= July 12, 2024 Stratford Times Our Buildings Tell a Story: The Stratford Tourism building was once Canada’s PAUL WILKER & GORD CONROY Times Contributors When Kresge came to Strat- ford in. 1929, it was the begin- ning of the depression and times were tough. However, the new Kresge's five and dime store, which was the first in Canada, was very successful, providing low-cost merchandise for people with limited finances just as F. W. Woolworth had already been doing business in Stratford since 1913. Before Woolworth’s was lo- cated beside Kresge’s as seen in the photo, it was originally lo- cated on the northeast corner of which later became the Bank of Montreal. Woolworth’s had suc- ceeded S.H. Knox, varieties, at very first Kresge store (STRATFORD AND DIS ents. After 1907 and before Kresge’s, there were 13 businesses located at 47-51 Downie including four different men’s stores selling “toggery” (British for garments). After Kresge’s closed in the 1970s, five businesses followed including the last one, Stratford Tourism, which opened in 2005. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) A typical five-and-dime lunch counter. Kresge's new building is seen here being constructed at 47 Downie Street 1n 1929 between Albert and Brunswick Streets. The Oddfellows building where Quick Wines and Spirits had lived on the ground floor was completely demolished to make way for Kresge's. The Windsor that location by the end of 1912, and when Woolworth’s moved in 1937 to the corner of Albert Street beside Kresge’s, A&P took grocery n 1929, S.S. Kresge purchased pie razed the Odd Fellows Block and erected the building from the ground up as shown in the icture. Kresge was influenced Hotel is seen on the left. = style from that period. The ertical lines, the repeti- si sce the sittigy were all part of the art-deco style that had been highlighted at the Paris Ex- position in 1925. Stores occupied the first floor. next to the Kresge store. Unlike Kresge, Woolworth's did not raze the building, but they did exten- sive remodeling of the block and moved in by 1937. As seen in the picture, the roof was designed in a tudor style. architecturally by the art-de- June 30 Sal Vianisi, St. Marys duly 01 Judy Yearwood, Baden July 02 Matt Clifford, St. Marys July 03 Ann Boersen, Stratford July 04 Tyler Graham, Stratford ... duly 05 Bill Morrison, Monkton... . July 06 Phil Elliott, Woodstock ... . July 07 Amanda Whaling, St. Pauls .. July 08 Wayne Pethick, Stratford ......... $50.00 July 09 Jen & Kevin Turner, St. Catharines . .$50.00 July 10 Heather Daun, Ilderton ........... $50.00 July 11 Sue Clifford, Woodstock.......... $50.00 July 12 Joan and David Harvie, Stratford .. .$50.00 July 13 Nicole Smale, Ottawa $200.00 ALL OF THE CALENDARS HAVE BEEN SOLD @) Franklin E. Hinz 196 Ontario Street, Stratford 519-273-1633 Three years later, after Kresge opened its doors, F. W. Wool ie worth's Optimist Club of | sitive Downie Inc. te cor Although it was very unusual to have two five-and-dime stores side by side, there was plenty of business for both during the de- pression years. One popular feature in Kresge’s was a lunch counter where locals could get their toasted-cheese sandwiches and coffee for 30 (STRATFORD-PERTH ARCHIVES PHOTO) By 1937, F.W. Woolworth Co. was now located next to Kresge’s. EMMA BROMMER Queer Book of the Month Stratford Public Library You Don't Have a Shot, by Raquel Marie @SPL: YA FIC Marie Valentina the captain of the Raven’s competitive soccer team, is going through it. Her father’s high expectations, the pres- sure of college recruitments, and the questioning of her leadership abilities all come to a head at the playoff game against their ultimate rivals, Hillcrest. After inciting a fight with Hillcrest goalkeeper Leticia Ortiz — Vale’s long- time nemesis — she has completely blown it. Coach strips her of her cap- tain title, her teammates are complete- ly fed up with her, and her dad’s dis- appointment reaches an all-time high. WWW.STRATFORDTIMES.COM “Vale” Castillo-Green, Vale’s got to make an escape — so she takes off with her two teammates and besties, couple Ovie and Dina, to soccer summer camp for the first time since they were middle-schoolers. Things all seem to be going according to plan — until Vale is teamed up with her enemy and fellow camper Leticia to co-captain a team. Full of teen angst and flirty ban- ter, this sapphic and sportsy ene- mies-to-lovers novel will keep Beaders enthralled as Vale discovers her feel- ings for Leticia while rediscovering her love of the game. For YA read- | ers who loved She Drives Me Cra- zy and Home Field Ae. pie up Raquel Marie’s You Don’ a Shot for another athletic “hae! featuring a diverse cast of women who love women.