Description of Historic Place

203 William Street is situated on the south side of William Street, east of Waterloo Street South, in the City of Stratford. The two-and-a-half storey frame residence was constructed in 1877.

The property was designated, by the City of Stratford in 2006, for its heritage value, under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act (By-law 8-2006).

Heritage Value

203 William Street is associated with Colonel W. F. McCulloch, who owned much of the land in this area of Stratford including the land on which the home was built. McCulloch was instrumental in the development of Stratford, building many of the first mills and commercial properties on the north side of Ontario Street.

Built in 1877 as a rental property, the home is also associated with the McLennan family. David McLennan, a produce dealer, became a tenant of the home in 1883 and the owner in 1888. McLennan's son, John Cunningham McLennan, became an outstanding Canadian scientist whose research and publications brought international recognition to the University of Toronto's physics laboratory. John McLennan's success in liquefying helium contributed to this recognition and led to his knighting in 1935. The McLennan family owned and lived in the house until 1950.

203 William Street is a good example of the Italianate architectural style. Typical of this style are the large ornate brackets, protruding bay windows and asymmetrical design. The gables feature wooden bargeboards. The asymmetrical design strayed away from the balanced and symmetrical design of the earlier Gothic style, popular in Stratford, and indicated a change in building trends.

Source: City of Stratford, By-law 8-2006.

Character-Defining Elements

Character defining elements that contribute to the heritage value of 203 William Street include its:
- two-and-a-half storey asymmetrical design
- cross-gable roof
- wooden windows, sills and surrounds
- bargeboards
- frieze
- “L” shaped floor plan
- ornate brackets
- covered entrance and veranda
- bay window