Strathy Family tenure
According to the 1876 Fisher and Taylor City Directory, John Strathy moved his immediate family into the house that year. They last appear on Duke Street in the 1878 Toronto City Directory.
The 1877 Directory reveals that J.R. Strathy, one of the sons, was a partner in Badgerow, McDonald and Strathy on 4 Toronto Street. The next year, according to the 1878 Directory, the firm was just Badgerow and Strathy.
According to a letter received in 1972 by Campbell House from a descendant, Colin Strathy, the family photograph was taken in 1876 and depicts Miss Elizabeth Strathy, Arthur G. Strathy, Mrs Susan Strathy (wife of John), and Robert Strathy (J.R.). The photograph shows Campbell House’s original porch – a rectilinear design with a much stronger character than the current semi-circular portico imagined by Anthony Adamson before the early photograph surfaced.
The 1871 Census sheds light upon the family members who may have filled the house later that decade. In that year, the Strathy family had six members under patriarch John, a 59-year-old Scottish Anglican barrister. His wife, Susan, was 47 at the time, and of Irish birth. One of the four children was 20 year old Robert, who was then a “Student at Law.” The other three children (Elizabeth – 13, George – 11, Arthur – 6) were going to school at the time.
Sources:
- Directories – Toronto Public Library (http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?R=DC-1316821003; http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?R=DC-758720002; http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?R=DC-758720)
- Family Photograph – Campbell House Archives, Campbell House 1844-1972 Research Binder
- Miss Strathy Photograph: City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 4323
1871 Census – Library and Archives Canada (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1871/Pages/item.aspx?itemid=1591321)