Upper Queen’s Park is a beautiful and historic park located in the heart of Stratford.
What was once a farmer’s sheep grazing field, this park was established in 1882 and has since become a beloved destination for residents and visitors alike. The park was named in honour of Queen Victoria and was designed to be a beautiful and tranquil space for residents and visitors to enjoy. It is home to a wide range of attractions and features, including a stunning entrance and two handsome guardians.
The entrance to Queen’s Park is one of the park’s most loved attractions. It features a grand archway made of stone, which leads visitors into the heart of the park. The stone mason responsible for this work was John Piehl from Tavistock, Ontario. This entrance is not only beautiful but also serves as a reminder of the park’s rich history and the significant role it has played in the community for well over a century. Along the river Avon has a vibrant social scene with a variety of activities for its citizens to enjoy.
One of the fascinating stories surrounding this entrance to Upper Queen’s Park is the connection to the two handsome dogs that have been reigning over the entrance since 1961.
In 1899, Dr. J. A. Robertson built The Elms at 55 Albert Street in Stratford, named after the majestic trees surrounding the lot where it was built. Dr. Lorne Robertson, the elder Dr. Robertson’s son lived at the Elms until his death in 1952. Two dogs, one was reported as being named Big Joe, but this cannot be confirmed and no mention of the other’s name, sat on the steps of the front entrance to the home/office. Many memories of the dogs being sat on and petted each time young children passed by are shared by many of the people from the past. The dogs are still loved and photographed by many as they sit day by day at the entrance off Parkside Drive.
When The Elms was purchased by the City of Stratford in December 1953 it was used as the City Annex housing the Chamber of Commerce and the Industrial Commission. After this date, the beautiful Victorian home was razed to make way for a store parking lot. The dogs were banished to a dank storage shed.
They were almost recycled and melted down for scrap metal. However, this did not become their fate. Instead, they were given to the Board of Park management in July 1961. These cast iron five-foot, two-hundred-pound canines now are mounted on cement platforms on either side of the Parkview Drive entrance gates. The warning in Latin CAVE CANEM – “beware of the dog” is carved in the stone. This was also beneath the dogs when their home was at 55 Albert St.
Someone in the community often drapes floral necklaces or holiday accessories around the dog’s necks making them very festive looking. While these statues may not require training in the same way real dogs do, they still serve as a focal point for community engagement and pride and provide children with the same smiles as they did all those years ago while they sat on the doctor’s steps outside his home.
Next time you are going to take advantage of enjoying the Avon River’s view or visiting the swans and taking advantage of the many opportunities for boating and fishing or attending the Festival Theatre take a moment and give a man’s best friend a pat on the head.
