The Arnold & Robinson survey for Lot 215, located at 362 Brunswick Street, shows al h storey, red brick house and a small garage. It was built on property owned by George McLagan owner of the McLagan Furniture Company located at 93 Trinity Street. Alex Scrimgeour rented the house for a year and then purchased it in 1904.
Alex was born in Stratford on June 22, 1872 to parents Alexander Sr. and Grace Vanstone. Alexander Sr. was born in Perthshire, Scotland on July 14, 1833 and Grace was born in Black Torrington, Devon, England on September 21, 1839. Alexander Sr. immigrated to North Easthope Township with his father and brother in 1848 and after a few years, moved to Stratford. Grace's family immigrated in 1841 to Stratford, where she met and married Alexander on March 30, 1860. Their family home at 41 Mill Street, now Douglas Street would grow to include 13 children-9 girls and 4 boys.
Alexander Sr. along with his brother David and father Alexander started the Scrimgeour Brothers Avon Planning Mill in 1867, located on the south side of Mill Street. They manufactured doors, sashes, blinds, mouldings, scrolls and turnings. They were one of Stratford's leading contractors, building many homes and businesses. By 1888 they were also engaged in making furniture. The furniture business was starting to boom in the early 1900's, with 20 furniture factories employing about 25% of Stratford's workforce. Alex began his long career working first at McLagan Furniture as a stationary engineer and then later with the Imperial Furniture Company.
Violet McCullough was born in Stratford on May 14, 1875 and would become Mrs. Alex Scrimgeour on
September 30, 1897 in Detroit, Michigan. They had one child, a daughter named Marguerite Helen, born on March 14, 1900. Marguerite became a nurse and married William Stone Mills, a machinist from St. Augustine, Florida on December 27, 1923. Their daughter, Patricia Jane was born on October 13, 1924 in Florida. Sadly a family tragedy occurred on November 13, 1930 which resulted in the deaths of both Marguerite and Patricia while they were staying with her parents in Stratford. Her husband was away with work as an engineer on a lake boat at the time. Both Marguerite and her daughter died within a day of each other and are buried together in the same plot in Avondale Cemetery.
Violet Scrimgeour died in December 1951, leaving behind Alex who continued to live at 362 Brunswick until he became sick and was admitted to Avon Crest, a convalescent facility in 1957. He had lived in the house for 53 years. He died the following year on June 8, 1958. Both Alex and Violet are buried together in the Avondale Cemetery.