Drowning death affected whole town
Barbara A. Martindale- For What It's Worth August 13, 2013
Over the years, there were more than a few people, young or older swimmers and fishermen, who drowned near or beneath the dangerous old Caledonia Dam. Each time, residents nervously waited to hear who it was.
On May 21, 1940, the whole community of Caledonia was shaken when they learned who had been drowned.
The body wasn't recovered until eight days later, on May 29.
"The community was deeply stirred, and it was wonderful to see the self sacrificing efforts of so many who were all anxious to help," reported The Sachem.
Early Tuesday afternoon, 19-year-old Jim Gale, son of Reverend James A. Gale of Grace United Church, took off to have a dip in the river. He was helping the hydro crew put in lights on the Tennis Court at Grace United Church when he decided to leave following the lunchtime dinner, saying he would be right back.
"Jim Gale was a strong swimmer and was having the first dip of the season," said The Sachem.
At about 2:30 pm, a call was sent to the Town Hall stating a man had slipped from the dam into the fast flowing current.
Two fishermen tried to row into the current to where the swimmer disappeared. Another fisherman, standing on the north side of the river, said he had seen a swimmer climb up on the dam, then slip and fall below. As it turned out that swimmer was Orville Fell, who said he was the one who had slipped on the dam and fell in, struggled with the current but managed to let himself be carried to shallow water below the railway bridge from where he had waded to the south shore.
Then later on, the clothes of James Gale were found about 100 yards from where Fell had undressed. Fell did not see Gale at all, but the fishermen were sure it was Gale who they saw go over the dam. Dragging operations commenced with no results. Every effort and scheme recommended by the Hamilton Harbour Commission along with equipment and manpower didn't help. A wire fence was erected at the highway bridge, but it was flattened out by the flooded river Saturday following heavy rains on Friday. This was restored immediately.
An airplane, piloted by Keith Hopkinson of Hamilton, friend of Reverend Gale, followed the Grand River below Caledonia on Monday morning in an effort to find the body and would be making another survey later in the week.
Although research doesn't give details of finding the body of Jim Gale, it is known that he was found Wednesday, May 29, 1940 just after that weekly newspaper was published. Jim Gale was the second son of Reverend James Gale and his wife, Kathleen.
At the time of the drowning, Reverend Gale was visiting his seriously ill father at Bayfield. Reverend Gale was the minister at Grace United Church from 1938 to 1945.
