Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Straith, Helen |
Othernames |
Myrtle Helen Straith / M. Helen Straith / M.H. Straith |
Born |
March 1, 1890 |
Birthplace |
Owen Sound, Grey County, Ontario |
Places of residence |
515 3rd Avenue East, Owen Sound, Grey County (her parent's home) 900 2nd Ave. East (likely lived upstairs over a Dentist business?), Owen Sound (1917 Vernon's Directory) 100 Wellington Street, Brantford, Ontario (1932-1961) Simcoe, Ontario |
Titles & honors |
Canada's 1st Mechanical Draftswoman |
Father |
James Bruce Straith (d. 1938) |
Mother |
Agnes Porter Straith (d. July 29, 1946) |
Nationality |
Canadian |
Education |
Early education at Owen Sound Owen Sound Collegiate & Vocational Institute (O.S.C.V.I.) manual training course (c. 1924) |
Notes |
About 1924, Helen Straith decided she wanted to study woodworking at the new technical school (the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute). She was, at the time, working as a draftsman at the Kennedy's plant in town. She was told that she could take classes in woodworking, but only if she also took classes in cooking. She made a footstool of quarter-cut oak, and a pair of candlesticks. Ms. Straith went on to become one of Canada's foremost female draftsmen, and Canada's first mechanical draftswoman. Helen was born in Owen Sound on March 1, 1890. Her name was Myrtle Ellen Straith on her birth record (later altered in 1959 to Myrtle Helen Straith). She was delivered by Dr. J. H. McCulloch. Her father was working as a Clerk in 1890. In the 1891 census, she and her parents were in Keppel Township, and her father was recorded as a "Merchant". Her brother William (Bill) was born in North Keppel, Grey County on Nov. 9, 1891. The Straiths moved to Owen Sound in 189_. Her father started The Owen Sound Tent Company in 1896 (Croft). The family were listed in the 1901 census, and J. B. Straith was listed as an "Awning maker." In the 1911 census, James Straith (age 49) and Agnes (43) resided at 515 3rd Ave. East, and Helen was then listed as "Myrtle" age 21. "Tent Factory" is written by their names. In 1917, she resided in downtown Owen Sound, at 900 2nd Ave. East. Melba Croft noted that in 1909, "Miss M.H. Straith advertised classes in china painting." Circa 1922, "There were three art studios: Charles Bjorling, Elsie Harris and M.H. Straith." Among her archival items is a brochure concerning the National Service work to help farmers. Young women, called "Farmerettes" did farm work as so many young men were away serving in the military. Helen Straith had a shield-shaped cloth badge with "ONTARIO NS WORKERS 1918" on it, that she had kept. It is now in the Grey County Archives. In the 1921 census, she was recorded as _______. When the Owen Sound Ladies' baseball club was organized in June, 1922, she was one of the founding members/organizers. Her parents had operated a tent and awning business in Owen Sound at the corner of 3rd Ave. East and 5th Street for many years. In 1912, it was described as employing 30 hands and paying at least $10,000 in wages. Her mother, Agnes Straith, was a church worker and leader in temperance and missionary endeavours in Owen Sound. The family attended Division Street Church. Helen started working at Wm. Kennedy & Sons Limited in 19__. At the time of her father's passing in Sept., 1938, Helen was working at Brantford. She also was listed on a 1935 Voter's List as a "Draftsman" at Brantford. She had purchased a circa 1850s house (100 Wellington Street) in 1932 at Brantford, where she lived until 1961, when the City of Brantford bought it and other properties on its block, to make way for a new city hall. The City of Brantford gave the house to Westfield Heritage Village. The house was minus its roof, and needed some restoration work, but opened in 1967 as a period building. In 1959, while she resided at Brantford, Helen had a photograph of Christy Ann Morrison of Grey County, that she gave to the museum at Owen Sound. It is now in the Grey County Archives. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY Congratulations to Miss Helen Straith of Simcoe, who will celebrate her 100th Birthday on March 1st. She is the oldest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Straith. She was born and raised in Owen Sound, and became the first Mechanical Draftswoman in Canada, employed by William Kennedy & Sons. She then moved to Brantford and worked for Watrous [Waterous] Engines. She is now living in her own home in Simcoe. Her brother Bruce Straith lives in San Diego, California. Her niece, Mrs. Helen Hepburn, and her nephew, Burns Hall, live in Owen Sound (1990). Her obituary reads: "STRAITH--M. Helen; at Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home, Simcoe, on Saturday, December 25, 1993, Miss M. Helen Straith of Simcoe, in her 104th year. Daughter of the late James Bruce Straith and Agnes Porter Bruce. Dear sister of James Bruce Straith, of San Diego, California. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. Predeceased by brother Bill, and sisters, Marjorie, Irene, Louise, and Nina. Miss Straith was born in Owen Sound on March 1st, 1890, the first female draftsperson employed in Owen Sound and Brantford. Friends will be received at the Ferris Funeral Home, 214 Norfolk Street South, Simcoe, on Monday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., where [a] service will be conducted on Tuesday, December 28th at 1:30 p.m. Reverend John Cruickshank and Dr. Albert Balley officiating. Interment, Oakwood Cemetery." |
Occupation |
-Artist, Instructor in China Painting (c. 1909) -Art Studio at Owen Sound (c. 1922) -Possibly was a Farmerette (National Service Worker 1918) as she had a cloth badge from this group -Female Mechanical Draftsman (Canada's First) -Wm. Kennedy & Sons Limited (Employee) -On the Committee that organized the Owen Sound Ladies' Baseball Club -Waterous Engines (Brantford) / Koehring Waterous Ltd. (c. 1932 until 19__) |
Publications |
-Croft, Melba Morris, FOURTH ENTRANCE TO HURONIA, p. 299 (mentions J. B. Straith starting the tent company in 1896) -Croft, Melba Morris, RENEWAL OF A CANADIAN PORT, p. 235 -"It takes a village to save heritage", BRANTFORD EXPOSITOR, Friday, May 25 2012 (re the development of Westfield Heritage Village) |
Relationships |
Had several nieces and nephews: Niece: Helen Hepburn (nee Hall) Nephew: Burns Hall Siblings: William Percy Alexander Straith (Bill Straith), b. Nov. 9, 1891 at North Keppel, was an aviator and pioneer in Canadian airways services, died April, 1947, in a plane crash Nina Straith Mary Irene (Marie) Straith (m. Henry (Harry) Broad) and lived at Toronto, d. 1978 Agnes Louise Straith (usually known as Louise), b. June 26, 1896 at Owen Sound, d. Sept. 16, 1985 in B.C.). She was a Book Keeper c. 1921. Marjorie Straith (m. John Gunn), lived at Victoria, B.C. James Bruce Straith Aunt: Mrs. M. Jackson of Simcoe Aunt: Mrs. G. Serbice, of Toronto |
Role |
Tradesperson |
Spouse |
n/a |
Children |
n/a |
