Collard's Corner
The northwest corner of Five Corners was originally part of 800 acres of land which was given to the Stamford Presbyterian Church by the Government of Upper Canada in 1791 as clergy reserve land. It was intended that the land would be rented out for farming in order to support the Protestant clergy. Instead, it was broken up into smaller lots and sold. Mr. Toynbee, who ran a wine store, was one of the first people to be recorded as owning some of this land. He sold his property to James Simmerman Collard and Jessie (nee Clement) Collard whose families were from the St. Davids area. The Collards built a house on the land in 1870. They also built a general store, a feed store and a gas station. When James died, his wife ran the business by herself until her son John and his wife Mary (Maime) took over the businesses. In the 1920s, the Collards built other stores and rented them out. The first businesses to move in were: an ice cream parlour, a barber shop, a pool room, a taxi stand and a hardware store.
John Collard can be seen standing outside his store (under the tree). The sign for the gasoline station is visible. Collard’s delivery truck is parked in front.
John Crysler Collard (1878-1955)
Mary (Maime) Lee Collard (1880-1974)
Thorold Stone Road looking west – Collard’s General Store is on the right hand side.
Thorold Stone Road looking west – Collard’s General Store is on the right hand side. Curtis and Ella’s house is on the left.
A post office was established in Collard's General Store. James was the first postmaster from 1878 to 1901. Jessie took over when he died. John was one of the original members of the Stamford Fire Brigade which became the Stamford Centre Volunteer Firemen's Association. John donated an old Model T Ford truck to the firefighters to carry the hose reel and he allowed the brigade to use his barn as the first fire hall. The Collards were also in charge of taking fire calls and sounding the alarm. The fire alarm was tested every day at noon and could be heard thoughout Stamford Centre.
In September of 1937, Curtis, nephew of John, bought the store. He and his wife, Ella ran the store as part of the Red and White franchise. Curtis maintained the post office until street delivery was established. Curtis and Ella resided in a house on the southwest corner of Five Corners. The house had once been owned by Calvin Emmet who owned lots 61 and 62 on the Stamford Township map.
Collard’s Store after 1937
Ella and Curtis’ house being moved in 1953
Collard’s Corner between 1955-1968
The Cup Restaurant
If you went north on the Collard's block, you could go to The Cup which was a popular coffee shop and restaurant. This operated from 1946-1967.
Five Corners, 1970 – Collard’s Corner is no longer there
Scotiabank, - former site of Collard’s Corner, 1999
