Cambria Street

Cambria is a Roman name for Wales, and is often used to describe Wales in the poetic sense.

George W. Byers of London England arrived in Stratford in 1856 and established himself in the stove and tinware business on Erie Street. One of his friends was an early Stratford builder and land developer who bought a tract of 18 acres bounded by Birmingham, St. David, St. Vincent and Cambria streets. He said the name of Cambria Street was in honour of Mrs. Byer's wife, who was from Wales. Mrs. Byres died in 1874, and Mr. Byers drowned while swimming in the Avon River. By: Stanford Dingman

David Gunn Baxter, architect

David Gunn Baxter (see Grange Street) designed the house at 220 Cambria St. He was a local architect and son of a chief dispatcher of the Grand Trunk Railway, Joseph Baxter. David Baxter was noted as “a clever young man” whose roots in design started as a boy. His career began in June 1892 after training under Stratford’s Joseph Kilburn. Baxter's portfolio contained a number of local buildings including the Myers Block in 1893 (see Downie Street) on the north corner of Downie and Brunswick streets, and the opera house (now the Avon Theatre) for Albert Brandenberger in 1897 (see Downie Street).  Source: Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada

The four men most responsible for developing the park system were Thomas J. Dolan, a newspaperman and member of the parks board; George McLagan, a furniture manufacturer who donated money and land for the cause; R. Thomas Orr, a prominent businessman and original secretary of the board; and Dr. Henry Eidt, whose civic accomplishments are highlighted by his push for and creation of that board. In recognition of these men the city has T. J. Dolan Dr., and the T. J. Dolan Natural Area; McLagan Drive and the R.Thomas Orr Dam . The City has yet to honour Henry Eidt in such a fashion. Thanks to Dean Robinson  for the history of Dr. Eidt, taken from his book Not The Last Waltz and other Stratford stories.

See Flashback Article:  The park system: How Dr. Eidt saved the day!

Dean Robinson has included  A tribute to Doctor Dave by Dr. Robert B. Salter in his Rotary club history, A Century of Service: The Rotary Club of Stratford 1922-2022, as well as additional research, photos and information about Smith's lifelong service to his community.(see Front Street).

Smith grew up on a farm in West Zorra Township and was an elementary teacher for four years before enrolling at the University of Toronto medical school. He graduated in 1902, worked first in Muskoka and Thamesford, then did post graduate work in England in 1904  before coming to Stratford. In 1905, he bought the practice of Dr. J. D. Monteith, who was about to start a world tour, and took over his office in the Metropolitan Block.  

Dr. Smith made house calls. That was the way of doctors in those days. He was still practising into the 1940s and delivering babies including me, Gordon Conroy, in 1943. Dr. Hugh Thompson, also a Rotarian, took over Dr. Smith's practice and home at 104 Brunswick St., and continued the dedicated service and the house calls of his mentor. The waiting room and offices were in the west side at 104 Brunswick, the doctor's residence on the right or east side of  the house.

Dr. Smith later lived, in retirement, at 175 Cambria St. In 1927, he had married Sarah Isobel Mickle (1893-1992); they had no children. He was honoured for his services by both the Rotary Club of Stratford and the Ontario Society for Crippled Children. Sources: Dean Robinson's A Century of Service: The Rotary Club of Stratford 1922-2022; also, "A Tribute to Doctor Dave" by Dr. Robert B. Salter, presented in its entirety in Dean Robinson's Rotary history book; Stratford-Perth Archives.  

* The office and home of Dr. Smith at 104 Bruswick St. is now part of a B and B called The Three Houses.

Thomas was a member of the council when plans were being made for the new City Hall (1899). (see Wellington Street). He was City Treasurer for ten years. Thomas was also heavily involved in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, (see St. Andrew Street), the Stratford Rotary Club, and the Board of Trade. He was also one of the small group of men who organized the first golf club in Stratford, the forerunner of the Stratford Golf and Country Club. (see Romeo Street). 

The house at 175 Cambria Street was built by Elizabeth (1861-1946) and Thomas Ballantyne Junior (1863-1938) in 1921 on a lot that was severed from the property owned by Thomas Newton, blacksmith, whose house was built in 1910 at 179 Cambria Street. 

Elizabeth was also deeply involved with civic responsibilities.  She was one of the first members of the Stratford Women’s Hospital Aid and a member of the Ontario Hospital Aids Association. She was also a member of the Stratford Old Age Pensions and Mothers’ Allowance Board. During both world wars she was a working supporter of the Red Cross Society. For twenty ­five years she was on the board of the Perth County Children’s Aid Society. She was also on the board of the Victorian Order of Nurses. Elizabeth was also a member of the Women’s Canadian Club. She was very active in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, filling many offices in women’s organizations of the church. Elizabeth was also a gifted pianist, being prominent in Stratford musical circles. She was a strong supporter of the Stratford Musical Festival.

Elizabeth and Thomas Junior had three children: Margaret “Margery” Clarke who died in early childhood; Thomas Whitson, who became a medical doctor and lived in Woodstock; and Emma Kent, who married Stratford­-born Ralph Chandler and moved to Port Arthur (Thunder Bay).

Both Thomas and Elizabeth died at home at 175 Cambria Street. Sources: Stratford-Perth County Branch ACO (Architectural Conservancy of Ontario) | Historical Plaque Properties ;  Thomas Ballantyne (1829-1908) - Find a Grave Memorial;  Thomas Ballantyne (1863-1938) - Find a Grave Memorial. 

In his early twenties with his parents gone and perhaps little prospects in Scotland, John made the momentous decision to seek a better life in Canada. Upon his arrival around 1890, he did not stray too far from his roots. Initially, he worked on a farm for a number of years in Elma Township before moving to Downie Township where he was employed on the farm of William Byers who would become his father-in-law.

On October 12, 1899, thirty-five year old John A. Andrew married Helen Cawston Byers in Stratford. She was born in Downie Township in March 1860, the sixth of nine children of William Byers and Anne (Annie) Murray. At the time of his wedding, John lived in St. Mary’s and listed his occupation as a Coachman on the marriage register. The couple did not have any children.

Marriage settled John from his migratory ways. The couple decided to live in Stratford where John worked with Helen’s brother as a Seed Salesman. However, by 1904, John appears to have gone into business on his own as he is listed as a Seed Merchant in the Stratford City Directory.  The directory also records the couple boarding at a residence on Water Street.

By 1911 the couple’s fortunes had continued to improve as John set up shop as a Flour and Feed Merchant at 68 Wellington Street. Around the same time they moved to a house at 53 Centre Street.

 
In 1920 John was able to retire from active business and went through a transformation to public life when he was first elected Alderman. At the time he and Helen lived at 101 Church Street when they purchased a vacant lot on Cambria St. and had plans drawn for a craftsman style house which was built in 1922.

John was a much respected politician having been elected twelve times, two of which as Mayor in 1928 and 1929. He retired from public life after his second term as Mayor but was coaxed into returning to Council in 1932 as Alderman because of his needed experience in dealing with the ravages of the Great Depression which were taking hold in Stratford. Illness forced him to take a leave of absence. He died on May 6, 1932.  Helen continued to live at 174 Cambria St. until her death in 1945. Source: Stratford-Perth County Branch ACO (Architectural Conservancy of Ontario) | Historical Plaque Properties