The house at 164 Avondale has a curious history. As far as can be ascertained from the somewhat confusing property records, the original house was built in 1876 by Henry Thomas Legg, a shoemaker. The house was first described as being on lot 8, plan 63, with an address of 237 Huron Street. Several years later, the city changed many of the street numbers, and what was 237 Huron Street became 288 Huron Street. In 1923, the lot was severed, which allowed for the house now at 286 Huron Street to be built. It appears that what is now 164 Avondale originally faced Huron Street (with an address of 237 Huron Street), and that it had a substantial front yard.
When the lot was severed and a new house was built facing Huron Street, the house that is now 164 Avondale was reconfigured to face Avondale. There is a gable window on the side of the house that can be seen from Huron Street, and it is evident that the front door was moved to face Avondale. Substantial renovations were undertaken in the 1920s, therefore giving the house the look of that period: in addition to the door being moved, there are details at the current front of the home that were added to make it appear like more of a front entrance. Also, the current veranda is more reminiscent of a 1920s veranda than one from the 1870s. In addition, the brickwork appears to have been added in the 1920s. It is quite possible that William Rock, who was a carpenter, completed much or all of the work himself. Also, the 1924 tax assessment rolls show a substantial increase in the tax rate, obviously reflecting a more valuable structure. To make matters even more confusing, the 1924 city directory listed the house at 164 Avondale as a new house. Perhaps the house looked somewhat new like many of the other houses in the neighbourhood.
Henry Thomas Legg was born to Henry and Ann Legg on July 23, 1833 in Guildford, Surrey, England. At some point in the early 1850s he emigrated to Canada West, where he married Eliza W. Garton, born around 1836, also in England. By 1861 they were living in Whitchurch, York County, today's Whitchurch-Stouffville, just north of Toronto. He was listed as a shoemaker at that time. We can assume that he came to Canada already established as a shoemaker.
Henry and Eliza moved to Stratford by 1871. Henry continued working as a shoemaker. The 1889 and 1896 directories list him as working at H. T. Barker (a former shoemaker), General Merchant, at the corner of Huron and St. Vincent Streets. After building 237 Huron Street (164 Avondale) in 1876, a location convenient to Henry's work, they soon moved to another convenient house on Douglas Street near Avondale (202 Douglas), where they remained until Henry's death on October 24, 1897 and Eliza's death on January 24, 1914. Both were buried in Avondale Cemetery. Henry and Eliza were survived by eight children: John, James, Robert, Henry Thomas Jr., George Alfred, Emma Louisa, Edward, and Frederick.
William Christian Rock was born in Fullarton Township on February 22, 1887, apparently the sixth of eight children born to George Augustus Rock (1843-1914) and Frederika Hartwich (1846-1909). William's father was born in Hesse, Germany, and arrived in Wilmot Township, Waterloo County with his family before 1857. William's parents and siblings eventually moved to Logan and Hibbert Townships in Perth County, working as farmers.
By 1911 William had left home and was working as a farm labourer, living as a lodger at 260 Nile Street, Stratford. On February 21, 1913 William married Lydia Schellenberger in Stratford. At the time of their marriage William had been living in Calgary, working as a contractor.
Lydia was born on April 15, 1889 in Fullarton Township, the third of six children born to Michael Schellenberger (1851-1909) and Maria Eckert (1859-1900). Lydia's parents were born in Perth County. Her paternal grandparents had emigrated from Alsace-Lorraine by 1844.
In the 1914 city directory, William was listed as a carpenter and was living with Lydia at 147 King Street in Stratford. From 1915 to 1922 William and Lydia were living at 12 Well Street. William was listed as a carpenter every year except 1920, when he was working at the Stratford Manufacturing Company. In 1923 William and Lydia were living at 288 Huron Street, the house that would be reconfigured and become 164 Avondale, where they lived for 1924 and part of 1925 only. At some point in 1925 they were living at 292 Huron, and John Near, a salesman working for W.J. Thurston, was living at 164 Avondale.
In 1926 William and Lydia emigrated to Detroit, a very common occurrence during that period for residents of Ontario because of the rapid industrialization of Michigan. By 1920 William was working as a millwright at an auto factory. By 1940 he was working as a selfemployed painter. William died on July 10, 1950 in Eloise, Wayne, Michigan and is buried there. His body was donated to medical science. Lydia died in Adrian, Lenawee, Michigan on October 20, 1979. William and Lydia were survived by three children: Esma Ruth, Ray Harold, and Larry Eckert.