James Esson, photographer
Toronto. James Esson founded his photographic studio in the tiny village about an hour today west of Toronto. The village of Preston, Ontario, since absorbed in larger communities, had a population of some 1,400 souls in 1884.
The history of the studio is told in an illustrated article by Markus Boost, assisted by Stan White. The article is dedicated to the late Martin Bass. It begins, “It would take great courage to build a lavish photographic studio and portrait gallery in little more than the village of Preston, Ontario which, in 1884, had about 1400 inhabitants – but this is what photographer James Esson did.
“The press described Esson and his studio thus: ‘Mr. Esson’s reputation is continental. Among his patrons are scores of people in this city, in Montreal, as far west as Winnipeg and from various quarters in the United States. He is undoubtedly a genius among photographers.
“Some years ago, Mr. Esson built one of the handsomest business blocks in Preston in which he has artistically arranged his Atelier. His reception-room is a model of good taste and originality. On the walls are hung specimens of his magnificent work, including many novelties such as are not seen outside of the largest cities and very rarely in these.
“A Cecilian from Heintzman and Co. furnishes music and helps to make the waiting periods of visitors pleasant and delightful. The dressing rooms are luxuriously furnished, and the operating studio is equipped with the most modern photographic apparatus and accessories.
“Esson’s Atelier had two advantages: the proximity of the towns of Hespeler and Galt, and that Preston was a health spa. People were very health conscious in the latter part of the Nineteenth Century. Consumption was rife and outbreaks of infectious and contagious deseases were still prevalent. Those with money, took every opportunity to get out of the cities.
“Sulphur springs were reputed to be advantageous to health. Three grand and numerous smaller hotels, hostels, and boarding houses etc., catered to a continuous flow of people from out of town who came ‘to take the waters.'” …
You can see all of this fine article in the issue 25-2 pdf file on the free members only DVD/thumb drive. See MEMBERSHIP above or Membership at right (skip the postal strike) to join. Any questions? Drop Lilianne a line at member@phsc.ca.
Visit our latest 2025 Event this month – our famous fall fair on October 19th, 2025. Details are in the PHSC News newsletter (issue 25-7). We will be posting the details here later this month.
