12-footer "Dreadnaught" also a paddle-wheeler. In 1877, they decided to hold a race. The race was to be from the dam to the island and back. Mayor Tom Daly put up the prize for the winner, and for several days before the race as the two men readied their boats, they hurled friendly insults to each other. However as regatta day approached, there was news of a third boat, a surprise entry. Jeffery and Nicol would have competition. 

Young Adam Beck, just 20 years old from Baden, was a new entry with his boat called the "Water Lily." His arrival at the regatta enlivened the proceedings considerably. The crowd watched the race from the long wooden bridge or stood on lumber piles on the banks of Easson's mill ( see Easson Steet)  or Orr's' mill (see Orr Street).  See map for location of Mills  

There was great excitement as the three boats churned off upstream. Early in the race, the Nicol boat broke down. Then, the engine pressure on Jeffrey's "Firefly" dropped from 160 to 40 pounds.  Young Adam Beck won handily. Beck also won a return race on Dominion Day, and in 1919, he recalled his victory with delight as he made a speech in Stratford at the official opening of the York Street Hydro-Electric Power Distribution Station.   Source: Floodtides of Fortune . Adelaide Leitch