Strathroy and District Historical Society, none, Strathroy, ON (2026)

06/04/2026

Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7, is the annual Mac Cuddy Botanic Garden open house. The gardens will be open from 9:00 - 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 - 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.

About 1,500 people on average tour the gardens over the two day event which is taking place at 28443 Centre Road. Mac Cuddy originally donated the gardens to Fanshawe College to continue his garden vision after he left. Students have been working and planting every year for the last 20 years. The event also offers a plant sale.

This 4 acre teaching and display garden is open one weekend each year and features inspiring gardens, mature plantings, daily guided tours and a large selection of nof plants for sale throughout the weekend.

The gardens are supported through the Horticulture Technician program at Fanshawe College and showcases the hands-on work and creativity of studdents entering the green industry.

Admission is $5 with proceeds supporting the Horticulture Technician program at Fanshawe College.

06/01/2026

Strathroy, Ontario — Do you remember 1992-1993 Grade 9 students at Strathroy District Collegiate Institute? This yearbook arranges students in alphabetical order. The following page shows students with surnames "Alderson to Clements".

Diana Alderson, Tory Armstrong, Wendy Armstrong, Correne Arrand, Charlotte Austin, Chris Ataide, Jason Bailey, Carolyn Baker, Connie Baker, Stephanie Baker, Tiffany Barker, Eleanor Barkley, Carmen Barrie, Nicole Bauwens, Jillian Baxter, Jennifer Bell, Donna Benedict, James Bennett, Ginette Berdan, Sheila Beye, Vanessa Bishop, Alainna Bleyenberg, April Boersma, Lori Bolduc, Jeremy Boucher, Margaret Bourner, Andrea Brodie, Amy Brown, Chad Brown, Deborah Brown, Randy Brown, Alicia Brenton, Greg Buis, Sophia Bujouves, Josh Calder, George Canning, Ann Cannon, Paul Carreiro, Carrie Carruthers, David Carter, Jennifer Carter, Melissa Carter, Laura Christmas, Peggy Clarkson, Johanna Clements.

Photo from Tempus Fugit.

05/31/2026

Upcoming Event!

To learn more about this intriguing presentation and speaker David R. Elliot, please click on the attached link.

https://londonmiddlesex.ogs.on.ca/events/london-and-middlesex-branch-using-the-registry-of-deeds-in-dublin-in-person-and-online/

05/28/2026

In February of 1978 in the aftermath of the previous Thursday’s blizzard, a very special event occurred at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen MacKinnon of Glover Crescent in Mount Brydges. Mrs. MacKinnon gave birth to a nine pound, nine and a half ounce baby boy in her home with husband Stephen handling the delivery.

Mrs. MacKinnon reported from her bed in Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital on Monday that she went into labour around 8:00 a.m. on Friday morning. The MacKinnons’ laneway was plugged with snow from the blizzard so there were no thoughts of trying to make a rush trip to the hospital.

A call was made for Dennings Ambulance, but it soon became obvious that their future son was on the way and quickly. Two neighbours, Mrs. Lydia DeRuiter and Mrs. Ruth Anne Wardell, both of whom have children, arrived on the scene to assist the father-to-be. They contacted a doctor by phone and relayed instructions to Mr. MacKinnon.

Mrs. MacKinnon said her husband has never had any training along these lines and for that matter not even a first aid course. She added though that her husband is not a nervous type.

When Stephen Jr. arrived, Mr. MacKinnon was instructed to cut the umbilical cord and tie it with a heavy string. At this point he used some sportsman’s ingenuity and retrieved some fishing line from his tackle box.

The ambulance arrived about five minutes after the birth. Mrs. MacKinnon and son were transported to hospital where both are just fine.

Mrs. MacKinnon said it was an event her husband will never forget. As for herself, she thinks two children are enough. They have a three-year-old daughter, Tammy, at home.

This article appeared in The Age DIspatch published February 8, 1978.

In the photo, Mrs. Stephen MacKinnon of Mount Brydges gave birth to a 9 pound, 9 1/2 ounce baby boy around 9 o’clock on Friday morning, February 2, 1978. Mr. MacKinnon delivered the baby who arrived before an ambulance reached their home.

05/25/2026

Strathroy, Ontario — Do you remember 1991-1992 Grade 9 students at Strathroy District Collegiate Institute? This yearbook arranges students in alphabetical order. The following page shows students with surnames "Wilson to Zavitz".

Paul Wilson, Krista Zavitz.

Grade 9 Absentees:
Carlos Bettencourt, Paula Botelho, Stacy Brent, Jason Ford, Glennda Gilbert, Ryan Morran, Nelson Pereira, Sarah Pierce, Dinarte Raposo.

05/24/2026

How many of you remember the Purple Pump Coffee House that was once located in the basement of St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, Strathroy, Ontario? It was held in the mid-1960s through the early 1970s. If so, you might want to attend the 2nd annual reunion coming up on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 2-5 p.m. at the home of Peter and Laurie Hawkins, 67 Elmhurst St. Kilworth. Bring your memories and an appetizer.
PLEASE RSVP on the Facebook group “Purple Pump Coffee House Alumni”.
(Image courtesy of Peter Hawkins)

05/21/2026

BUSINESS GAINS EVIDENT IN STRATHROY

Over the next few weeks we will share the stories of what progress was happening in the area in 1969 along with period ads.

Western Ontario Report – A supplemental insert published by The London Free Press, January 25th, 1969

Strathroy – 1968 was another big year for commercial growth, in Middlesex County’s largest town, with population increasing by 225 to 6075.

The New Strathroy Flour Mill was completed, replacing the one destroyed by fire in September, 1967. Production capacity was boosted; the mill is capable of handling 2200 bushels of wheat per hour at peak periods.

A 30,000 dollar plant is planned by Glendale Mobile Homes as the firm branches into the portable classroom field. It is expected that sixty will be employed at the start and one hundred within three years. Other Major production by the company covers trailers and mobile homes. The firm employs well over two hundred workers.

Expected early in 1969 is the transfer of assembling line operations of Claritone Sound Corp. to Strathroy from Stellarton, Nova Scotia. Cabinets are currently made at Strathroy and shipped to Stellarton for chassis, record players and speakers to be installed, then shipped back to Ontario.

The town’s industrial promotion efforts paid off late last year with an announcement that Streamline Copper and Brass Ltd. has taken an option on land on Ellor Street. Servicing of the plant site is scheduled when a building start is announced. The proposed factory will be about 25,000 square feet. The firm is presently operating in quarters leased from CPI Vamco on Albert Street, and will carry on similar operations in the expanded area.

Ralston-Purina of Canada, feed manufacturing, built a $225,000 plant on Zimmerman Street. Production is due early this year.

Listed for construction in 1969 is a building by N. J. Spivak Ltd. specializing in residential cement work. The firm purchased four acres of land two years ago with a view to moving its operation to Strathroy from London.

A $30,000 Texaco station is rising at Caradoc and Metcalfe streets. The former station at this location has been torn down.

Kasabov Nursing Home more than doubled capacity to a 50 bed total. Previous capacity was about 14.
A new Department of Transport Driver Examination centre near the E.J. Wright Company is to be open next month. Cost was $16,000.

In the retail field this last year, Fashion Boutique opened a women’s wear shop on Frank Street in December; Pine Tree Restaurant opened in a new building on Adelaide Street in the south end of town; Fred Griffith Garage acquired the Rambler dealership on Metcalfe Street.

55 acres of Strathmore Lodge land was sold for an industrial park development with approval given by council and word awaited from the Ontario Municipal Board. The town plans to service this land in 1969.

Source: Western Ontario Report – A supplemental insert published by The London Free Press, January 25th, 1969

05/19/2026

Upcoming Regional Event!

May 23 & 24: Stories & Tales From the Front

St. Peter's Anglican Church, Tyronnell, ON Lakeview Line, Wallacetown, Ontario

Step back in time with the Backus-Page House Museum in partnership with St. Peter's Anglican Church for a weekend of remembrance and discovery. "Stories & Tales From the Front" is a unique conference dedicated to the personal histories of WWI and WWII, specifically focusing on the brave individuals and hardworking families of Southwestern Ontario.

Further Details:
https://www.backuspagehouse.ca/events

05/18/2026

Strathroy, Ontario — Do you remember 1991-1992 Grade 9 students at Strathroy District Collegiate Institute? This yearbook arranges students in alphabetical order. The following page shows students with surnames "Rebelo to Wilcox".

Janice Rebelo, Cheryl Richards, Sean Robertson, Melissa Rose, Darren Routley, Samuel Rupp, David Rutherford, Allison Scherba, Jeffery Schlegel, John Schreiter, Mone Sengthavy, Ryan Simmons, Jeff Smith, Michael Smith, Shawn Smith, Gregory Springett, Lee Stalinsky, Scott Stanley, Shawn Stec, Kevin Stenabaugh, Ken Strathdee, Kenneth Stronach, Heather Tackaberry, Justin Terpstra, Morgan Thomas, Kevin Todd, Jeffery Topping, Jeremy Tripp, Nolan Tweddle, Michael Vafiades, Melissa Vanderbetten, Chris Vanderjeugd, Jordy Vanderlinden, Mary-Ann VanDoodewaard, Jeremie VanDyk, Michael Van Geffen, Rico Van Geffen, Shawn Van Hoof, Melissa Viaene, Paul Vitez, Jamie Walter, David Walters, Paula Watters, Jennifer Weston, Connie Whiteside, Steve Whiteside, Benjamin Whitney, Scott Wilcox.

Photo from Tempus Fugit

05/14/2026

A volunteer fire brigade was formed in Adelaide Township in April 1965. Milo Brooks of Kerwood was named chief of the brigade of 23 men.

The appointment of the chief was announced at a public meeting in the township hall in Adelaide Village. Mr. Brooks was the manager of Carnation Milk plant in Kerwood.

The previous October the home of Mrs Jean McMeekin just north of Strathroy on Hwy. 81 burned to the ground, bringing the fire protection issue to a head. At that time, the township had no equipment or agreements with neighbouring municipalities.

Archie Stewart of the Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office in London told the volunteers they would be taking an 18-20 week training course. Reeve Clarence Stevenson said the township’s equipment will be stored in a garage in Kerwood until the weather breaks at which time a new fire hall will be erected.

Speaking for a delegation from Metcalfe Township, Gordon MacIntyre said there are a few roads to the north of Metcalfe which are poorly protected because they are a long way from Glencoe and Alvinston with whom the township had protection agreements. He indicated the township would seek an agreement with Adelaide to provide protection for this area.

About 75 persons heard Mr. Stewart suggest the department be divided into about four groups standing by on weekends with each group taking a turn so that there would always be firemen around to answer calls.

The photo is Milo Brooks of Kerwood, who was named chief of the Adelaide Township fire department with the story appearing in The Age Dispatch, April 1, 1965.

Strathroy and District Historical Society

06/04/2026

06/01/2026

05/31/2026

05/28/2026

05/25/2026

05/24/2026

05/21/2026

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05/18/2026

05/14/2026

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