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village streets in the late 1800's were dusty, rutted and often muddy. Sidewalks, for example, in the Village of                                      Oakville were plank. A water cart may have been paid to sprinkle the dirt roads when the dust was particularly                                        bad. A major road may have had gravel laid. The work was paid for by area residents and done by area residents.  One of the earliest recorded sidewalk commissioner reports was reported in the Spring 2012 TTHS newsletter. In                                  1852 the Trafalgar Township Council decided that "under By-Law 48 Palermo to commute half of their statute                                  labour and apply amount for construction of sidewalks. Residents petitioned May 1852 and an extra levy was                                  charged. Commissioners: H.M. Switzer, Joseph Simons, John Soules."  For 1883-1884, the Palermo Sidewalk Commission Report was given to Trafalgar Township by Commissioners M.                              McCrimmon and W.H. Hager.   The 4 page 1910 report shown in our new internet record is in 2 images (pages 1 and 4 shown in the main page                                                image, pages 2 and 3 can be seen in the 2nd image.) It shows the names and amounts subscribed by local Palermo                                            residents for "Teaming and Labor". The amount of "Cash Subscribed" is individually listed for each donor. Page 4                                    shows the financial record of "Cash Receipts" and "Expenditures".  The Palermo Sidewalk Commissioners in 1910 were W.A. Dearing, Jno. Carkriff, Henry Heeks was Secretary.                              Special Commissioners were Dr. Mowbray and Jno Marshall.  The subscribers show the community families at the time. The following local people were able to provide                                  practical materials and skills: John Carkriff, William Pell and W.A. Dearing brought their teams and worked. Mr.                                  Morden supplied 21 loads of sand. Mr. Paul Campbell supplied 55 loads of gravel.  The thrifty Committee were able to sell the old planks.  This Report was Miss Book's copy. She had given a cash donation for the 1910 work. In the 1901 Canada Census,                                          she is listed as "Ettie Book", age 52, single, head of Household, born in Ontario, Methodist. She died in 1925. Her                                          brother, Dr. James Burgess Book also donated under the pseudonym "A Friend". He died in 1916. Ettie is buried                                      with many of the Book family in the Palermo Cemetery as they were active members of the Palermo Methodist                                      Church community. Here is the link to this internet record: ​Special Report of Palermo Sidewalk Commissioners                                for 1910.​ Note by A. Choate Little.     Autumn in Lion's Valley Park, October 10, 2018        Once the thriving community of Proudfoot's            Hollow was located here. The building of the                Great Western Railway, and the growing village              of Oakville spelled doom for this pioneer              settlement. Photo and article by Ross Wark.  3  http://images.ourontario.ca/TrafalgarTownship/3531136/data?dis=dm http://images.ourontario.ca/TrafalgarTownship/3531136/data?dis=dm