70 Second Street - James Grout and Helen Kinney Grout house

James Grout was the manager of the Toronto Bank on Lakeshore Road

Second Street was built as an access road through the Thompson Smith Survey of the 1850s.

James Bell Lundy Grout was born 11 March 1876 in Carleton Place, Ontario. His father, Canon George Grout, held several positions with the Anglican Church in eastern Ontario and was appointed clerical secretary and registrar for the Diocese of Ontario and served in this position until his death in 1917. James' grandfather was the Reverend George Grout, rector of St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Grimsby, Ontario. James had three brothers: Frank, who joined the civil service in Ottawa; Trevor of Arnprior and Reverend George H. P. Grout and a sister, Alice of Grimsby.

James grew up in eastern Ontario, wherever his father happened to be posted at the time. In 1905 he married Helen Kinney at St. Paul's Church in Brockville at a service officiated by his father. After their honeymoon trip through the New England states, James and Helen set up home in Brockville where James was employed as a banker with the Bank of Toronto. In 1910 they relocated to Oakville and rented a house at 154 King St. which was once part of the "Frontier House" located on Navy St. but was split and moved to its present location in 1906.

The Grout family became members of St. Jude's Church and for many years Helen served as secretary of the Women's Guild and James served as Secretary-Treasurer. He also stepped in as a member of the choir when, during the First World War, the men's section was depleted by the younger members enlisting. James' brother, the Rev. Canon George Grout, upon retirement, relocated to Oakville to assist the clergy, living across the street from the church.

James was employed as Manager with the Bank of Toronto in Oakville, once located in a room of the Custom House at the foot of Navy Street and later in the Anderson Block. In 1918 the bank acquired property from Edmund Gulledge at the southeast corner of Thomas St. and Lakeshore Road where a new building was built which still stands today and is in use as a retail shop.

In 1913, the Grout family moved into their newly-built house at 70 Second Street with their two children, Helen and Robert. During the Second World War Robert served overseas with the Canadian Infantry Corps rising to the rank of Captain/Acting Major. He was awarded the U.S. Bronze Star Medal and a "Mention in Despatches" award in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in the cause of the allies.

James retired from the bank in 1938 and that same year was appointed to the Oakville High School Board for three years. He passed away in January 1950. His wife Helen sold the property in March of the same year and passed away in October. They are both buried at St. Jude's Cemetery.