The early settlers of Waterloo County -- Mennonites, Germans, and Scots -- built enterprising communities in a land of rivers, rolling hills, and fields. Today the linked cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge are still surrounded by small towns with strong rural traditions. This photographic history of the region contains 130 black and white images from as early as 1880, recording the cultural landscape, the buildings, parks, markets, fairs, and parades. Some of the photographs will tease your fancy with whispers of the pioneers' spirit, while others capture the energy of events and dare us to interpret the past.

Author Biography

Stephanie Kirkwood Walker was born, raised, and lives now in Waterloo County. With a PhD in Religion & the Arts, she taught at Waterloo's universities and has written extensively on biography, art, and landscape. She has done two documentaries set in Waterloo County: An Attentive Life: Conversations with Edna Staebler and Landscapes of the Heart.