A journal belonging to a church in Cambridge, Ontario, was missing for 50 years before turning up in a Value Village in London, 100 kilometers away. The journal, penned by Rev. James Dickson, the church’s inaugural minister from 1880 to 1914, chronicles his journey from Scotland to Canada through Montreal and his experiences in early pre-Confederate Canada.
Despite its rediscovery, the circumstances of the journal’s disappearance remain a mystery that volunteers are actively investigating. The journal resurfaced at the Central Church on Oct. 7 when a woman found it at a Value Village and promptly informed the church.
The woman, who chose to remain anonymous, left without providing any additional details. Upon receiving the journal, church volunteers were astonished by the find. A letter discovered inside the journal dated Oct. 11, 1979, mentioned the journal being sent on loan for microfilming in Woodslee, Ontario, hinting at a potential reason for its absence.
The journal, filled with entries documenting life in Galt and parishioners, contains photographs, bills, and newspaper clippings from the era. Plans are in place to digitize the journal and secure it in a suitable location. The community will have the opportunity to view the journal during an upcoming fundraising event. Efforts are underway to seek advice from the City of Cambridge archives on the preservation of the historical document.
Dan Schmalz, an information and archive analyst, emphasized the significance of the journal as a primary source shedding light on Rev. Dickson’s life and the Galt community during that period. The historical value of the journal is deemed substantial, offering insights similar to other significant works based on primary sources.