Canadian Flag History

Ontario Street : Downie to Waterloo Streets

70 Ontario St.-Timothy Findley, author

Timothy Findley

Timothy Findley (1930-2002) was one of Canada’s leading authors, having written more than 15 books, eight plays and three memoirs, and coined the term Southern Ontario Gothic for his style of writing. He was an original company member of the Stratford Festival. See his two roles h played Shakespeare in Performance.

Findley made the penthouse at 70 Ontario St. his final Canadian home, and could often be seen in Pazzo’s Pizzeria taking refreshment with his lifelong partner Bill Whitehead. Where he lived was the long-ago site of the Stratford Inn and for many years it was the Brown's Men's and Boys' Wear store.

The Stratford Festival produced Findley's play, The Stillborn Lover, in 1995, and in 2000 commissioned Elizabeth Rex, which enjoyed great success at Stratford and went on to win the 2000 Governor-General's Award for Drama. Elizabeth Rex has since been produced across North America and in England.

Spadework, Findley’s last novel (2001) is set directly in Stratford. He changed few place names and the original printing of the novel includes a map to the downtown core.

Findley was the recipient of the Governor General’s Award, the Order of Ontario, and the Trillium Book Award. Source: Stratford-Perth Archives Walking tours.

* On July 1, 2008, he was honoured by the city with a Bronze Star near the Avon Theatre.

81 Ontario st.- Rankins Soda Fountain & Genes Restaurant

Rankins Soda Fountain

For about 90 years, the Rank1n name was well known in Stratford in the baking, confectionery, candy, ice cream, and restaurant business. The names Rankin's candy, Rankin's hand-rolled chocolates, Rankin's own ice cream, sodas, sundaes and milkshakes are still able to make Stratford mouths water.

Joseph and Katherine Rankin opened their first store in 1874, after they had purchased the handsome Mowat bank building at the corner of Downie and Wellington streets.

In about 1890, the Rankins moved to larger premises, at 32 Ontario St. before their final location at 81 Ontario St. By this time, Joe Rankin had died and the business was operated by the oldest of his eight sons, Charles R. Rankin . The business was eventually taken over by another of the Rankin boys, Harry Gordon Rankin who closed the business in 1960. * See more about the store and the Rankins on Rankin Street

Genes Restaurant

Gene's Restaurant was founded by Larry and Rae Gene in 1970. They took over a popular restaurant, the Erie Bar-B-Q at 38 Erie St. In 1975, Gene's Restaurant expanded to its present location at 81 Ontario St. That had been the location of the former Centre Restaurant that had a fire in the late 1960s, and before that was home to the Rankins, who were well known for their fine food, ice cream and candy. Source: Stratford and District Historical Society * See more about Genes at Erie Street

Ken Gene, present owner of Gene's Restaurant

84 Ontario St.-Watson's Chelsea Bazaar

Sketch Megan Skelton

When Peter Watson, an early Stratford businessman, died, undertaker John L. Bradshaw, (see Bradshaw Drive), was asked to dispose of the stock in Watson’s china shop. That was 1896, and J. L. Bradshaw began a business that has lasted four generations.

John L. became so interested in the business that he decided to purchase it himself and carry on under the name Bradshaw’s China Hall. The business began at 58 Ontario Street and later moved to 84 Ontario. The business remained in the Bradshaw family until it was sold to Gordon Wreford in 1975. The Bradshaw business then moved across the street to 129 Ontario and later a second store was opened at 149 Ontario.

Ten years later, David Bradshaw opened a new china and glassware business at the familiar 84 Ontario St., and named it after the original purveyor of china and crockery, Peter Watson. His daughter, Carole, and her husband, Todd Rowe, now carry on the original business started by her great-grandfather., J. L. Bradshaw. Source: Watson's Chelsea Bazaar David's daughter

Carole Rowe

Four Bradshaw generations involved in Bradshaw's China Hall.

100 Ontario St. - Princess Theatre

Is this the Princess Theatre? And who is the man in the photo?

Allison Mitchell-Reid purchased the photo in Toronto at an auction in 2024. Note: All of the businesses advertising on the curtain were shown in the 1914 Vernon's Stratford City Directory, but some are not in the 1924 edition. Mitchell-Reid places the date Circa 1914 +/- 5 years based on the advertisers on the curtain in the centre of the photo. .

The businesses advertising are:

1. Duncan Ferguson Co. - dry goods, millinery, mantles, furniture, etc. 14-18 Downie Street

2 The Sparta Restaurant and Confectionery - 89-93 Downie Street and 150 Ontario Street (Louis Campbell, proprietor)

3. Fletcher Johnston Ltd. boots and shoes - 25 Downie Street

4. Barnesdale Trading Company - groceries etc. 27-31 Market Place (Elijah Kitchen Barnsdale, proprietor)

5. Norval F Babb - jeweler and watchmaker - 23 Downie Street

6. P J Kelly - century clothing, tailoring, and furnishing - 87 Ontario Street

Source: Allison Mitchell-Reid, If you grew up in Stratford...FB.

The Princess Theatre made its first appearance in Vernon’s in 1911. That makes it an earlier location for the presentation of silent film than the Classic Theatre, which began operations in 1914 . (see below at 147 Ontario Street). Before that, in 1910, the location was occupied by a bowling alley, run by R. T. Shore, who lived at 223 Mornington. The Princess remained in operation until 1926.

In 1911, the proprietors for The Princess are listed as Corrie and Wilkinson. That would be Fred J. Corrie at 185 Water Street and Harry W. Wilkinson at 47 Norman. They were still proprietors in 1913 but in 1914, only Wilkinson is listed.

In 1915, G. E Morgan is the proprietor, with no home address listed, but by 1916, he is living at 30 Waterloo Street South. In 1917, he is at 154 Cobourg and is still there in 1919. By 1920, he is working as an insurance agent but The Princess Theatre is still in operation.

Mutual Life Assurance was next door to The Princess at 102 Ontario as was W.H. Gregory, barrister, who would be mayor in 1921-1922 and again in 1936. The Stratford Beacon was located at 104-108 Ontario.

Other Theatres in Stratford in 1919 were The Majestic, originally The Albert, later The Avon, at 97 Downie Street, and The Classic, at 145-147 Ontario Street. ( See separate articles). Wesley Irving Kemp Sr. (1868-1939) was the proprietor of both these theatres and lived at 69 Nile Street. His daughter Margaret (1897-1970) was a cashier at The Majestic.

In 1920, The Classic Theatre proprietors are listed as Allen Theatre Enterprises, with Gilbert Smith, as manager, living at 82 Princess. G. E. Morgan is listed as an insurance agent rather than manager of The Princess Theatre. Has the Princess Theatre ceased operations? Probably not. The page that would list or not list The Princess Theatre for that year is not reproduced in the digitized copy at The Stratford –Perth Archives. The Majestic lists Kemp as proprietor, but adds Charles B. Hider, (1894-1969) living at 69 McNab, as manager.

In 1921, The Princess Theatre is managed by John Gleeson, living at 181 Waterloo Street South. And R. J Harrison is now managing The Classic for Allen Enterprises. The Majestic team remains unchanged.

In 1922, The Classic would be known as the Allen Theatre with Albert G. Crowe as manager, living at 383 Ontario. In that same year, The Majestic still lists Kemp as proprietor, and Charles B. Hider, living at 105 Ontario, as manager with Mrs. Gertrude Allen (1895-1980) at 24 Wellington as cashier. Mrs. Allen would later become manager of the Avon and also the Vogue Theatre.

In 1923, The Princess Theatre is still at 100 Ontario Street. Frederick J. Patrick (1911-1967) of 268 Ontario is the proprietor and Harry Patrick at the same address is the operator. There is a now a dressmaker and beauty parlour at 102 and the newspaper which is now the Stratford Beacon -Herald after amalgamation is still in the same location at 104-108 Ontario.

In 1924, The Princess is still in operation with Fred J. Patrick as proprietor and Harry Patrick as operator both living still at 268 Ontario Street. J.V. Ward living at 32 Worsley is now the manager of The Classic Theatre. Ward moves to 104 Avondale in 1926 but maintains his managerial position at The Classic

In 1925 and 1926, the Princess Theatre team is unchanged as are the teams at The Classic and The Majestic. Charles Hider, manager of The Majestic, is now living at 151 Douglas.

1926 would be the final year for The Princess Theatre. The theatre had enjoyed a 15 year run. In 1927, The Stratford Vernon Directory for that year notes that Bankrupt, Stock Store has taken over the premises.

Sources Vernon Stratford Directories; Alison Mitchell-Reid If You grew up…FB.

102 Ontario St.-The Beacon building

Beacon Building 1907

The Beacon building, at 102-104 Ontario St., was built in 1907. Through the years, in addition to newspaper and fine printing operations, the building also housed a book bindery as seen in the picture.

* The Beacon building is now a hotel and restaurant. Mercer Hall

Beacon 2002

104 Ontario St.- Jumbo Ice Cream. The real scoop

The Jumbo Ice Cream Parlour was an institution on Ontario Street from the 1930s to the 1960s in two major locations. The first location was on the north side of Ontario Street between the Stratford Beacon Herald newspaper at 104-108 Ontario Street, now the Mercer Hotel, and Knox Presbyterian Church at 142 Ontario on the corner of Waterloo. The second major location was 17 Ontario Street beside the present location of Scotiabank.

For more about Jumbo see Flashback Jumbo Ice Cream by Gord Conroy

Note: this photo from Vince Gratton's Collection is taken outside the Jumbo location at 17 Ontario Street.

136 Ontario St. - Stratford Place Murals

Rich Thistle

This public art installation comprises 23 original paintings by Rich Thistle. Images depict historic and contemporary scenes of Stratford Ont. Commissioned in 1998 by the building's owner, Vic Hayter, these acrylic works were created using sepia tones for the historical scenes and full color for the contemporary images.

A tribute to historic and current Stratford, the work is permanently mounted across the front façade of Stratford Place, 136 Ontario St., in the heart of downtown. Go to Rich Thistle Art Studio to see all 23 paintings with description.

Rich Thistle is a multi-disciplined, Canadian visual artist respected for his aviation art as well as watercolor and acrylic landscape paintings of Ontario's lake country. His work extends to other subjects including horses, cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, sailboats, canoes and portraits.

Rich spent 30 years as a visual art educator and consultant in Perth County, Ont., while developing his career as an artist. He studied at the Ontario College of Art (and Design), earned a bachelor of arts (visual arts) from the Western Ontario University, and is a graduate of the Stratford teachers college.

131 Ontario Street - Forbes Livery Stables

Forbes Livery Stables circ 1900 Painting by Rich Thistle

Before the turn of the century, J & R Forbes Livery & Stable & the W. J. Cleland blacksmith shop were located side by side on the site now occupied by 'Stratford Place', the building on which these twenty-three paintings are mounted. Before the larger building was torn down in the 1980s it served as a popular bowling alley.

John and Robert Forbes were owners of Forbes Livery as seen in the 1876 Stratford Street Directory. They boarded and sold horses and livery equipment. By 1900-1902, it is Rankin and Easson Livery .

This painting by Rich Thistle based on old photo before the turn of the century, J & R Forbes Livery & Stable & the W. J. Cleland blacksmith shop were located side by side on the site now occupied by 'Stratford Place', the building on which these twenty-three paintings are mounted. Before the larger building was torn down in the 1980s it served as a popular bowling alley.

151 Ontario-St. Balzac's Coffee

Sketch by Megan Skelton

The president and founder of Balzac’s Coffee Roasters, Diana Olsen, found her passion while at university studying French literature. She discovered a kindred spirit in Honor De Balzac and his genuine passion for coffee.

After graduating, she spent a year and a half in France, immersing herself in authentic French culture. She passed many enchanting afternoons in the grand cafés of Paris, which inspired her to bring such sophisticated celebration of coffee and social tradition home to Canada.

But San Francisco was her next stop, in 1993, to learn the craft of coffee roasting and bean selection at the West Coast Specialty Coffee Training Institute. In 1996, the first Balzac’s café was opened at 149 Ontario St., in Stratford, Ont., and now there are 16 locations across the province. Source: Women of Influence Diana left Balzac's in December 2020 to start a new venture called Inner Beach. It sells beach-oriented products online and out of its store in Port Credit.

142 Ontario St. -Knox Presbyterian Church

circa 1910

After fire 1913

Funeral Procession phot0: Vince Gratton

Ralph Donaldson Plaque

Knox Presbyterian Church was established in 1844 when a large number of families withdrew from what is now St. Andrew's Church to form a "free" church. Worship services were in the log school house on the lawn of the present-day Stratford Public Library. The first permanent church was built on the southeast corner of St. Vincent and Norman streets. When the congregation outgrew the Norman Street building, plans were made to build on the present site, 142 Ontario St.

The new church was consecrated in January 1873. At about 1 a.m. on May 13, 1913, the spire was struck by lightning and the resulting fire not only destroyed the sanctuary, but the fire chief, the police chief and a police constable were killed as they helped fight the flames.

The Sunday School area at the north end of the church had been added in 1907 and escaped the fire. It has remained in use. The present building, erected to replace the destroyed church, was dedicated on Sunday, March 21, 1915. This Knox congregation voted to remain part of the Presbyterian Church in Canada at the time of church union in 1925.

In 2020, they proposed to redevelop the church with a new condo development, with both affordable and market-rate options to meet social and outreach community needs. The plans also include a state-of-the-art performance space where local, community-based organizations can showcase professional quality performances. Source: Knox Church History and Gord Conroy

The plaque near the church reads:

TRAGEDY ATTENDS A MORNING FIRE

It was a dark and stormy night, when at about 12:45 am, on May 13th, 1913, the famous spire at Knox Presbyterian was struck by a great bolt of lightening, which set it ablaze; it resulted in tragedy never before experienced by our City's First Responders.

At 1:30 am, Fire Chief Hugh Durkin 41, Police Chief John Augustus McCarthy, 67, and Constable Matthew Hamilton, 46, were moving and securing a ladder on the west side of the Church, part of the Steeple collapsed, striking and killing these unselfish servants of the City of Stratford.

On this The 100th Anniversary of that tragic event, the community remembers the sacrifice of these brave men.

MAY 13, 2013

Fire Chief Hugh Durkin, an accomplished horse rider, was described as a “courageous, daring and efficient firefighter” (see Fire Hall Albert Street). He was buried on May 15, 1913, in Avondale Cemetery, St. George section.

Const. Matthew Hamilton had been on the force for five years and, as the night policeman, he discovered the fire and raised the alarm at 12:35 a.m. He was described as a constable who would go out of his way to help someone rather than simply throw them in jail. He was 46 years old when he was struck with debris during the collapse of the church steeple. He was buried on May 15, 1913, in Avondale Cemetery.

Chief John Augustus McCarthy Jr. (see McCarthy Road) followed in his father’s footsteps as Stratford’s chief constable. He started his career as a county constable, and later a town constable under his father. In 1883 he was employed as a detective on the Grand Trunk Railway and was known for his clever detective work. He was appointed chief of police for the City of Stratford in 1888. He was 67 when he died and was buried on May 15, 1913, at Avondale Cemetery. Source: Gord Conroy

* A History of Knox Church, 1844-1931 – A.W. Fisher is available at the Stratford Public Library

Ralph Donaldson was the caretaker at Knox church at the time of the disastrous fire. He supervised the work of rebuilding and took part in much of its reconstruction.

In was in his honour for his splendid services, which extended over a period of nearly half a century, that the Knox congregation installed a stained glass window to honour him. 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.

* See his Stained Glass window at (Jones Street).

145 Ontario St. - Classic Theatre

The Classic Theatre was located at 145-147 Ontario Street. It was operating by 1914, three years after the Princess Theatre at 100 Ontario Street opened( see above). The Classic played a role in the lives of Stratford people both young and old right through WW1 and both The Great Depression and WW2 until 1950.

In 1921, it became connected to the Allen Theatre chain. In 1922 it was listed in the Stratford Vernon Directory as Allen's Theatre and in 1923 as Allen's Classic Theatre. In 1923, the Allen Theatre chain sold it to Famous Players.

A little general history of early Ontario cinema.

Circa 1910, there were a handful of theatres in Toronto that predominantly showcased and advertised their coming attractions to include motion pictures: The Grand; Agnes St. Theatre; Majestic Music Hall; Royal Alexandra; Shea's Theatre; Star; Gayety; and the Princess. At this time, many of these venues advertised musical, burlesque and vaudeville acts. That was true for Theatre Albert on Downie Street which became The Majestic and later the Avon. ( Avon Theatre).

The photo shows The Classic Theatre in September 1923.

Showing is “The Isle of Lost Ships” staring Jason Robarts Sr. with numerous three-sheet poster and a DIY standee. Source: Avon Theatre in Stratford, CA - Cinema Treasures

An additional source of information for early Ontario cinema. Early Cinema Filmography of Ontario (ECFO) - Ontario Theatres. For Allen Theatre history. Jay and Jules Allen - Wikipedia

Rarely did theatres boast about moving pictures, with the exception of Shea's Theatre whose ads would often include "The Kinetograph" as part of the overall bill.

By 1915, the business of cinema erupts, and Stratford is part of this. The number of theatres exhibiting and advertising their motion picture bill are almost too numerous to name. An article in December of 1913 claims that 323 theatres in Ontario had film "machines run by properly instituted mechanics". That year, there were 438 film operators in all of Ontario (at least those that were registered), and 243 of those were in Toronto. Of the 323 theatres in Ontario, 83 of those operated in Toronto, a remarkable number for a population of approximately half a million. (Toronto World Dec. 1, 1913 p.4) By 1930, the number of theatres in Toronto increased only slightly to 92.

In Stratford, Wesley Kemp Sr. was the manager of the Classic Theatre in its early years with John Ward taking over in the 1920s. Later, Walter F. Helm who was also associated with the Avon Theatre was the manager.

By the 1930s and 1940s, movie goers enjoyed Flash Gordon and Gene Autry and their cliff-hanging adventures during the movie serials on Saturday afternoons at The Classic Theatre . The cost of admission was just 10 cents. You can see Buster Crabbe as Flash Gordon in The Tunnel of Terror (1936) here. Bing Videos

Stratford Mirror. August 21, 1913. Stratford-Perth Archives Digitized Collections.

In 1923, both the Classic Theatre name and Allen's name were used to advertise films at 145 Ontario Street. At times, the combined Allen's Classic Theatre name was also used.

To the left: Stratford Mirror. September 21, 1923. Stratford-Perth Archives Digitized Collections. Note the date for The Isle of Lost Ships in the September 21 issue dates the exterior picture of The Classic Theatre (above) to September 1923 with accuracy.

159 Ontario St. Stratford Steam Laundry

Stratford Steam Laundry was run by members of the Chowen family until George Lindsay bought it in 1935 John William Chowen was the proprietor as noted in the Stratford City Directory of 1896. It moved to 106 Ontario Street as recorded in the 1905-1906 directory and was run by the Chowen Brothers. By 1907, it was situated at 159 Ontario Street with E. T. Chowen as the manager.

This picture on the left shows a photo dating from circa 1905 of the building that dates from 1882. We then see the building today as photographed by Bob Toleff posted in If you grew up in Stratford...FB.

In the original photo, it looks as if there was a large sign painted on the side of the building. This is not true. Local historian, Nancy Musselman, discovered in her research that the original photographer superimposed the image on the photograph. It did not exist as shown but the sign itself did exist. And there is an explanation. The photo below from Vince Gratton shows the authentic original sign set back in the portico entrance to the building. Mystery solved courtesy of Vince and his extensive personal postcard collection of Stratford history. Sources: Stratford-Perth Archives; Bob Toleff, If you grew up in Stratford... FB; Vince Gratton, Stratford History photo collection, Nancy Musselman, Stratford historian.

Stratford Steam Laundry. We are looking south on Waterloo Street The Queen's Hotel is seen on the left across Ontario Street. The original fire hall and bell tower can be seen at the corner of Albert Street. The recessed authentic Laudry sign can be seen in the setback of the entrance to Stratford Steam laundry off Ontario Street Photo: Vince Gratton Collection.

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