Creators of the Classic City: Joseph Rankin

Joseph Rankin started the family business Rankin’s in 1874, a business that persisted until 1960.

By: Paul Wilker

“I’ll meet you at Rankin’s!” was a popular invitation in late 19th and 20th centuries Stratford. Those five little words brought together generations of Stratford families and friends to enjoy good times and the many special treats at Rankin’s that included everything homemade from meals to ice cream and hand-rolled candies.

For about 90 years, until the business closed in 1960, the Rankin name was well known in Stratford in the baking, confectionery, candy, ice cream and restaurant business. The names Rankin's candy, Rankin's hand-rolled chocolates, Rankin's own ice cream, sodas, sundaes and milkshakes are still able to make mouths water for many Stratford residents.

Joseph and Katherine Rankin opened their first confectioner’s store in 1874, after purchasing the handsome Mowat bank building at the corner of Downie and Wellington Streets. They also owned a bakeshop with two Dempster ovens on the corner of Brunswick and Downie. In 1900, Joseph had a wholesale-retail store at 28 Ontario St., and then at 32 Ontario St., which was later the Beattie grocery store.

An early Rankin advertisement in the Beacon proclaimed "Special attention will be given to catering to private parties and school entertainments." As well, in those days, it was considered fashionable to have the bride's cake "made at Rankin's." The Rankins also advertised toys, mutton and mince pies, oysters, lobsters, buns and cakes.

After Joseph’s death in 1905, the business passed to the oldest of his eight sons, Charles R. Rankin, who moved the family business to its final and best-known location at 81 Ontario St. by 1907. That same location later housed the Centre Restaurant and then Gene’s Restaurant. Charles Rankin would run the business only briefly until his own untimely death at the age of 31 in 1907 in a train derailment near Guelph. His younger brother, Gordon Harry Rankin, known as Dick, then took over the family business.

The interior of Rankin's was elegant with dark, polished mahogany paneling in the booths at the rear of the restaurant. Generations of Stratford families and friends ate their toasted salmon sandwiches and drank their sodas and teas while oscillating fans created soft breezes overhead. All was reflected in the Palladian segmented mirrors over each table, with Art Deco frosted glass lights.

Rankin’s was famous for the delightful concoctions whipped up at that magic fountain, with its fancy fizzing soda taps and deep cold wells of frosty homemade Rankin's ice cream. Patrons’ favourites included the Gold Dust Twins and a Tin Roof. A banana split cost 20 cents.

Taken from Creators of the Classic City: www.streetsofstratford.ca.

“Creators of the Classic City” is an ongoing Times series written by Paul Wilker, co-author of the e-book of the same name by him and Gord Conroy. Interested readers can find the free book online at https:// online.fliphtml5.com/ypken/pqiv/.