This one and a half story house was built on a ½ acre lot in 1895. The first owner of 42 Hibernia Street was Ellen Scanlan. The City Directories of Stratford show that she lived at 26 Hibernia Street and rented the house out to tenants. The first tenant, William Massel, a peddler by trade, lived in the house with his family. The next tenant was John Dalzell, a labourer who lived there for five years. In 1905, Ellen rented the house to Samuel Pender, a furniture finisher.  In 1909 the house was sold to Catherine Kelly, Ellen’s younger sister.

Ellen’s father James Scanlan was born in County Sligo, Ireland in 1815. He married her mother, Bridget McLaughlin, born in 1834 in Ireland before immigrating to Stratford. They arrived before 1848 as all of their 10 children were born in Stratford. The eldest John F. born on September 17, 1848, followed by Ellen on August 16,1850, Patrick, born February 1, 1855, James born January 1,1856, twins Thomas J. & Mary born on March 23, 1860, another set of twins Charles & Catherine born December 5, 1862 and Joseph Michael born September 8, 1865. They also had a daughter named Bridget who died as an infant (no birth or death dates are marked on the tombstone).

Ellen’s father James was listed as a labourer in the 1871 Census and the family lived in Avon Ward at 26 Hibernia Street.  He died at a young age on February 1, 1872. The Census of 1881 lists Bridget with her children, except John and James, a shoemaker, who married to Rose Kelly and they lived in Berlin, as still living in Avon Ward.

The property at 42 Hibernia Street had been purchased by Patrick in May of 1890 as the Assessment records show him as the owner and Bridget as the tenant. Patrick died on August 30, 1890 leaving the property to his mother Bridget. She then sold the property to Ellen in September of 1893 who then built the house in 1895. In the 1891 Census, Ellen is listed as single and a tailoress. Ellen sold the house to her sister Catherine in 1909.  She eventually moved to Detroit and continued her career as a tailoress, where she died on November 29, 1922. 

Ellen Scanlan never married and she had no children. She is buried in the family plot in Avondale Cemetery along with her father James (1872), mother Bridget (1900), siblings Bridget, John (1892), Patrick (1890), Mary (1863), Charles (1883), Catherine Kelly (1940) and Joseph (1884).