Founding of Strathroy

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted November, 2004

Photo of James Buchanan by contributor Don Shelton - Posted August, 2011

Plaque Location

The County of Middlesex
The Township of Strathroy-Caradoc
In Strathroy, at City Hall
on the west side of Frank Street just south of Centre Street

Coordinates: N 42 57.389 W 81 37.467

Plaque Text

In 1830 James Buchanan, the British Consul at New York City, acquired a tract of 485 ha of unsettled land in Adelaide Township. He transferred control of the property to his son, John Stewart Buchanan (1815-1875), who settled there within the next two years. By 1836 John had built a sawmill and grist-mill on the Sydenham River. These pioneer industries formed the nucleus of a settlement which was named Strathroy by James Buchanan after his birthplace in County Tyrone, Ireland. The construction of a branch line of the Great Western Railway through Strathroy in 1856 further stimulated the community's development, and it was incorporated in 1860.

Related Ontario plaque
The Great Western Railway

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More
Settlements

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted March 3, 2012
I am looking to get in touch with Don Shelton, the contributor of the medallion painting of James Buchanan posted in August of 2011 to the 'Founding of Strathroy' plaque page. My name is Andrew Meyer, and I am the Community Development Manager for the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc and I am responsible for the management of our local museum. I would love to contact Mr. Shelton regarding the history of the piece he contributed, and would be most grateful for a high resolution copy or photograph of the painting of James Buchanan. Something so directly connected to the founding of our community would be a welcome addition to the museum collection. I can be reached at . Thank you in advance for your time.

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