by Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer
Every time you hop on a bus or flush a toilet you can thank George Stevenson.
That’s because Sarnia’s 10th Mayor was the father of Sarnia Transit and the man who brought indoor plumbing to the municipality, Stevenson, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, headed Council in 1874 and 1875.
During his leadership, Council took actions that would dramatically alter everyday life. Specifically, it launched the Community’s public service and installed its first waterworks system.
Until then, Sarnians got their drinking and bathing water out of wells – or by dipping buckets into the St. Clair River. In fact, prior Councils had set up a small dock at the foot of George Street so residents could get their pails into the water.
But under Mayor Stevenson all that changed. The municipality began installing the waterworks system during his second year in office.
Intake pipes were put in place and a pumping station was erected at the foot of George Street.
The results were revolutionary, people had indoor plumbing, lawn watering was possible for the first time and the volunteer Fire Department finally had enough water to battle large fires. Horse troughs on downtown streets were soon full to the brim.
Citizens celebrated the opening of the new system by firing a cannon and holding a festival downtown.
Mayor Stevenson and his Council brought the waterworks project in $18,000.00 under budget and the leftover money was used to pay for a new Town Hall that stood at the corner of Christina and Lochiel Streets until 1954.
Horse-drawn street car service was instituted during his term as well, replacing stage coaches. Years later, the street cars were electrified and the transportation service was expanded, taking people to the beach at the end of Colborne Road.
Stevenson, who was a local businessman, lived in Sarnia for more than 30 years. He died at age 65 in August, 1876.