A History of Electrical Energy in London: Prepared for the Ontario Hydro Centennial Hall of Memory Project

Author: Edward Victor Buchanan

1971 signed second printing Knowles Lithographing / London Public Utilities Commission (London, Ontario, Canada), 6 1/4 x 9 3/8 inches tall green buckram cloth hardbound, no dust jacket (as issued), gilt lettering to front cover and spine, illustrated with black-and-white photographs and drawings, 91 pp. Very slight rubbing to covers. Signed by the author, Edward Victor Buchanan (1887 - 1987), beneath his frontispiece portrait. Otherwise, a very good copy - clean, bright and unmarked - of this scarce history of hydroelectric power in Ontario. OCLC (No. 25744720) locates only three copies at institutions worldwide - two in Ontario and one in Quebec, Canada.

An illustrated history of hydroelectric power generation in London, located in Southwestern Ontario, Canada along the Quebec City - Windsor Corridor.

Contents:

• Foreword;
  
• Early Applications of Electrical Energy;
  
• The Beginnings of the Hydro System;
  
• The People in the Enterprise;
  
• Money;
  
• Administration;
  
• Promotion of Business;
  
• Technical Matters;
  
• Random Reminiscences;
  
• Epilogue;
  
• Appendices

Over his lifespan of 100 years, Edward Victor Buchanan (known as 'E.V.' to his friends and associates) did much to improve the lifestyle and well being of Londoners and Canadians in general. From his basic training and work as an electrical engineer he not only applied and continually updated his skills, but stressed innovation, overall planning and co-operation with other disciplines and needs. He expanded his skills to include business, railroad, park and recreation, finance, waterworks and urban planning expertise, while ably managing the much-admired London Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Throughout his engineering career, he contributed significantly to local and international engineering organizations and the needs of his community in health care and hospital facilities and service organizations with wit and wisdom. Among his many honours, he was awarded honorary degrees by the University of Western Ontario (LL.D., 1957) and the University of Strathclyde (D.Sc., 1983).