Back In The Days

There was another really practical reason  a Council would not  likely approve a major project  without wholehearted support,

There were no development charges. No reserves of millions of dollars. No cash on hand to pay the piper. No  nee homeowners who could be fleeced when they didn't even know it was happening.

Debentures had to be issued to realize funds.

The Ontario Municipal  Board was created during the  Great Depression  when munocipalities were likely to fall into bankruptcy.  

The function of the Board was to  receive and approve or reject municipal applications  for approval to issue debentures.

Like  planning applications to-day , municipal decisions could be appealed .

That's what happened to the Railway Museum. One member of Council filed an appeal. The latr James Murray, who was Reeve at the time an had held the office of Mayor.

One might say it was a battle between the old and new.

The project was abandoned.

The town was seven thousand-five hundred people then.  About twenty-five hundred homes.

Elections were  held every  twelve months.

The voters list was not so all inclusive.