The house on Lot 286, Plan 20 was built in 1879. David Cassels and his family were the first occupants.

David was born in Kinglassie, Fife, Scotland on January 28, 1819 to father John Methuen Cassels (1791-1841) and mother Christiana Euphemia Kinnimont (1794-1828).  His wife, Barbara Sutherland, was born in Rosshire, Highland, Scotland on January 20, 1825.

They were living in Canada by 1856 as Anne, their oldest child, was born as listed in the 1861 Census as being born in London, Ontario.  Their home was a framed house on 1/8 of an acre in Middlesex.  Their other children, George, born in1857, Christiana, born on September 22, 1858, and David William, born on October 10, 1860 are listed in the census, all born in London.  By the 1871 Census they were living in Stratford and two more sons were listed, Angus, born February 11, 1864 and Roderick(Rick) born in 1869.

David’s occupation was a merchant tailor/clothier.  He had a shop in the Jarvis Block at 18 Erie Street in Stratford.  In the 1876 city directory, as well as himself, his daughters Ann and Christiana were listed as tailoresses. The ad in the 1880/81 city directory read, “Custom work made to order from the latest fashion and fit guaranteed.” There were 14 other tailors listed in the directory that year. David was a long-standing and one of the oldest members of the Oddfellows. He continued to have the shop until his death on Saturday August 8, 1885 due to stomach cancer. His family members, some whom came a long distance, were there to comfort him in his illness.  He is buried in the Avondale Cemetery.

Barbara, Christiana and Roderick continued to live in the house until 1899, when Barbara died on November 11. She is buried along side David.  Christiana is also buried in the family plot as she never married.