Dark cherry table
Cherry Street is one of the group of streets named after native Ontario trees and probably refers to the black cherry, the largest member of the genus in Canada.
The wood is considered valuable for furniture but the supply is limited. Many of the furniture pieces produced in the early days of Canada's development are fine examples of the value of these woods for cabinetry, and most people must be happy to see these pieces in private collections or museums.
If you are lucky enough to have a piece of early Canadian cherry, hang on to it. It's irreplacible. The wood is moderately heavy and strong and light-to-dark reddish brown. You cannot mistake the warming glow of highly-polished cherry. By Stanford Dingman
Arhtur H. Boon
53 Cherry St.
Arthur H. Boon, D-Day veteran (1924-2023)
Chief Warrant Officer Arthur Boon was born in Peterborough, England, on Nov. 12, 1924. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in June 1940, when he was 15. After training, he was sent overseas in 1942.
On the morning of June 6, 1944, he was with the 19th Canadian Army Field Regiment (self propelled) as part of the D-Day landing. Specifically, he was a tank gunner on Juno Beach at St. Aubin.
Overall, he saw action in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, and was wounded twice. Then he volunteered for the Canadian Army Pacific Force, but that operation came to a close before he was dispatched. For nearly a year after the war ended, he was part of the occupation forces tasked with peacekeeping in Germany and Holland. He also played hockey in Amsterdam in the Canadian Army Hockey League, and the travelling all-star team from November to June 1946. The team was raising money for the Netherlands Relief Fund. He returned to Canada on June 19, 1946. He was formally discharged on Aug. 16, 1946. In 1956, he re-enlisted with the Perth Regiment and in 1964, transferred to Royal Canadian Regiment (3RCR) as a staff sergeant. In 1964, he was promoted to company sergeant major (CSM) with the 3RCR.
In 1974, he was promoted to regimental sergeant major (RSM) of 4RCR. He retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in 1981. He is a life member of the Royal Canadian Legion, a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force Association and president of RCR Association; a past president of the Perth Regiment Veterans’ Association and the 4th Royal Canadian Regiment (4RCR) Officer’s Mess; a member and past president of the 19th Field Regiment Association.
Upon their marriage, he and his wife, Lois, lived at 53 Cherry St from 1956-1960. In 1960, they moved to 190 Queen St.
Mr. Boon died on March 12, 2023 at the age of 98.
In 2004, he was named Stratford senior citizen of the year and in 2005 citizen of the year by the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE). He was awarded the Veterans’ Affairs Commendation, is a recipient of the Canadian Order of Military Merit, The Order of St. John’s, the Canadian Meritorious Service Medal for service, and the Legion of Honour Medal from France.
*His father, Arthur W. Boon, fought in the Battle of Vimy Ridge (see Louise Street).
Source: Legion, Ontario Command and CBC Story: Importance of Remembrance Day and thanks to Richard Boon
Legion of Honour
Meritorious Service Medal
Richard Boon (left) accompanied his father Art to a Second World War ceremony in the Netherlands in 2015. The ceremony commemorated the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Holland. (Photo provided by Art Boon/Richard Boon)
Canadian soldiers, Juno Beach, D-Day