A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE

Discover STRATHROY'S Downtown Heritage Walking Tour.

Embark on a historical voyage while you explore, nourish, and connect in the heart of Strathroy! Our Heritage Walking Tour allows you to delve into the captivating stories of the past as you stroll through the vibrant BIA community.

ENJOY FREE PARKING IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE.

Take advantage of free parking while you discover the heart of Strathroy. Explore the streets, uncover hidden gems, and experience everything the BIA has to offer. Download the map here!

Officially opened on February 12, 1909 the Armoury served as the headquarters for the 26th Middlesex Regiment. Described as an imposing and handsome building, the two-storey redbrick structure featured a large drill hall, storage for rifles, clothing and equipment, and officers’ quarters. It was also home to Strathroy Council from 1919 to 1921 before being turned over to the Regiment once again. It was used off and on for training over the next 4 decades and finally demolished in 1965 to way to a new public library. 

The current town hall building is the fourth for the urban centre of Strathroy. The first located on Caradoc St. was sold by auction in 1863, a fire destroyed the second ten years later, and the third was altered numerous times before the present building was completed in 1928. The current building designed by Watt & Blackwell Architects resembles a New England architectural style. Over the years, this building has housed council, the fire department, a public auditorium, library, and a police department. 

In 1861, the Town of Strathroy purchased land for a market from John Frank and William Hazelton for $125. The centralized location of the Market Square made it an ideal location for many community events. For over 150 years, it was located behind town hall before moving to Front and Frank Streets. The Downtown Strathroy Market continues to serve as a community space, offering agricultural produce and retail goods for sale.  

The post office was originally located on Front Street, and as the town grew and the downtown core shifted to Front and Frank a new location was needed. On November 11, 1890, the new post office. It held the post office on the first floor of the main block, a warehouse in the extension wing, the Customs and Inland Revenue Offices on the second floor, and caretakers’ apartments in the attic space. The building continued to function as Strathroy’s post office until 1964, when a new facility was constructed on the opposite corner of Frank and Centre streets.

Opening in 1891, the Lyceum Theatre contained a spacious auditorium with a balcony, designed to seat 600, embellished with elaborate frescoes on the ceilings and walls. It was used for school concerts, banquets, travelling shows, operas, and more. Joseph LaMantia purchased the building in 1929 and had it remolded, entertaining the community with new shows until its last show in 1940. The theatre was then converted to apartments in the 1990s. 

In the era of horse and railway transportation, the livery stable was a critical and welcomed service in every town. Horses were boarded for their owners for a fee and others could be rented out like a taxi service. This building was originally constructed to serve the Albion Hotel that was located on the corner of Thomas and Front Streets. Many original features of the building have been preserved, including the arched brick stable doors and the hayloft door on the second floor.  

Originally, the location of the Albion Hotel, the Regent Theatre was built on this spot in 1927. It was constructed with a red brick façade and had a 575-seat capacity. In 1935 it was renamed the King Theatre. Closing in 1960 due to the popularization of television, it was repurposed a number of times, most notably Cuddy’s Furniture and Appliances and Middlesex Community Living. 

Reminiscent of the Classical Greek style, the Bank of Commerce was constructed in 1905. It featured an elaborate interior, with ornately carved wood wickets, decorative moldings and mosaic tile elements on the floor, with the bank vaults located in the lower level. The Strathroy Police Station occupied the building from 1972 to 1999 and it has since housed many restaurants and businesses.

Originally built in 1877 for O’Keefe’s Grocery Store. When W. H. Stepler purchased the store in 1899, he undertook major renovations to the building; including oak flooring, glass counter cases, and a large mirror in the back to separate the telegraph office. Upper storeys housed insurance firms, travel agencies and photography studios. For over 120 years, this location has served the community as Strathroy's longest-running, independently-owned/operated and family-run local pharmacy.

In 1902, this property was purchased from the Methodist Church by the Citizen’s Water, Gas and Electric Co. and a waterworks system commenced from this site . The chosen location for the new station was ideal; the electric powerhouse and Sydenham River complimented the requirements of the new pumping station and provided the necessary water and electricity to a growing community.  It was home to the PUC in 1964 and then in 2000 to the Strathroy and Area Senior’s Centre. 

The opening ceremony of the Strathroy Lions Pool in July 1950, marked 25 years of effort on behalf of the Strathroy Lions Club to bring the pool project to reality. The valued partnership between the Municipality and the Lions led to over 63 years of aquatic programming in the community. With the construction of the Fair Grounds Aquatic Park, the Strathroy Lions Pool officially closed in 2013.

The newspaper company called “The Age” constructed this building in 1914. In 1921, the company merged with “The Dispatch,” another local newspaper, becoming “The Age Dispatch”. The Age Dispatch was the first to install mechanical typesetting equipment switching to offset printing in 1965. The building was sold in 2010 and renovated to become Damen Optimal Health.

The Commercial Hotel was built in 1862 after the establishment of the railway in town With each new owner came a change in the name, “The Arlington” “LaMantia” and “The Derby” are just to name a few. At the peak of the hotel era, Strathroy boasted at least a dozen places where one could find accommodations for the night.  After a complete renovation in 2012, there are now eight apartments above a larger commercial space below. 

While the Moore family has run this blacksmith shop since 1904, the building and the business predate their ownership, which extends back to at least the early 1880s. The original shop was divided in three sections, with the blacksmith fronting on Caradoc Street, the carriage shop in the centre and the finishing room at the rear. While the work has shifted from traditional blacksmithing to welding and machine shop activities, the original forge still exists as a testament to the history of the trade and its vital role in the community.

The Great Western Railway completed the rail line through Strathroy in 1856, which would eventually go all the way to Sarnia. As the community grew a new station house was built in 1887 at a cost of $9,000, giving a welcome first impression of the community to visitors, and merchants. In 2004 this community landmark was destroyed by fire. 

The Strathroy Agricultural Society was founded in June 1857 and by 1861 had purchase land to the southwest of the centre of Strathroy for a new community fairgrounds complex. By 1938, the fairgrounds were home to a number of exhibition buildings and halls, the Crystal Palace ice rink, a racetrack with a grand stand and the property grew from 10 acres to 25 acres. Baseball games, dances, concerts, and the Dominion Day horse races were just some of the events the community looked forward to at the grounds. In 2012, the Society donated the property to the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc to be maintained for recreational use.

The heart of strathroy

LOOKING FOR MORE FUN THINGS TO DO IN STRATHROY?

Discover the heart of Strathroy's vibrant community on our events page. From festivals and markets to workshops and performances, there's always a new way to connect with neighbours in our community. Explore upcoming events on our calendar and nourish yourself with the endless possibilities of Strathroy’s social scene.