G D6

Date of the items: 1953

Physical description: 1 20×25 cm photograph, mounted in a 40×34 cm frame

Title: William C. Grant Fonds

Creator: Unknown

Repository: Trent Valley Archives

Reference number: TVA Fonds 355

Scope and contents: One photograph showing William C. Grant using the first dial telephone for Lakefield after Bell took responsibility for supplying phone services to the village. He lived at “Westove,” the last home of Catharine Parr Traill. The photo shows, left to right, the Bell employee, William C. Grant, and his Dalmation dog, Dom.

Access Conditions: No Restrictions

Finding aid: None

Accruals: No further accruals are expected

Custodial history: The photo was donated by Myra and Ted Collins on May 30, 2012. At the time they were living in Lakefield, Ontario.

Biographical sketch: William C. Grant was born in 1910. He worked as a barrister and was reeve of the village of Lakefield for 13 years. He married Margaret Nancarrow and had a son named Tam. Nelson Falls to Lakefield, 149-50, notes that Grant was a key player in getting the waterworks for Lakefield, 1944-1946. Grant was elected reeve in 1951 by an electorate grateful for his initiatives on waterworks. He passed away on September 10, 1994 at the age of 44. The history of the telephone in Lakefield is discussed in Nelson Falls to Lakefield, 145-147. The move to dial phones occurred in 1953.

Related fonds at TVA: There are several fonds at TVA with materials relating to Lakefield. Some of the most prominent include F9 Lakefield Heritage; F12 Lakefield Newspapers; F18 Lakefield Fire Plans; F30 Robert Delledonne; F60 Peterborough County Land Registry; F574 Lakefield Cemetery; F671 and F674 Lakefield Village Plans; and F688 Hillside Cemetery

Access Points:
Lakefield, Ontario
Bell Telephone