The land our home stands on is in the territory  of the Chonnonton Nation. They were Long House people with a specific Haudenosaunee dialect. Their name translates to Deer Gatherers. Chonnontons extensively traded the fine limestone chert they harvested, which was used for arrowheads. Colonial intrusions saw the Chonnonton dispersed from what is now Southwestern Ontario by 1650, not only from European disease but also from the competition created amongst the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee for the insatiable European desire for beaver pelts. We give thanks to these caregivers of Grandmother Earth, and strive to honour these original peoples of this land, and especially seek to live understanding that the land and everything on it are our non-human relations.

From a colonial perspective, the land our home sits on was  first surveyed as farmland in 1872.  A small structure was completed in 1876. The Queen Anne Revival addition to the original house was completed in 1894 by prominent Stratford builder and mayor James Stamp. Our great grandmother purchased the house from the Stamps in 1903. Steeped in Stratford history (the property has been owned by three mayors of Stratford) it has remained in our family for five generations. 

Our mother and father (one of the mayors) bequeathed us siblings – Pam, Ruth, Eric and Liz – this beautiful, Edwardian  home and asked that we keep it in the family if we could. We decided to combine our talents, and are honoured to be sharing our home with you.

Stamp House – named not only for the Stamps but also for our mom’s avid stamp collecting – is comfortable and inviting and we are excited to be your home while you visit our home.
 
Please reach out to begin custom tailoring your stay at Stamp House. We would love you to put your stamp on the house!

Pam, Ruth, Eric and Liz