Highlighting the
Faculty of Arts Fifteenth Annual Arts Lecture
Turning History into Theatre:
The Making of The Berlin Show
Prof. William Chadwick
Department of Drama and Speech Communication
University of Waterloo
Tuesday, February 28, 1995
7:30 p.m.
Theatre of the Arts
The daily diaries of two brothers, William Henry Breithaupt and Louis Jacob Breithaupt, provide first-hand accounts of the events surrounding the name change debate of 1916 as well as other events related to war-time history in the local area. These diaries are part of the Breithaupt Hewetson Clark Collection in the Doris Lewis Rare Book Room, first floor, Dana Porter Library.
Cover, LJB Diary. 
Cover, WHB Diary.
In his diary for May 13,1916 William Henry Breithaupt describes the destruction caused by soldiers at his Margaret Avenue house. Following these events, Breithaupt lodged an official complaint with military officials. The meeting between Breithaupt and those officials was reported in the Toronto World newspaper the next day.
Diary Entry
Residence of W. H. Breithaupt, 66 Margaret Ave.
"Officers At Berlin Commission A Secret"
W.H. Breithaupt wrote to the Berlin News Record about the name change. Breithaupt opposed the change and his letter prompted Alderman W.G. Cleghorn to write a spirited response--a response which in turn prompted Breithaupt to consult his lawyer, H.J. Sims, about a potential lawsuit. Below is the diary entry referring to his meeting with Sims on March 6, 1916.
Shown here is a business letter written by W.H. Breithaupt in which he comments on the proposed name change.
Letter.
The photographs reproduced here are from the Breithaupt Hewetson Clark Collection and they document the military presence in "Berlin" during the First World War.
These photographs, also from the Breithaupt Hewetson Clark Collection, show the more personal side of the effects of war. Seen here is one of the sons of Louis Jacob Breithaupt, William Walter Breithaupt, who served in France. His series of "letters home" describing his experiences is available in the Doris Lewis Rare Book Room. A facsimile letter was written on what was to become known as "Armistice Day" - November 11, 1918. It was written to his older brother, Louis O. Breithaupt.
W. W. Breithaupt. 
Letter, page 1. 
page 2
The two photos below show William Walter with family and friends shortly before he left Canada to serve overseas.
Both brothers commented in their diaries on the damage done to the premises occupied by the "Concordia Singing Society" on February 15, 1916.
WHB Diary. 
LJB Diary
Shown here are entries from the diaries of Louis Jacob Breithaupt in which he comments on the hiring of a night watchman for his station warehouse (February 10); the name change vote of February 11; and the decision to discontinue the German language church services at Zion Evangelical Church (accompanied by his speech to church members about the change) on February 20.
L. J. Breithaupt
Feb. 10, 1916. 
Feb. 11, 1916.
Feb. 20, 1916.
The facsimile clippings shown here were saved by Louis Jacob Breithaupt and describe many of the events surrounding the name change debate.
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"Citizens of Berlin Want A Name Change" Feb 12, 1916. .
part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5.
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