By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer
William Logie’s claim to fame is that he was Mayor of Sarnia when Council decided to build the
Community’s first Public Library.
In a way it was fitting, because our 25th Chief Magistrate was something of a book worm.
Born in Hensall, Ontario, he taught school for a time in Dorchester. Later, deciding a teaching career wasn’t for him, he went back to school as a student, studying medicine at the University of Western Ontario.
Graduating in 1896, Dr. Logie moved to Sarnia to set up a private practice.
Not long after that he became interested in politics and was elected to Council as an Alderman.
After four years on Council he took a stab at the Mayor’s chair in 1901.
The election was close, with Logie edging out R.S. Oliver by a scant seven votes.
Once in office he set about to upgrade Sarnia’s streets. In fact, during his first term Council spent the unheard of sum of $10,000.00 on road repairs.
There were complaints that he was plunging the Town too far into debt but ratepayers liked what they saw, returning Mayor Logie to a second term by a 700 vote margin.
During his second year Council decided to build a library with the help of a $15,000.00 grant from the great American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
The Town also grew industrially with the Cleveland-Sarnia Saw Mills Company appearing on the scene in October, 1901. It would remain a major local employer for nearly three decades.