Canadian Flag History

The Evolution of Market Square

The area between Market Place and the back of the city hall is still called Market Square because it was for many years the site of the farmers' market, an integral part of the first Stratford Town Hall, built in 1857 In 1834 Canada Company surveyor Donald McDonald laid out the downtown and he left a triangular area to be named Market Square. There was no town hall at this time and Market Place as it was known then, became a bustling spot but it was not a market yet.

A German settler named William Rischmiller ran a sawmill here in the 1840s using Romeo Creek ( as shown on the map) to power his mill. The creek wound its way through Stratford Streets on its flow to the Little Thames. The creek runs under the Avon Theatre today where it can be accessed via a manhole.

1934 Map survey by Donald MacDonald Stratford-Perth Archives

In 1874, the Town Hall was built that doubled as a market building. It housed a music club, debating club, and concert hall. The police and fire departments were also accommodated here, as was the town's first library. There were stores and butcher stalls on the bottom floor. The Town Hall can be seen on the left. The market was also at the social and political hub of the town, a natural outgrowth of the new town hall, which was hailed as one of the finest buildings of its kind in Canada. To the right you can see a boardwalk over Romeo Creek . 1880 Photo: Vince Gratton

Town Hall is to the left, See in the background is the Commercial Hotel offering a first class stay for $1.00 a night. In 1922 it became the Bank of Montreal ( see history) after more than 100 years it is still there. To the right the small building is likely Fred Wong's Laundry. 1882 Vince Gratton

1882 Sign reads "Nothing succeeds like success" Photo: Vince Gratton

In this picture you can see the Hub owner Elijah Kitchen Barnsdale who sold hardware, drugs and groceries. On the corner, the light red brick building is Ubelackers Butchery The name is still there high on the back wall of the building. 1906 Photo: Vince Gratton

Stratford-Perth Archives 1888

The building in centre background 1 Market Place was built in 1890 as an investment property for James Nasmyth at druggist who had his drug store on Ontario Street. It was rented to a variety of butchers and grocers for a number of years. Several dentists and physicians occupied the upper floors, Henry Yeandle, a butcher was the longest occupant of the building. By 1903 he opened his shop Central Meat Market at 1 Market Pl. After several years, he joined forces with the Kalfleisch and Rohfritsch butcher shop down the street where he remained until retirement. The Bank of Toronto took over the space when Yeandle moved his business in 1913. The bank remain there for over 30 years. Stratford & District Historical Society. On the right is The Herald Building at 21 Market Place dating from 1890. 1888 Photo: Vince Gratton

1887 Queen Victoria Golden Jubalee Along with the Queen's jubilee, this was the presentation of the Freeland Memorial Statue you can barely see in the middle of the crowd.

On or about 1 a.m. on Nov. 24, 1897, Stratford's handsome town hall, which had become a city hall in 1885, was destroyed by fire. A Scottish concert had been held in the second-floor hall in the evening before. The only people in the building when the fire was discovered were three tramps sleeping in the jail cells, and they were told to "get the hell out of town as fast as possible!" Stratford-Perth Archives

Seen here on the left is the Worth Block and next to it the Brandenberger Block 1910 Photo: Vince Gratton

1932 Stratford Centenial and Old Boy's Reunion Photo: Vince Gratton

1932 Stratford Centenial Photo: Vince Gratton

This is in front of Wellington Street. The Lloyd's Wholesale delivery staff and their trucks posed in Market Square.. The big building at 42 Wellington St. is the Worth Block, Farther south on the are Allen's Alley and Allen's Fruit Market (see Wellington Street). 1938 Photo: Vince Gratton

1946 Soldiers return home Photo: Vince Gratton

1945 Parking takes priority. Photo: Vince Gratton

In 1952 hundreds of fans packed the Market Square to be part of the welcome home celebrations for the Stratford Seniors Indians from their Allen Cup playoffs against the Fort Frances Canadians. The Indians had a fantastic line that were idolized called Flick, Roth and Flanagan. Source: Dean Robinson's book, "42 Wellington"

In 2023 in Market Square there is a spectacular winter Lights On show and EV charging stations for electric cars. We have lept into the 21st century.

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