The two storey, red brick house at 71 Princess Street was built in 1878 by Edward Henderson and his mother Mrs. Richard (Mary) Warriner was the first tenant.

The Henderson family lived on Princess Street as listed in the 1876 Vernon City Directory (no numbers of houses). The first recording of house numbers was in the 1896 city directory, 63 is listed. In the 1880-1881 City directory, Richard, Thomas and Mrs Richard Warriner are all listed separately as living on Princess Street, possibly 63,71,73. In the 1908 fire map of Stratford, 63 and 71 are listed but 71 isn’t in the city directory. 71 Princess Street doesn’t appear in the city directories until, 1928, but it wasn’t changed in the tax assessment roll until between 1937 and 1947.

Parents, Thomas Henderson and Mary Hollingsworth, were born in 1821 and 1822 respectively, in Cronelusk, Artlow, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.  They married on December 20, 1845 in Castlemacadem, Wicklow, Ireland. Their first daughter, Elizabeth was born in Peterburg, Northamptonshire, England in 1848, followed by Isabelle Josephine in 1851 in Stratford, Essex, England.  The family immigrated to Canada by 1851, as they are listed in the Census as living in Perth, Canada West (Ontario) and Thomas was a tinsmith. Their family continued to grow with the birth of William on January 1, 1852, Richard Henderson on November 14, 1853, Ellen Jane on October 29, 1854, Lambton on 1854, Thomas on December 30, 1856, Edward in 1858 and Eliza on June 2, 1860. Thomas died on December 31, 1862 and is buried at St. James Cemetery in Stratford.

Mary remarried on November 12, 1864 to Richard Warriner. Richard was born in 1809 in England. He was also married previously to Harriett Ann Davis (1828). The marriage took place on April 20, 1847 in Inverness, Quebec, where Harriett was born.  They had a daughter Harriett(1848-1948), John Richard(1849-1899, Nancy(lived four days1852), George(stillborn 1854),  Margaret Anne(1855-1944), Charlotte(lived one day1857), Annie Sophia(1859-1890), Sarah Jane(1859-1953) –they were born 9 months apart and William Fredrick(1860-1954). In the Census of 1861, Richard and Harriett were living in Morris Twp, Huron County. Harriett died on July 13, 1863. 

Mary and Richard had a daughter, Mary Ann, on November 27, 1865, Ellen Jane on January 16, 1868, George on April 19, 1870 and Caroline (Carrie) on May 10, 1872. In the 1871 census, Richard is listed as living in Stratford with wife, Mary, 3 children, and 4 step children, He became the step father of Mary’s children. Richard died on December 13, 1877 from asthma and is buried in Avondale Cemetery in Stratford.

The next year, Mary had moved into the red brick house Edward built. Edward sold the house to step brother, George Warriner by 1895.  Edward moved to London, Ontario where he married Ida Betts on November 11, 1907 and died on November 12, 1946 and is buried in Woodland Cemetery in London.