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7 | The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,A pril 11,2019 theifp.ca THEN AND NOW (Left) St. Andrew's United Church in 1963 and (Right) The St. Andrew's United Church today. Alison Walker photo Earlier this week, as I was enjoying the slightly warm weather, I found my- self puttering around the garage. As the sunshine was pouring in, I opened both garage doors and surveyed my kingdom. Now our garage hasn't always been a garage. Back in the mid-1800s, it started its life as a wood shed, a place to stack cords of fire- wood to keep it dry all win- ter, as well as keeping it ac- cessible. Last summer The Side- kick and I started an up- grade project in the ga- rage, adding new doors and a new floor. It seems when you're working on an old structure, there's al- ways something 'new' to be discovered hanging on a nail in the back corner. My attention was drawn to our old dog treadle. For those who have no idea what I'm talking about, a dog treadle was a piece of equipment farm- ers used to harness 'dog power' on the farm in the 1800s. The treadle was set up and the dog would climb onto the treadle turntable and walked. Through a set of reduction gears, the dog's walking powered a piece of machinery, like a butter churn, a small saw or even a washing ma- chine. The dog treadle in our garage has been there since before I was even born. If my grandfather hadn't explained the gad- get, I wouldn't have known what it was or how it worked. Its faded red paint is a testimony of countless miles of doggie power. In pioneer days, dogs on the farm were part of the animal workforce, like horses or oxen. A dog was not only used to herd cattle and sheep back into the barn at night, but also for their stamina and ability to trot for extended periods of time on the treadle. Our treadle is a horizon- tal model, which consists of a six-foot-wide 'turnta- ble' of sorts (like a giant re- cord player). The dog climbs on the turntable, which is then lifted to an angle on one side, and the dog walks 'uphill' to rotate the turntable. The power is generated through a set of gears to a pulley, which powers a belt-driven piece of equipment attached to it. Apparently, our hori- zontal model is a bit unique - I can't find any pictures of that style any- where online. More recent models with a track were built like a treadmill and have been used for centuries, some dating back to medieval times. Apparently street venders would have a small dog treadle and use it to power a grindstone to sharpen knives and scis- sors, or some used them to power a small wood lathe or saw. I did find a photo of a treadmill-style dog treadle on display at Peel Art Gal- lery & Museum in Bramp- ton. The track is more modern, made with wood- en slats running on cast iron sprockets. Our old wooden dog treadle has been nailed to a wall in the garage for years, partly obscured from view. As I looked at it and pon- dered what I could do with it, I glanced at Hamish - who immediately avoided eye contact with me. I did briefly wonder if he could run the lights on the farm with a generator. Laying his head down and closing his eyes in the warm sun- shine, he didn't seem very keen on the idea. So, I'm going to promi- nently display it in the ga- rage as a conversation piece, something to talk about - those times when dogs powered our equip- ment. It will be the central de- cor in my garage/man cave, a testimony of that era when 'man's best friend' was not only appre- ciated for his companion- ship - but also for his strength and stamina. Ted Brown is a free- lance journalist for the IFP. He can be contacted at tedbit@hotmail.com. I WONDER IF HAMISH COULD 'RUN THE LIGHTS' ON THE FARM OPINION HAMISH SHOWS NO INTEREST, HOWEVER, WRITES TED BROWN TED BROWN Column • Truck Accessories • Upholstery • Heavy Equipment Glass •Window Tinting 354 Guelph Street, Georgetown 905-873-1655 Wehandleall insurance work. We handle all insurance work. 330 GUELPH ST.,GEORGETOWN (opposite Canadian Tire) • 905-877-0596 • www.millersscottishbakery.com MILLER'S ScottISh BakERy We Have Imported British Cheeses PRE-ORDER YOUR EASTER BAKED GOODS TODAY! Hot Cross Buns Are Here for Easter! Baked from our traditional British recipe. BRItISh EaStER EGGS & tREatS haVE aRRIVED 330 GUELPH ST