J.S. (John Strathearn) Thom (1853-1933), Lucan and Sarnia, ON

Born in Stratford, Perth Co. in 1853, his early life was focused on the military, where he reached the rank of Major.  Around 1876, he opened his first photography studio in Lucan, ON, which he operated for 5 years.  He then moved to Sarnia in 1881 and established a studio over the Dominion Telegraph office in the old Clark Block, opposite the Belchamer Hotel. 

From the collection of John Rochon

From the collection of John Rochon

 In 1884 he purchased the old McLellan Hotel on the northwest corner of Christina and Lochiel Sts. and set up his studio there.  He remained at this location until c1889-90 when his studio was destroyed by fire.

George Menzies

From the collection of John Rochon

One month after the fire, he opened his studio over the store of I.W. Proctor on Christina St., immediately beginning plans for a new building.  In 1893 the Thom Block, on the southwest corner of Christina and Lochiel Sts., was finished, his studio being located on the second floor.  Here he continued until his retirement.  The following are additional examples of his work with the reverse stamps/graphics.

From the collection of John Rochon

From the collection of John Rochon

Ella - Sept. 5, 1893

From the collection of John Rochon

From the collection of John Rochon

1915 Victory Bond Parade

From the collection of John Rochon

Sarnia Citizens Band marching south on Christina St. as seen from Thom's studio c1895

From the collection of John Rochon

Real Picture Postcard of unidentified woman

From the collection of John Rochon

Thom died at the age of 79 at his residence on Wellington St. in 1933.  He was buried in Stratford, ON.

  

Sarnia Observer Apr. 18, 1933 pgs.3 and 18, Apr. 21, 1933 p5

The Thom Block as it appears today.  This long derelict building is now being renovated to house the new Gallery Lambton.

 Photos by John Rochon

The information used for this post was primarily found in the entry for J.S. Thom in the Beers' Biographical Record of Lambton County 1906 pgs.291-93.

Harry Bowles and Mr. Hetherington, Sarnia, ON

The following article describes the purchase of the studio of Harry Bowles to a Mr. Hetherington.  It is the only news item I have been able to find regarding either gentleman.

Sarnia Observer May 23, 1879 p4

According to Glen Phillips book Ontario Photographers List 1851-1900, Harry Bowles operated in Sarnia from 1877-1879, when he sold the studio to Hetherington, who operated only until the end of that year.  I have yet to find an example of either gentleman's work.

Mr. Thompson - Sarnia, ON

From the very faded and almost illegible 3 June 1898 of the Sarnia Observer p5:

"G.L. Phillips has disposed of a lot on Victoria St. to a Mr. Thompson, who with his family moved to town from Chicago and taken up his residence here. Mr.. Thompson proposes erecting a building on the property and will commence in the photographic business here."
 
I have yet to find any examples of his work.

J. Foster Elliott - Sarnia, ON

Early Sarnia photographer, he opened his studio in 1870, as shown below.

Sarnia Observer Nov. 3, 1870 p3

From the collection of John Rochon

From the collection of John Rochon

I have been unable thus far to find further information on Mr. Elliott other than the dates 1870-1876 from Glen Phillip's book Ontario Photographers List 1851-1900.

William Barron (1848-between 1910-20) - Sarnia - Point Edward, ON and Port Huron, MI

William Barron was a younger brother of Sarnia photographer John Barron.  I suspect that he began his career in photography in the 1860's with his brother. 

From the collection of John Rochon

The photo above shows that he was practicing his art in Sarnia at least in 1871.  According to information sent to me by a descendant, he married a woman from Port Huron, MI in 1877 and moved there, where he established a studio.  However, it appears that he kept a gallery in Point Edward, ON, as the following news article shows.

Sarnia Observer May 23, 1884 p6

The only example of his work in Port Huron that I have been able to find so far is the trimmed cabinet card below.

From the collection of John Rochon

By 1900, William's 20 year old son Fred is listed in the census as a photographer, living in his father's household - an assistant or partner of William's??  William died sometime between the two census' of 1910 and 1920.  A subsequent search for records shows that William married in Port Huron in 1876.

UPDATE 15/06/10

From the collection of John Rochon

I have just recieved this in the mail - a wonderful carte de visites of a young man by William Barron of Port Huron.

Dugald Ferguson - Sarnia, ON

Early Sarnia photographer who, according to Glen C. Philllips' helpful book Ontario Photographers List 1851-1900, practiced in Sarnia from 1869-71.  From the following advertizement, it seems as though he may have been established earlier.

Sarnia Observer Nov. 18, 1869 p4

From the collection of John Rochon

Could this be the same D. Ferguson who (according to Glen's book) established a studio in Strathroy in 1874?   Or, could it be this Dugald Ferguson, who died in Sarnia Township in Nov. of 1891?

Sarnia Observer Nov. 6, 1891 p4

Or are they all one and the same??

Aaron E. Lang - Sarnia, C.W.

Early Sarnia photographer.  The only evidence of him practicing in Sarnia that I have been able to find are his advertizement in the County of Lambton Gazetteer, Commerical Adviser and Business Directory of 1864-65, and his listing in Glen C. Phillips' helpful book Ontario Photographers List 1851-1900, which has him practicing in Sarnia 1863-64.  I have not yet been able to find any examples of his work.