Another plaque was installed a few days ago at 168 Reynolds Street. Plan 1 Block 90 Part Lot 4 The property that this house is situated on was once part of the holdings of William Chisholm. Over the years it has had several owners. In 1912 the lot was divided with the east portion being built on in 1940 after being purchased by James Bartlett O’Brien for $100. The recorded transaction indicated that it was purchased by O’Brien “with building covenants”, meaning that there would have been certain building restrictions placed on the owner as to what was acceptable. James Bartlett O’Brien was born in Grafton, Ontario in 1883. In January 1918 he enlisted in the 1st Central Ontario Regiment, part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and was transferred to the 20th Battalion on arrival in Europe. His occupation was Construction Foreman. He survived the war and returned to Canada. In 1924 he married Edna Bridget Curran. Unfortunately, Edna died only a few years into their marriage. James then married Elda Karstedt in 1932. In 1940 they purchased part of Lot 4 in Block 90. James was a contractor at the time and likely had a hand in building his house. The O’Briens only lived in the home for 4 years, as they sold in Feb. 1949. James would die two months later of pneumonia while suffering from an underlying chronic condition. At his time of death, he was a superintendent with King Paving Co. Joyce Hindmarsh Armstrong became the next and most noted owner of the property. She was the daughter of Harry Comfort Hindmarsh and Ruth Atkinson. H.C. Hindmarsh rose to become president of the Toronto Star, following his father-in-law Joseph E. Atkinson. Both were instrumental in turning the newspaper into one of Canada’s most financially successful and influential newspapers. The family, consisting of Joyce’s parents, two brothers and a sister, lived in Rosedale, however, they relocated to “Shorewood”, their estate in Oakville on the shores of Lake Ontario shortly after purchasing it in 1927. In 1942, Joyce Hindmarsh married Alan Edward Armstrong at St. John’s United Church in Oakville. The reception was held at the Shorewood estate. At the time of their marriage, Armstrong was a Sub-Lieutenant with the R.C.N.V.R., serving on a corvette which escorted merchant vessels in the North Atlantic convoys. In 1946, Armstrong joined the Toronto Star, becoming financial editor in 1955. Joyce Armstrong was very involved in her community. She volunteered with the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, The Maycourt Club and the Oakville Hospital Auxiliary and was benefactor of several charities including the Toronto Star Fresh Air Fund and the Santa Claus Fund, as well as the Oakville Humane Society and Canadian Cancer Society. She once also owned the Wool Bin, a retail yarn store which is still in existence. In 1949, Joyce Hindmarsh Armstrong sold the property to John & Lydia Burns. The following year it was sold to Ross and Hilda Wilson who held the property until 1959, after which time it had a succession of owners. The house continues to be a charming, quaint and cheerful part of Oakville’s downtown neighbourhood. (fb)

The Oakville Historical Society volunteers will be there (fb)