Discover Stratford Ontario (Digital Archive Photos)
Discover one of Ontario's most beautiful towns, Stratford, Ontario located in Perth County, situated on the traditional territory of the Anishinabek Nation and Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The settlement began with the surveying of the Huron Road by the Canada Company in 1828 by agent William "Tiger" Dunlop.
Some of Stratford's historical highlights include:
- 1832 Thomas Mercer Jones, Canada Company Director named the village Stratford and the creek known as the Little Thames was renamed the Avon River
- 1834 Surveyor John MacDonald created the town plan
- 1853 Perth County separated from Huron District
- 1856 Grand Trunk Railway arrives beginning the town as a major railway centre
- 1886 Stratford incorporated as a city and furniture industry established
- 1904 Parks Board established, Upper Queen's Park Horticultural System created including area where Festival Theatre now stands
- 1905-1912 Canadian National Railway dissuaded from laying tracks along Avon River
- 1933 General Strike
- 1936 Thomas Orr established Shakespearean Gardens
- 1953 Tom Patterson and local supporters opened the Stratford Festival
Using Toronto Public Library's Digital Archive you can discover many of Stratford's famous landmarks, colourful people who have shaped the town and the Stratford Festival. Here are a a few Stratford photos and postcards available from our Digital Archive:
Landmarks
City Hall, Stratford, Ontario ca. 1910
Ontario Street looking east, Stratford, Ontario ca. 1910
Avon River, Stratford, Ontario ca. 1910
Entrance to Queen's Park, Stratford, Ontario ca. 1910
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Stratford, Ontario ca.1910
People
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900-2002) Queen Consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions (left)
King George VI (1895-1952) King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, (centre)
E. Henry (wife of Mayor Thomas E. Henry) (right) courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1939.
Milt Dunnell (1905-2008) former Toronto Star Sports Editor, courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1971.
Peter Herrndorff (1940-) President of the Stratford Festival's Board of Governors, (right) courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1985.
Terry Seed executive chef of Stratford's Church Restaurant, courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1982.
Dennis Dow (1952-2013) Stratford farmer, courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1988.
Stratford Festival
Sir Tyrone Guthrie (1900-1971) British theatrical producer and director, courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1969.
Bruno Gerussi (1928-1995) Canadian actor, broadcaster and director, courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1971.
Barbara Budd (1953-) Canadian Actress, narrator and announcer, courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1981.
Margot Dionne, Canadian actress, director and professor of performing arts as Mary Stuart, courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1982.
Pat Galloway (left) (1933-) British actress,
Jane Casson (right) British actress in "The School for Scandal", courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1970.
Sir Alan Bates (1934-2003) British actor in "Richard III", photo courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1967.
Jean Gascon (1920-1988) Stratford artistic director, photo courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1973.
John Hirsch (1930-1989) Canadian theatrical producer and director, photo courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1968.
Norman Campbell (1924-2004) Canadian composer, television producer and television director, courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1986.
Sir Alec Guiness (1914-2000) British actor, courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1968.
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