Joseph Christopher Harrison helped contribute to Stratford’s development during the late-19th century
Stratford is recognizing in February the contributions of Joseph Christopher Harrison, a Black man who escaped slavery in the United States and established himself as a well-respected farmer and businessman in Southwestern Ontario.
Born in Virginia in 1814, Harrison made his way to Canada in 1837, first settling in the Hamilton area, according to research by the Stratford Perth Archives. Harrison’s time in Stratford – which will be highlighted in a Stratford and District Historical Society newsletter celebrating Black History Month – began when he moved to the area from the Waterloo region around 1871 and opened the Royal Shaving Saloon on Downie Street.
Harrison was the subject of a Reflections column published in the Beacon Herald in February 2021. When he arrived in Stratford, a move that could have been due to a serious farming injury, Harrison and his family built a home on Nile Street. His signature appears on legal documents for the property originally filed at the Perth County Land Registry Office, now available at the archives.
Harrison was married to Emma Hemingway, who also was an escaped slave, according to researchers. She listed her birthplace on the 1851 Canada census as Massachusetts. The couple’s children, Harriet and Harvey, joined their parents’ business ventures in Stratford, which included dry cleaning, barbering and hairdressing.
Joseph Harrison died in 1890. His obituary in the Stratford Beacon described him as a “respected and public-spirited citizen” who was “a man of progress (with) considerable taste and good judgment, combined with great industry.”
He and several other family members are buried at Avondale Cemetery in Stratford.
Nancy Musselman, the Stratford and District Historical Society’s program director, described Harrison as a successful entrepreneur who helped contribute to Stratford’s development in the late 19th century, along with other prominent Black community members.
“They were an important part of Stratford in that time period,” she said. “(Harrison’s) reputation for quality work brought business in from places such as New Hamburg and Listowel, which at that time would be considered a good distance. I think it’s very important, very relevant for people to know the history of Stratford and how it came about.”
Due to the pandemic, it’s been several years since the Stratford and District Historical Society has been able to host events during Black History Month. Musselman said the group’s efforts to highlight prominent members of the city’s Black community will continue through its newsletter until organizers can secure a venue for future gatherings.
In the meantime, Harrison’s story has been recognized on the city’s social media pages.
The Stratford Public Library has also curated two lists of books and films dedicated to Black History Month for patrons interested in learning more about the Black experience in Canada and the United States.