John R. Barber and the Credit River Dynamo

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted December, 2010

Photo by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted November, 2011

Plaque Location

The Region of Halton
The Town of Halton Hills
In Georgetown, on Maple Avenue
a short distance from River Drive

Coordinates: N 43 39.665 W 79 54.527

Plaque Text

In 1854, brothers William, James, Joseph and Robert Barber, prominent manufacturers in the Credit Valley, established a paper mill here. Within a few years it had become an important producer of fine rag paper. Fifteen years later, James acquired sole ownership of the mill; soon afterwards it came under his son John's control. John Reaf Barber was an innovative manager who substantially increased the mills production by employing new technology. He equipped the mill to manufacture wood pulp and, in 1888, installed a dynamo to supply additional power. This power plant was reputedly the first in Canada to produce hydro-electric power for use in industrial production. The stone ruins of the dynamo building are still standing, about three kilometres downstream.

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