Book excerpt: Nestled in southwestern Ontario along the scenic Avon River, Stratford is an industrial centre recognized for its scenic parks and world-famous Shakespearean theatre. The first settlers arrived in 1827, when the Canada Company surveyed the area. Incorporated in 1854 as the village of Stratford, the city today retains a rich heritage preserved in photographs and documents stored at the Stratford-Perth Archives. This compilation of photographs from the Stratford-Perth Archives, historical notes, and anecdotes provides a magnificent anniversary souvenir of the city of Stratford. Stratford includes previously unpublished photographs as well as frequently requested images, including stunning historical views of Queen's Park, the regatta, local sports teams, the 1933 general strike, and the Perth Regiment. Stratford covers the period from 1864 to 1964, shortly after the Canadian National Railway shops left the area, reveals why downtown has so many buildings with towers, and tells the story of the Shakespeare connection. It will fascinate residents, past residents, and tourists. A lifelong resident of Stratford, Carolynn Bart-Riedstra has a master of arts degree in Canadian history. She has been an archivist at the Stratford-Perth Archives since 1986. She has served on the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee and the Downtown Heritage Conservation District Steering Committee. Provincially, she has served on the Ontario Heritage Foundation and is the past president of the Archives Association of Ontario. She chairs the Perth County Branch Ontario Genealogical Society and contributes regularly to the Beacon Herald. Book jacket.