This booklet was prepared by James McNeill for the centennial committee in celebration of the Church's centennial in 1969. The booklet begins with the purchase of about 2.75 million acres of land from the Mississsuga Indian Nation in 1819 for 642 pounds and 10 shillings to be paid "yearly and every year forever". I wonder how much we owe them in back payments.
The original wooden Church burnt down on Christmas night 1868. Page 14 shows the new St. Mary's Church in 1892 with wooden fence and wooden sidewalk. The bottom of page 15 tells the story of William Madden, who mortgaged his farm for $2,000 to get the work started. His descendents still attend our Church. Page 20 shows looking east from Bridge and Mill streets. The photos on page 46 show Bridge street looking east past the fence and steps of the Church as a dirt road with weeds to the sidewalk and another view looking north down Mill street past a group of young people in front of a shoe store, that is now Stedman's. The latest entries cover the year 1969.