This is one of the first houses built on this part of HiberniaStreet near St. George Street. It was built by James Scanlan pre1860 on lot 415, which was a quarter acre and the value was $350. It was rented to 46 year old, Edward Prendergast, a labourer.
James Scanlan was born in Kerry, Ireland in 1815. He married Bridget McLaughlin, born 1834, also in Ireland. They immigrated to Canada before 1848, as all of their 10 children were born in Stratford. The oldest John F. was born on
September 17, 1848, followed by Ellen, born August 16, 1850, Patrick, born February 1, 1855, James, born January 1, 1856, twins, Thomas J. & Mary, born March 23, 1860, another set of twins, Charles & Catherine, born December 5, 1862 and finally, Joseph Michael, born September 8, 1865. They also had a daughter Bridget, who died as an infant (no birth or death dates are marked on the tombstone).
James died at the young age of 57 on February 1, 1872 in Stratford. Bridget became owner of the house. The house continued to be rented to tenant Charles O'Donnell, a blacksmith, and his family of seven, followed by George Campbell and his wife.
In 1880, John F. Scanlan, a mail conductor, and his family of five lived in the house. John and his family emigrated from Canada to Brooklyn, New York where he died on September 25, 1892 at the age of 44. After John moved, Bridget sold the house to her son Patrick and she lived in the house.
Patrick died on August 30, 1890 from tuberculosis at the age of 35 and the house was purchased by his sister Ellen. She also owned 42 Hibernia Street from the time it was built in 1895 to 1910 when she sold it to her sister Catherine Kelly. Both properties were rentals.
The Scanlan family also owned 26 Hibernia Street, where the family is listed as living according to the 1885 City Directory. The quarter acre property was divided in half in 1900. In the 1909 City directory, Catherine, a widow, is shown living at 34 Hibernia Street. Catherine had married Thomas Kelley in 1892 and died in March 1940. She was 78 years old.
Their mother, Bridget, died in Stratford on August 7, 1900. Ellen died in Detroit, Michigan on November 29, 1922. James Jr. married Rose Kelly and became a shoemaker. He died on September 1910 in Berlin (Kitchener). Thomas J. was a painter in Brooklyn, New York and died the on September 22, 1929. Mary died at the age of 3, Charles died on October 13, 1883 at the age of 35, and Joseph died on December 2, 1884 at the age of 19. All are buried in the family plot at the Avondale Cemetery in Stratford except James and Thomas.