Idlington Block
The Idington Block was the name of a group of buildings on Downie Street south of the Gordon Block (see Downie St.), at the corner of what is now the apex of Erie, Downie and Ontario streets. It was named for John Idington, the owner, who commissioned their construction in 1885. That construction connected to some additional buildings behind it that dated from 1879. Those buildings with their entrance on Erie Street were known as the Idington Block in the 1880 Stratford Directory.
Before the Idington Block was built, John Idington had his law office with his partner Charles J. Mickle in the Redford Block, at the corner of Church and Ontario Streets. By 1880, the law offices moved to the Idington Block that fronted on Erie near Ontario.
John Idlington Stratford-Perth Archives
The Idington Block had entrances on both Erie and Downie streets, while the Gordon Block had entrances on Erie, Downie and Ontario streets. Today, Festival Square (10 Downie St.) is on the site of the former Idington and Gordon blocks. In the Stratford city directory of 1896, The Idington Block is located on the west side of Market Street, the early name of Downie Street.
John Idington later sold his block of buildings to Duncan Ferguson. In the Stratford directory of 1896, Duncan Ferguson and Co., purveyors of dry goods and millinery is at 9-11-13 Market St. (now Downie Street) and 10-12-14 Erie St. Mr. Ferguson lived at 81 Hibernia St. Mr. Idington is described as living on James Street, opposite the east end of Elizabeth Street. Sources: Stratford Directory 1896; Adelaide Leitch, Floodtides of Fortune. Researched by Gord Conroy
* The Idington Block was not recognized for many years until the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) placed a plaque on the building to signify its historical significance. The building later housed the Eaton and Beamish department stores. The Stratford LACAC plaque reads:
Idington Block 1885. The building and others behind it dating from 1879 were erected by John Idington Q.C. who was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Canada in 1905.
