History of homes: Caledonia Street

61 Caledonia Street

61 Caledonia Street  1980   Stratford-Perth Archives

Margaret Dow Historic Property


Margaret Dow nee Stewart was born in Perthshire, Scotland about 1787. She married Alexander Dow sometime before 1822 as their daughter, Margaret, was born in 1824. It is not known if there were other children older than Margaret.

 

According to the land records in the book The Hills of Home: North Easthope Township 1827- 1997, Margaret Dow leased Lot 24 Concession 12 in 1845.


In 1846, Margaret, at age 59, her daughters, Margaret (Peggy) age 22, Catherine age 20, Christina age 15, and her son James age 8, arrived in their new home. Perhaps she was joining Stewart relations as there were a number of Stewart families near to her property. Margaret later sold the farm to Peter Doerr and in 1878 she and two of her three daughters, Margaret and Christina, moved to Stratford to 61 Caledonia Street. 


Margaret died in 1884 at the age of 97. Her daughters continued to live in the house until 1911. Margaret Jr. kept house but Christina went to work first as a trimmer at Gordon & Orr and later as a mantle maker. Margaret died in 1909 at the age of 85 and Christina two years later at 80. Margaret Stewart Dow and her daughters are buried in Hampstead Cemetery, North Easthope. Source: Historic Plaque Properties

64 Caledonia Street

64 Caledonia  Street 1910 and 1916  Photo: Vince Gratton

Ralph Donaldson Jr., carpenter and builder

Ralph Donaldson Jr. was a well-known and respected citizen of Stratford. A carpenter by trade, he built every frame, set every window and hung every door in the Perth County Courthouse when it was built in 1886. When his parents, Ralph (1822-1891) and Jane (Gray) Donaldson, came from Scotland in 1855, Stratford was just a village.  

Ralph Jr.  was born in Stratford on April 29, 1856. He attended Central School (see St. Andrew Street), where the Stratford Public Library now stands, and after school he learned his trade as a carpenter and builder.

He was the caretaker at Knox Church (see Ontario Street) at the time of the disastrous fire on May 13, 1913, in which three lives were lost. He also supervised and took a hands-on role in much of reconstruction, all the while playing close attention to the details that continue to beautify the building.

In was in honour of his splendid services, for almost half a century, that the Knox congregation dedicated a stained glass window in his name. The window bears the inscription: And He laid His hand upon him and gave him Charge. The window depicts a knight in armour kneeling before Christ and taking his oath to serve faithfully.

* More words on the window: In recognition of Ralph Donaldson's long and faithful service as church officer covering a period of half a century. Erected November 1930


128 Caledonia 

128 Caledonia Street  1942   Photo: Vince Gratton

William Carter

224 Caledonia Street 1984