The oldest book in the library is the following item:  "Mechanick Powers: or,  the Mistery of Nature and Art Unvail'd" by Ven [terus] Mandey and J. [ames] Moxon, published in London, England in 1696. On the title page it states that the book was printed for the authors and sold by Ven.

Imagine if these were our business rules now!

No talking during business hours.

Tobacco, wines or spirits are forbidden to all members of the clerical staff.

Canadians have celebrated Queen Victoria's birthday for more than 175 years. 

The firm has reduced the hours of work and the clerical staff now will be present between 7 am and 6 pm.

Daily prayers will be held each morning in the main office.  The clerical staff will be present.

A senior clerk will be nominated to be responsible for the cleanliness of the main office.  All boys and juniors will report to him 40 minutes berfore prayers and will remain after closing hours for similar work.  Brushes, brooms, scrubbers and soap are provided by the owners. 

Excerpted from an article which appeared in the July-August 1969 is

Imagine - horsedrawn vehicles and streetcars, hotels such as the Belvedere, restaurants such as Campbell's and the Talbot Square - all along Dundas in times past. 

A formal St. Patrick's Day dinner was held at 5 o'clock on March 17, 1835 at the Mansion House Hotel on the north side of Dundas Street between Ridout and Talbot streets.  Seven years later in 1842, the London District St. Patrick's Society was formed which was reorganized on February 18, 1851 as the St. Patrick's Society of the County of Middlesex.  The Irish Benevolent Association of the City of London and County of Middlesex was formed on March 12, 1877. 

Arthur

They are back in London!

From October 24th to 27th, 1985, 45 skaters from 12 countries (Austria, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Japan, Poland, Soviet Union, United States and West Germany) participated in Skate Canada at the London Gardens.  One of the many stars was silver medallist Elizabeth Manley from Trenton, Ontario. 

Arthur

On May 7th, 1947, world figure skating champion, Barbara Ann Scott (1928-2012)  visited London and

On December 10th, 1980, Governor-General Ed Shreyer and his wife, Lily, opened the 1981 World Junior Figure Skating Championships at The University of Western Ontario's Thompson Arena.

Arthur