Is it a garage? - Glimpses of the Past with Karen Webster

In our present-day world, the term Mechanics Institute might seem to refer to a place to learn about repairing an automobile; however, over 150 years ago, the term had a completely different connotation.

 

According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, Mechanics Institutes were first established in England as voluntary associations of working men who were looking for self-improvement through education. In that time period, labourers entered the workforce at a young age, likely without much schooling. The institutes offered evening lectures, lending libraries and periodical reading rooms.

 

In Canada, Montreal was the first centre to have such an institute in 1828 and York (Toronto) followed two years later. By 1895, Ontario had 311 of them with 31,195 members.

 

In Ontario, it was not the manual workers who promoted the institutes, but rather doctors, shopkeepers, ministers and small manufacturers who sought activities for themselves. In Clinton, in 1884, the executive of the local institute refuted insinuations that it had become an elitist institution by publishing the occupations of their membership: school teachers, six; mechanics (those performing manual labour and tradesmen), 54; newspaper men, two; merchants, 18; clerks, 12; students, 13; manufacturers, eight; professionals, 18; farmers, 17; and retired and misc., 29.

 

There were many local Mechanics Institutes in this area of Huron County.

 

In 1954, there was a detailed account of the evolution of the institute in Wingham in its Advance--Times newspaper. The institute, in addition to books to lend, had evening classes and lectures on various subjects. The Wingham institute was housed in the Beaver Block on Josephine Street. There was a caretaker who, in reality, was the librarian, who was paid $1.50 a week to sweep and clean the premises, make sure the room was heated and lighted when needed in the afternoons and evenings six days a week. In addition, this person was responsible for any books or specimens that went missing and was responsible that those using the reading room “acted decorously”. Membership in the Wingham Mechanics Institute was 50 cents a year.

 

In 1891, when the new town hall was built, the Mechanics Institute leased a room on the ground floor. By 1893, use of the reading room was made free to any resident of the town and some neighbouring municipalities.

 

Over in tiny St. Helens, there were two rooms in the upstairs of the hall, one of which was a Mechanics Institute and the other was designated for small meetings. Lucknow’s branch followed along with other branches in charging a one-dollar-per-year fee.
Goderich, too, had a branch of this centre of learning and from 1852 until 1878 it was located in the Sons of Temperance Hall on North Street.

 

Horatio Hale was a famous resident of Clinton. He was known for many things, among which was the study of Native languages. This esteemed gentleman is credited with the formation of the Clinton High School and the Clinton Mechanics Institute.
Brussels, too, had a small branch that commenced in 1874. Its hours were limited to Wednesday to Friday from 6-7 p.m. and on Saturday afternoons from 4-6 p.m. It was located in the Holmes block above Smale’s store.

 

The Mechanics Institute in Seaforth was in existence for many years and was situated above Thomas Kidd’s south store at the junction of Main and Market Streets. It, like the other institutes, was supported by government grants that matched municipal givings to a maximum of $100. Gorrie boosted of having 100 members in 1894.

 

The activities of the various institutes were many and included lectures, as well as evening classes as varied as bookkeeping and drawing. There were books on many topics as well as fiction books to be borrowed. There was a wide range of periodicals and newspapers in the reading rooms. One branch asked why a person would subscribe to one local newspaper for $6 a year when for $1 they could have access to many newspapers? In Seaforth, there was also the extra attraction of a billiards table in a games room.

 

It was often touted that having a Mechanics Institute in a municipality could serve to keep youth engaged in positive activities rather than just ‘hanging around”.

 

Even though, in 1882, the Free Libraries Act of Ontario established a system whereby patrons would not have to pay a membership to borrow books, Mechanic Institutes continued to exist and in 1889, Dr. S P. May, superintendent of Mechanics Institutes, was travelling the province urging the institutes to come in line with the provincial act.

 

Another, later, provincial act specified that every “Free Library” and every Library known as Mechanics Institutes will be known by the name “Public Library”.  The public libraries were to be under each specific municipality and thus funded by local taxation and be under the control of a Board of Management. 

 

And thus, a movement to help educate and entertain our forefathers became the basic structure on which our wonderful public libraries were built.