Waterloo Street

The famous battle

Waterloo Street, which runs from Mornington Street to Downie Street, is one of the original streets on the 1834 Canada Company map drawn by John McDonald. The name Waterloo appeared on the 1839 and 1848 maps, but only on that part of the street south of the Avon River. At that time, there was still no bridge over the Avon at that location.

Historical value: This armoury is a good example of a building associated with the pre-First World War armoury building campaign, and the reform and expansion of the volunteer militia. It reflects a government policy to allow the supply of arms to all rural militias, following public debate supporting good local training facilities.

Architectural value: This armoury is a good example of a standard American armoury model. The compact design incorporates medieval military motifs including jutting towers, battlements and a main entrance reminiscent of a fortified gate. The interior layout is also based on the standard armoury model, in which the open drill hall is located on the upper floor. Good craftsmanship and materials are evident in the rough-faced stone that contrasts with the flat red brickwork, detailing typical of the designer, Thomas W. Fuller.

 Environmental value: This armoury reinforces the character of its downtown setting and is a conspicuous neighbourhood landmark. Source: Canada's Historic Places

Addendum: For the story of the building that was moved to allow the Armoury to be built, see Albert Street. 

The photograph below shows the Armouries C 1910. In the lower right of the photograph, the Stratford Gas and Oil Company can be seen on the north east corner of Waterloo and Albert Streets. . Photo: Nancy Musselman, If you grew up in Stratford...FB

“New” post office, loved or hated right from the start  

Stratford’s "new" post office reflects the style and temper of the early 1960s, in which it was designed and built. The beloved "old" post office (see Ontario Street), designed by T. S. Scott and built in 1882, was demolished in 1961 amid loud cries and misgivings by many in Stratford, though some welcomed the new, sleek modern facility. The lament for what was persists. 

The “new” post office, at 75 Waterloo St. S., is on the north east corner of Waterloo and Albert streets directly across from the Armoury. They are quite a contrasting pair. 

This building style, popular in the 1960s, is of the International Style of architecture that developed in the 1920s and 1930s and was closely related to modernism and modernist architecture. It was “up to date” and “modern.”  The style involved a radical simplification of form, a rejection of ornament, and the adoption of glass, steel and concrete as preferred materials.  

Note: A submission to the city's Stratford Bronze Star program was made to honour Gordon Scott by people who were influenced by him. 

Personal Note: In the 1950 picture below, Gordon Scott  is bottom centre. John Boyden is the first person to his right.  By Paul Wilker

In the 1861 census, Thomas recorded his occupation as a carpenter. In the next decade, however, he transitioned to house builder. In 1863 he moved his family to a farm on Lot 8, Concession 5 in Downie Township. He also broadened his business interests. In 1866, he became an active investor with Hugh Dempsey in one of the first cheese factories in Perth County. Dempsey had married Fanny’s sister, Mary, after the death of his first wife. The factory opened on May 13, 1867, and for many years turned a handsome profit for the proprietors, according to Dempsey’s obituary. In the following year, Thomas was appointed to the board of directors of the Perth Mutual Fire Insurance Co.

In the 1871 census, Thomas listed his occupation as builder, and as such constructed some of the finer houses and buildings in Stratford. In the same year, he established a planing mill and lumberyard in the vicinity of the present-day bandshell on Veterans Way, on the south shore of the Avon River. Three years later, much to the chagrin of some of his children, he relocated his family from the farm to a house he had built at 50 Cobourg St., where the Orr Insurance and Investment offices are today (see Cobourg Street). 

In the family Bible, John Orr (father of Thomas) is recorded as dying on March 29, 1863, though no death location is attached. His wife Sarah (mother of Thomas) first appeared in the 1876 Stratford city directory. Initially, she lived at 323 Church St., but by 1881 had moved to a house on the newly developed Daly Terrace, which was later renamed Daly Avenue. Thomas Orr’ sister, Isabella, familiarly known as Bella, was a seamstress and boarded her mother on both Church Street and Daly Terrace, until Sarah’s death on May 8, 1889. Sarah is buried in Avondale Cemetery. Her husband John, though not buried in Avondale, is memorialized on her tombstone. Bella subsequently went to live with Thomas’s son John for a time, before relocating to Georgetown, Ont., where she continued to work as a seamstress and boarded with the Metcalfe family. She eventually returned to Stratford, where she died on July 5, 1910, and is also buried in Avondale Cemetery.

Thomas Orr’s wife, Fanny, died on Sept. 3, 1911. Thomas died on June 23, 1914. Both are buried in Avondale Cemetery, as are other family members. Source: Stratford-Perth County Branch ACO (Architectural Conservancy of Ontario) | Historical Plaque Properties 

In the 1920s she formed a lifelong friendship with Grace Dand (see YWCA below), who was active with the YWCA. (See YWCA Featured Article and Waterloo Street). The two women lived at 42 Waterloo St. S., directly across from the YWCA. Rose became a member of the YWCA board and later a part of its financial committee.

In 1929, she was one of the vice presidents of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation. She was also a member of the Stratford library board and the University Women’s Club. Much to her great pleasure, she became the honorary president of Stratford Little Theatre. 

When Rose retired in 1946, she was given a farewell dinner arranged by 150 of her former students. She died in 1963 and was buried in Elora Cemetery with her lifetime friend, Grace Dand. 

*  McQueen Court was named in honour of Rose. Source: Fibergenea  and Gordon Conroy

 The YWCA

In 1905, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) formally started in Stratford, though women, with their auxiliaries, backed the various efforts to start a YMCA before that. The YWCA set up in two rented rooms in the old YMCA building on Market Place after the YMCA built a new facility on the corner of Downie and St. Patrick Streets in 1904. One YWCA room on Market Place was used for general purposes; the other was used as a gym. (see YMCA Downie Street)

In 1909, the YWCA purchased property at the corner of Cobourg and Waterloo streets. The intent was to build a new Y but that would not happen until 1927. Instead, the members renovated the frame building on the site and erected a tent to the east of the building to be used as a gym.

In 1910, Grace Dand came to Stratford to run the first playground, and by 1912, she was selected as executive director of the YWCA. Thus began her 43 years of service to the community, which lasted until she died on the job, at the YWCA, in 1955.

In 1912, there were 101 YWCA members. By 1925, the year of the YWCA’s 20th anniversary in Stratford, there were 560 members. Grace Dand spoke of the YWCA as “a home, a club, a place where a girl may find friends, where she may have wholesome recreation, and an outlet for the activities of mind and body.” (see YWCA Feature Article).

In 1924, the YWCA held its first summer camp, along the Thames River flats near Thamesford. After Camp Kitchigami was established in 1927 on Lake Huron between Bayfield and Goderich, girls’ and boys’ camps were held there until the camp closed in 1963. In 1927, a new three-storey YWCA building was opened.  It was a rug-brick building with a concrete foundation trimmed with artificial stone, measuring 74 feet by 87 feet.

The plans included almost 30 bedrooms, meeting rooms, a gymnasium that could seat 500 and a swimming pool sometime in the future. Until then, the girls used the pool at the YMCA.

Physical, educational and spiritual programs flourished in the new building. There were Sunday evening fireside hours, first-aid and home nursing courses, and lectures on art, music and literature. Volleyball, badminton and basketball were popular. Tennis courts were opened in 1931 at the junction of Water and Waterloo streets and rebuilt with lights in 1948. In 1950, the YWCA met all its financial obligations for the first time.

In 1965, after formal amalgamation, the new YM-YWCA opened in 1968 on the Downie Street site of the former YMCA. (See YMCA Downie Street). Programs expanded but money issues remained.

In February 1983, there was a motion presented at the annual meeting calling for disaffiliation from the national YWCA. There was neither time nor money to be connected to both national organizations. It was determined that the Stratford operation was more in tune with the YMCA than the YWCA, and in 1984 at the annual meeting, the Stratford YMCA-YWCA became the Stratford-Perth County YMCA.

For several years, the former YWCA building was a youth hostel, a rehearsal space for the Stratford Youth Choir, or rented by the Stratford Festival as a space to make and store costumes. Eventually, the building was bought and renovated by the Marleau family from Kitchener. In 1994 it was sold to Gordon Naylor who turned the site into the performing arts academy it is today.

The Nancy Campbell Academy is a not-for-profit boarding and day school for grades 7 to 12 dedicated to providing a superior education by creating happiness through community service and academic excellence.

The YWCA building was always a busy place. In addition to recreation sports and fitness activities, the bake sales, spring teas and various fundraisers for world service continued into the 1980s, even after amalgamation of the YMCA and YWCA. As well, there were classes for teens and Friday night activities and Saturday morning classes for children in fitness, as well as games and story time.

The YWCA was also an important residence for thousands of teachers’ college students and young business women through the years. As well, it provided clean, safe accommodation for tourists in town for the Stratford Festival, beginning in 1957, and for guests to Stratford, and students and business women passing through.

Special thanks to Dean Robinson (see Moore Street) for his authoritative book, Y Stratford: A History 1858-1991, which chronicles the history of the YMCA and the YWCA.  All the information in this short article, as well as the photos, which were provided primarily from the Stratford-Perth Archives or the Beacon Herald are found in his book, available at the Stratford Public Library. (See also Feature Articles from Y Stratford on the YWCA and YMCA). Compiled by Gord Conroy.

The station was built new and opened in 1930 by franchise holder Roy Brothers and Sons. In 1936 the operation was taken over by William Orns, who stayed until Second World War shortages in 1940 crippled the station's offerings. In 1946, after the war, Clarence G. (Tiny) Cole took on the franchise kept it until his new partner, Wally Wilkie, took sole ownership in 1962. By 1968, Cities Service was gone, bought out by the B-A oil company. The property was sold and the building demolished in the early 1970s to make room for the expanding Avon Theatre district. Today it is the location of the Stratford Festival's Studio Theatre.  Source: Vince Gratton