Viking ship, Oslo
A man from the north
The name Norman first appeared on the 1848 "Plan of the Town of Stratford" drawn by Donald McDonald, who had been brought to Canada by his uncle John McDonald. It is safe to assume the name for this street was chosen because if its historical significance in Britain, France and Canada.
Many of the earliest French settlers in Canada came from Normandy, though there was little French influence in the early settlement of Stratford. The Canada Company was British through and through, so iot would have been the British Historical Association that led to the naming of Norman Street. Norman derives from Northman meaning a man from the north, a Viking. Normans refers to those Vikings who founded what became the Duchy of Normandy in France.
Norman Street was one of the first in Stratford to get wooden sidewalks. The Norman Street Free Presbyterian Church got a sidewalk on Mornington Street hill in 1856, Beacon publisher William Mowat asked, "Why not Norman Street?" The sidewalk was built, but only as far as St. James Church. By: Stanford Dingman Picture: Viking Ship Museum
Tom Patterson, 1953 Stratford Perth- Archives
132 Norman St. Photo Fred Gonder
Tom Patterson, Festival founder
In his early days, Harry Thomas Patterson, lived at 132 Norman St. He was the founder of the Stratford Shakespearean Festival, the largest theatre festival in Canada. He was also a veteran of the Second World War, and a journalist who wrote for Maclean's magazine in the early 1950s.
From the time he was a teenager, he thought his hometown of Stratford, Ont., should be home to performances of Shakespeare's plays. The town was suffering because of changes in the railway industry, on which it had long been dependent. With no experience with theatre, Patterson proposed the idea of a Shakespeare-based theatre festival. In 1952, he invited prominent British director Tyrone Guthrie (see Guthrie Avenue) to visit Stratford and help bring his idea of a Shakespearean theatre to fruition. When Guthrie accepted the offer to visit, national newspapers started to take notice. Patterson told the Globe and Mail he wanted to provide "Canadian acting talent the opportunity to work with top directors and actors without having to leave the country." Guthrie said he was interested in a venture that "offers a fresh advance in the production of Shakespeare."
With Guthrie supporting the festival idea, Patterson persuaded the city council to back it, and formed an enthusiastic committee of local citizens to help organize it. Guthrie advised him to hire a big name for the first production. So, Patterson received a small loan from the city council to bankroll a meeting with Alec Guinness, and extend to him an invitation to perform in the inaugural season. The festival has grown and expanded significantly since that time.
Patterson served as the festival's general manager in the first season and worked in other capacities until 1967. He also founded the touring company, Canadian Players, with actor Douglas Campbell (see Mornington Street) and took part in the establishment of a number of cultural institutions, including the Canadian Theatre Centre and the National Theatre School. Patterson was also the founder of the Dawson City Gold Rush Festival.
Patterson was made an officer of the Order of Canada in 1967 and also awarded the Order of Ontario. He received honorary degrees from the University of Toronto and the University of Western Ontario. The new Tom Patterson Theatre is named after him, as is one of the islands in the Avon River. He was also honoured with a Stratford Bronze Star, which is located near the Avon Theatre.
For more on Patterson, read his memoirs, First Stage: The Making of the Stratford Festival, co-authored with Allan Gould, published in 1986. Source: Wikipedia
Note: Tom Patterson's brother Robert lived at 132 Norman Street as well
Robert Patterson
Robert “Bob” Patterson was born to Harry Murray Patterson and Lucinda Amelia Whyte Patterson on March 1, 1917, in Stratford. The family lived at 132 Norman Street and were well known in the community. Harry Patterson, a Stratford native, and president of the Stratford Brass Company (the Brassy) had been prominent in the business and civic life of the town.
Bob was a popular young man, well known for his athletic ability. He was outstanding on the football and rugby fields and was offered a scholarship at Western University to play rugby. He opted to remain in Stratford to work at the Brassy with his father after his graduation from high school.
Bob married Edith Beatrice Cameron (Trix) on September 27, 1941 and continued working and living in Stratford until he was called up for service as a reinforcement officer in April 1942 with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He embarked for duty in the UK in November 1943. He was able to meet with his brother Tom Patterson (stationed with the Dental Corps) near London, England during this time. Most of his service in England was uneventful and he embarked for duty in Italy in May 1944. He was killed in action, Dec. 20, 1944.
His last mission was outlined in “Not all of us were Brave” a memoir by Stanley Scislowski who witnessed the events first hand. “…Baker Company entered a drainage ditch on the right side of Chiara Road. Four hundred yards to their front a stone culvert barred their way. Behind the culvert a two-man enemy MG 42 crew waited.
There was no way they could miss the target approaching them. All they had to do was point their gun straight down the ditch and fire. Anyone approaching along the ditch made a perfect target and in no way could avoid being cut down like wheat under a This account aligns with the story his brother Tom heard from Bob’s comrades that he was cut in two in a culvert by machine gun fire and died instantly.
Tom Patterson’s book “They never rationed Courage” was published in 1995. It contains a sampling of his letters home during his service in the war.
Bob is buried in Villanova Canadian War Cemetery near Ravenna, Italy.
Source: Bio: Veteran Banner Project
Bob and Edith Beatrice Cameron (Trix)
Harry M. Patterson : Father to Robert and Tom Patterson
Harry M.. Patterson born 1881 was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert Patterson was a native of the city, attended school here and then took a position as messenger on the grand trunk railway later, serving his apprenticeship at the motive power shops before attending the school of practical science in Toronto. In 1905 he decided to enter the business and establish a bookstore that still bears his name although he left his business in 1914 to become the associated with the Stratford Brass company as Secretary treasurer and became president of the organizing organization in 1920
Mr. Patterson serve for many years as a member of the Board of Education and was his chairman during 1931 and 32. He retired several years ago from these duties. Mr. Patterson was a privileged member of the officers of the Perth regiment and a member of the Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church . His death in 1942 at the age of 61 was survived by the former Miss Lucinda Whyte and three sons Lieutenant Robert Patterson Tom Patterson with the royal Canadian dental corps overseas and Donald at home . Source: Find a grave obit
David Scrimgeour, pioneer
David Neal Scrimgeour (1844-1906) was born in Perthshire, Scotland. He was the son of Alexander Scrimgeour (1802-1871) and Janet Robertson (1798-1862). Alexander emigrated from Scotland to Canada in 1848 and settled his family in Stratford. He was enumerated in the 1851 census as a carpenter. At the time, his family included his wife Janet and three children including 10-year-old David.
As a young man, David spent eight years in California and British Columbia. He returned to Stratford in 1869 and joined his older brother, Alex Jr. (1833-1890), to form Scrimgeour Brothers Avon Planing Mill on the south side of Mill Street (see Douglas Street).
According to a city directory, they manufactured doors, sashes, blinds and mouldings. They also offered scroll sawing and turnings. As contractors and builders they constructed a large number of businesses and houses in Stratford. By 1888 the brothers were also making furniture.
The Scrimgeour house at 93 Norman St. is a popular Queen Anne Revival style, featuring an asymmetrical façade with a traditional sunburst-patterned pediment over the front entry and beautifully detailed porch pillars. Another feature of note is the decorative yellow brick over Romanesque windows, as well as the two-storey bay.
93 Norman St. 1896
In 1875, David Scrimgeour married Sarah Robinson (1848-1932) and they had two sons, George and William. As well as being a success in business, David gave many years to public service. He was a school board trustee and a councillor before becoming mayor in December in 1881 following the death of Mayor Andrew. W. Robb. In 1882, Scrimgeour was elected to the mayor's chair. He was later appointed the city tax collector and served in that capacity until his death in 1906. David and Sarah Scrimgeour are buried in Stratford's Avondale Cemetery. Source: Historic Plaque
15 Norman St.
Thomas MacPherson house and the Free Church of Scotland
In 1843, there was a major split within the Church of Scotland. Hundreds of ministers and congregations broke away from the established church to form the Free Church of Scotland. St. Andrew’s Church (see St. Andrew Street) found itself caught up in the debate when, in 1844, its minister and a majority of the congregation withdrew to form a Free Church. They outnumbered the parishioners who elected to stay with St. Andrew's, so they felt entitled to the building and the records of St. Andrew’s. It took a civil court decision to settle the issue in favour of the established church.
The Thomas MacPherson manse for the Free Church of Scotland that had split from St. Andrew's was on an elevated triangular site at the junction of Norman and Douglas streets, facing the Avon River. Built as the manse to accompany the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland at 37 Norman St., the MacPherson house was the first residence in the area. The manse and church set the pattern for development in the area.
The MacPherson House is associated with Rev. Thomas MacPherson (see McPherson Street), who lived in the manse of the first Free Church of Scotland built in Stratford. He was one of six missionaries sent to British North America in 1849 to help establish the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. During his 28 years in Stratford, he was largely responsible for the establishment of both the Free Presbyterian Church on Norman Street and Knox Presbyterian Church on Ontario Street (see Ontario Street).
The MacPherson House, designed by local architect Peter Ferguson, reflects the Georgian Revival style. Georgian elements such as symmetry are demonstrated in the five-bay façade as well as six-over-six windows, intended to create the illusion of French windows. The entrance is also flanked by sidelights and a transom typical of Georgian style. Source: Canada Historical Places
* McPherson Street was named after Rev. Thomas MacPherson, 1811-1891 (see McPherson Street).