Cantley 1889 Articles

Bridge, Licences, Fires, New Town Hall - Cantley 1890-1893

By Patricia Lawlor

In 1889, the Township of East Hull was established. The post office and Cantley citizens named this Cantley. Its borders included, and extended beyond, today’s Cantley (see L’Écho de Cantley, March 2021). This article is based on Township of East Hull/Cantley Council meetings, 1890 to 1893.

Earliest municipal council meetings were held at the Cantley residences of James Davis (1889-90), John Prudhomme (1891-May 1893) and Alex Prudhomme (June 1893). Minutes of meetings reveal Cantley life of this era.

Cantley’s only bridge was essential. This “Gatineau Bridge” was often in disrepair.

March 1890: Mayor Alex Prudhomme and the Secretary-Treasurer were authorized to sign notes for a loan of $1,500 from Alonzo Wright, MP to rebuild the bridge.

May 1890: Council borrowed $782 from Wright to pay debts incurred during rebuilding.

January 1891: another loan of $700 from Wright was approved.

This was a toll bridge. The first contract for renting the toll was awarded to A.S. Gardiner for $600. March 1890: Council decided toll revenues should go to Cantley ratepayers.

August 1891: Mayor was authorized to have the bridge insured for $1,000 for one year at a rate of $9.50. The next motion at the same meeting involved another loan of $450 from Alonzo Wright to repair the bridge “recently destroyed by fire”.

April 1890: Enactment of first by-law to regulate the issuing of “Certificates of Licence to keep a hotel or tavern to sell spirituous, vinous or fermented liquors”. Successful applicants to pay $8 tax and a $2 fee. A maximum of three certificates would be issued – one at Cantley and two at the Rafting Ground. The latter was on the river across from Ironside where logs were collected. This community was important because self-propelled vessels could reach that point in the Gatineau River. It became a busy little port.

By-laws were passed annually for these licences. Taxes, fees and number of certificates remained the same for 1891 but the tax was reduced to $4 in 1892. The number of certificates was reduced to two in 1893 with the taxes and fees staying constant. In 1890, licences were granted to William Prudhomme (mayor’s son) and Pierre Fournelle. From 1891-93, certificates were given to William Prudhomme and Félix Charette.

Council conducted other business too. In January 1891 a reward of $50 was offered for the conviction of whoever burnt two stacks of hay on 22 October 1890 - $25 from council and $25 from Thomas Wilson.

April 1891: Councillors McNeil, Maloney and Birt were appointed as a Board of Health; Dr. Davies of West Hull joined in May. A sanitary officer was hired in May 1893 to comply with provincial Board of Health precautions for threatening cholera outbreaks. He was to visit every property to ensure that “all houses, cellars, yards, water closets, stables, barns and all other outbuildings and dependencies within the limits of this municipality shall be kept clean and the household refuse, waste matter and manure must be disposed of so as not to injure the public health”. Failure to comply by May 15th or within six days of receiving notice could result in a fine of not more than $5 or, in default of payment, an imprisonment of not more than ten days.

May 1893: land was purchased for $10 from James A. Davis to build a town hall at 'Cantley Corners'. In June, Gatineau Bridge revenue of $300 was authorized to pay construction costs. The construction contract of $100 plus $5 for extras was awarded to Alfred Laversier. A committee of Mayor Prudhomme and Councillors Kerr, Barrett and McClelland was to oversee the project.

The first meeting was held in the new town hall on August 14,1893.