This Dutch Colonial revival home located at 145 Caledonia Street was built in 1916 for William 

Fredrick Finkbeiner, his wife Matilda, and daughter Hazel.

William was born to his father, the Reverend George, and mother, Maria (Braun), on August 10, 1875, 

in Milverton, Ontario. George was born on July 28, 1843, and Mary Kathrina Maria on April 30, 1845, 

both in Germany. They immigrated to New York, New York, United states in 1854.

They had eight children-John Wesley (1869-?), Martha Mary (1871-1812), Charles August (1874-1927, 

William Fredrick, Edward John (1878-1832), Wilhelmina Maria (1879-?), Ezra Franklin (1881-1963) and 

Otto Henry (1884-1952). The family lived in many towns including Port Elgin, Woolwich Township, 

Hamilton and Milverton as the Reverend George was an Evangelical minister. Both George (February 

17, 1904) and Maria (November 3, 1922) are buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Milverton.

William married Matilda Faust on March 15, 1899, in Zurich, Huron County, Ontario. Matilda was born in Zurich on September 12, 1871, to parents Daniel and Nancy (Ellenbaum). Both her parents were born in Waterloo -July 30, 1916, and June 5, 1842-September 16, 1906, respectively.

William was working as a tinsmith in Rostock before opening Finkbeiner Hardware store in Milverton 

around 1898. Finkbeiner hardware gave out eye-catching cards promoting sales of the Jewel line of 

stoves and ranges manufactured in Hamilton. Finkbeiner's advertisement was not a postcard, though it looked like one from the front. A thick layer of paper is pasted to the back-making it an ink 

blotter. These were used to soak excess ink and preventing smearing when writing with a fountain 

pen. He continued operating the store until 1916, when he moved to Stratford to become an insurance agent. In the city directories of Stratford of1924, he is listed as the district manager of the 

Dominion Life Assurance Company. He continued in the insurance business until his death on August 2, 1931.

Hazel Martha, their only daughter was born on January 14, 1903, in Milverton, Ontario. Hazel became a schoolteacher at Avon school in Stratford. By 1950, she was working for the board of education. She continued to live with her parents, William and Matilda and never married. After William's death, Hazel and Matilda continued to live at 145 Caledonia Street.

 Matilda died in September 1965 and is buried in Avondale Cemetery with William. Hazel sold the house by 1981. She died in October 2000 and is buried with her parents. In William's obituaries, in both the Milverton Sun and the Stratford Beacon Herald, he is described as well respected in the communities and for his involvement with the Centennial Evangelical Church.