Waterloo You Never Knew: Life on the Margins

by Joanna Rickert-Hall, Stephanie Kirkwood Walker (Foreword)

The history you don’t know is the most fascinating of all.

Throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth century, Waterloo, Ontario, could be any small Canadian community. Its familiar histories privilege the “great accomplishments” of those who built the institutions we know industry, government, and education. But what of those who were marginalized, weird, and wonderful ― real people who lived between the boundaries of mainstream existence?

Waterloo You Never Knew reveals forgotten and little known tales of a community in transition and reflects on those lives lived in infamy and obscurity, by choice or design. Meet the rumrunner, the ex-slaves, and the cholera victims, the grave-digging doctor, the séance-loving politician, and the sorcery-practising healer.

Come inside. See the Waterloo you never knew, revealed.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

200 pages, Paperback

Published July 16, 2019

Reviews

[Hildeberto · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is the responsibility of newcomers to learn about the history of their new place. It is only by knowing the local history that we understand why a street was named like that, why a building was built at that location, what inspired a restaurant to adopt such an unusual name, and why some people adopt a different dressing code.

Life becomes tedious when we poorly understand the meaning of the things around us. That's why I took some time in my porch during this summer to learn a bit about my new place - Waterloo Region, in Ontario, Canada. I picked a marginal history book, written by Joanna Rickert-Hall, that tells barely known stories of people that lived in the region more than a century ago. This book gives a summary of the origins of Waterloo, but concentrates on peculiar stories that illuminate the local culture and costumes.

All the stories are fascinating. However, I felt like reading a research paper, not a book for the general public. It gives the impression that the work came out of an essay to complete a master degree. Despite that, I couldn't leave it aside.

I don't see a reason for you to read this book unless you live in the region. But if you live here then I don't see a reason for not reading it.

[Nahvid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand it’s very well researched and the stories are fascinating, especially when they tie into something concrete you can still see traces of in the Region of Waterloo now. It’s interesting to see how everything fits within the larger context of Ontario and Canada developing over the last 200-300 years.

On the other hand, each story is quite disconnected from the last and this book is difficult to follow at times. It reads more as an academic collection of stories pieced together while digging through archives than a cohesive whole. We also jump around in time, and without enough context as to what Waterloo and the world look like in each time period. It takes a lot of effort to follow what is happening and in what context.

Either way, I can confidently recommend this book to anyone living in the Waterloo Region for some understanding of how this place came to be, and the people at the center and on the margins of that early society.

[Froof · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the most well written work, but certainly interesting and entertaining if you have an interest in the area or at least southern Ontario. Some things I knew and a few things I didn't. Would certainly like to read more of her work should she produce it.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting tidbits about Waterloo Region history

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting read on the history of the Kitchener-Waterloo region of Ontario. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this history of this area.

[Joshua Mutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love learning about where I live!