Once Stratford's richest citizen, William Frederick McCulloch was also a civic leader and philanthropist

William Frederick McCulloch and Elizabeth Hamilton, who were both from Northern Ireland and from prestigious families, arrived in Stratford in 1842. McCulloch was an astute businessman who became Stratford’s richest citizen, but who also was civic minded and served as both reeve and mayor.

As soon as the McCulloch family arrived in Stratford in 1842, William began accumulating riverfront land on both sides of the Avon. His 100-acre estate, The Grange, extended from Ontario Street to what is now Delamere Avenue, and from Romeo Street to Front Street. On this property, he built a luxurious home at the site of what is now 210 Water St.

William was instrumental in the development of Stratford, building many of the first mills, buying others, and operating as a distiller and lumber merchant. He........

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