History of homes: Douglas Street

75 - 79 Douglas Street

75 -79 Douglas Street 1954   Photo: Vince Gratton

75 -79 Douglas Street 1954   Photo: Vince Gratton

75  William Murie   Vernons

79 Penny Martin

98 Douglas  Street 

Robert Spelman Robertson

Robert Spelman Robertson lived here in 1906 at 98 Douglas Street. Robert Spelman Robertson (1870-1955) was a lawyer and judge, and the chief justice of Ontario from 1938 to 1952.  Born in Goderich, Ont., Robertson was called to the bar in 1894. He entered private practice in Stratford, Ont., but in 1917 was recruited to join the Fasken law firm, which was found in Toronto in 1863. 


Robert  Spellman Robertson

Robert Spelman Robertson (1870-1955) was a lawyer and judge, and the chief justice of Ontario from 1938 to 1952.  Born in Goderich, Ont., Robertson was called to the bar in 1894. He entered private practice in Stratford, Ont., but in 1917 was recruited to join the Fasken law firm, which was found in Toronto in 1863. He became a prominent civil litigator, one of William Lyon Mackenzie King's favourite litigators in constitutional cases.

He was elected a bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1930 and was treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1937 and 1938, until he was appointed the chief justice. 

Robertson Drive was named for him

Walter Herbert Gregory , Mayor

Walter Gregory came to Stratford in 1907, and involved himself in the community as a lawyer, businessman, alderman, member of the Public Utilities Commission board, the Stratford board of education, the library board, and the Masonic Lodge. An avid gardener, he worked in his garden at 98 Douglas St. for more than 50 years. After two years as an alderman (1919, 1920), he was mayor for two years (1921, 1922). He died in 1969 at age 84.  Source: Streets of Stratford 2004  Photo: Stratford-Perth Archives

Gregory Crescent was named after him

150 Douglas Street

150 Douglas Street   1906  Photo: Vince Gratton

J. L. Bradshaw  need picture

In 1885, J. L. Bradshaw opened Bradshaw’s China Hall, a business that has had a history in Stratford to this day. It is a story that involves four generations of the Bradshaw family. The three men pictured here were from the first three generations of the business. Now, Carole (Bradshaw) Rowe, a daughter of David Bradshaw, and her husband Todd are the fourth.

John Leeming Bradshaw was born in Lancashire, in northwest England in September 1855, and came to Canada with his parents and a sister in about 1862.

J.. L. Bradshaw was in Stratford around 1887. He went into the furniture and undertaking business with a man named R. White.  In 1895, John got into the business for which he became best known—the china trade. He was asked to dispose of the stock in Watson’s china shop after Peter Watson had died but he became so interested that he decided to purchase the shop himself. He took over Peter Watson’s inventory of teas and housewares, and soon after opened his own store called Bradshaw’s China Hall at 84 Ontario St. That location was known as the Orr building and had once housed Wilson’s Hotel. 

J. L.'s son, Harold Struthers Bradshaw, worked with his father in the business and took it over after his father’s death in April 1942. The business remained in the Bradshaw family until it was sold in 1975.Ten years later, David Bradshaw, Harold’s son, and Carole (Bradshaw) Rowe’s father, opened a new china and glassware business at the original 84 Ontario St. location (the business had moved at one point to 129 Ontario St.) and named it Watson’s Chelsea Bazaar (see Ontario Street) after the original purveyor of china and crockery, Peter Watson.

Bradshaw Drive was named in honour of J.L.Bradshaw : see Bradshaw Drive for more story and pictures.

151 Douglas Street

151 Douglas Street, 1895    Photo: Vince Gratton

Mrs. M. Kalbfleisch

159 Douglas Street

159 Douglas Street  1902  Photo: Vince Gratton

John Barron, with the hockey sticks around his head, was part of the first ice hockey team in Canada, the Rideau Hall Rebels.

W.J. Mooney 

He was  president and manager of the  of the Mooney  Biscuit and Candy company as William J. Mooney. 

William  was born in London Township. As a child, he lived in Sarnia, where he received his schooling until he went to work at the age of 13. 

He established the Mooney Biscuit and Candy Co. in 1903, after 15 years "on the road," noting that these kinds of products were needed for various large Canadian concerns. See the Mooney Biscuit and Candy Company on Downie Street.

Judge John Barron

John Augustus Barron (1850-1936) was a politician, lawyer, author and judge who lived much of his later life in Stratford and served as Member of Parliament and Judge in Perth County. He served as judge from 1897 until his retirement in 1925. Barron lived for some time at 159 Douglas Street.  He died in 1930.

Barron was also one of the early pioneers of the game of hockey. He captained the famous Rideau Hall Rebels (See Rideau Hall Rebels - Wikipedia)  who promoted the game by touring and playing exhibition games. 

Barron Street is named in his honour. 

171 Douglas Street 1902

171 Douglas Street   1902 Full front view west wall

171 Douglas Street                          East wall playing badminton   Photos: Vince Gratton

William Maynard

William Maynard moved with his family to Stratford in 1883. They lived at 171 Douglas Street. He held the position of manager at the local branch of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. The Stratford branch had been located on the Market Square since 1879. William Maynard was an active citizen and he had served in all position for the local Board of Trade.

 


William Maynard