Congratulations from The Stratford & District Historical Society
The Stratford & District Historical Society members are indeed pleased that Streets of Stratford was created on the articles written by Stanford Dingman about 180 Stratford streets. What an incredible base to start a website about the history of the streets whose names we seldom consider as we pass along them.
From that original base, Paul and Gord have created an amazing story of many more streets and the incredible people who lived there. We look forward to see how much can possibly be added to these stories. – Carole Huband – President, Stratford & District Historical Society
A Message from the Co-Creator of The Streets of Stratford Website – Paul Wilker
When the pandemic arrived in March 2021, I found myself with unexpected time on my hands. While searching for a meaningful way to spend those quiet months, I discovered my mother’s collection of old scrapbooks tucked away in the attic. Inside were 180 articles about the naming of Stratford’s streets, originally written by Stanford Dingman of the Stratford Beacon Herald throughout the 1980s. These pieces were a treasure trove of local history—stories that deserved to be preserved and shared, not left to fade in aging newsprint.
That’s when the idea struck: why not digitize these articles and create a dedicated website to make them accessible to everyone? But I quickly realized that one person’s collection, however valuable, could only tell part of the story.
Building Something Bigger Together
This project truly came to life thanks to generous contributions from our community. The Stratford-Perth Archives opened their doors and provided us with invaluable resources, stories, and vintage photographs. Dean Robinson, whose published works have chronicled so much of Stratford’s history, contributed material from his books and offered his expertise in editing. Vince Gratton, a lifelong Stratford businessman and historian, shared an impressive collection of historical photographs along with the context and stories behind them. And Nancy Musselman and her colleagues at the Stratford and District Historical Society brought their deep knowledge of the area, supplying additional photos and historical documentation.
What started as a personal passion project evolved into something that belongs to all of us.
Looking Ahead
Over the past five years, our analytics show that more than 40,000 Canadian visitors—many returning again and again—have explored these stories. The response has been humbling. As long as my co-creator Gord Conroy and I are able to keep typing, we’re committed to adding new articles and features.
The stories of Stratford seem truly endless, and we’re honoured to be the stewards helping bring them to light. – Paul Wilker, Co-creator of Streets of Stratford website