CULTURAL HERITAGE IMPACT STATEMENT

Transcription

1 CULTURAL HERITAGE IMPACT STATEMENT 6660 AND 6680 OLD CHURCH ROAD, TOWN OF CALEDON PREPARED FOR CALEDON VILLAS CORPORATION BY SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING 47 RODNEY STREET, BARRIE, ON L4M 4B FAX AND VICTOR R. SNOW, HERITAGE RESTORATION, CONSTRUCTION & CONSULTING SERVICES JUNE 2013

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3 SUMMARY It is the conclusion of this Cultural Heritage Impact Statement that the dwelling and driveshed/outbuildings at 6660 Old Church Road lack sufficient merit to warrant any effort toward heritage conservation and can be demolished. Similarly the barn can be demolished but the building materials of the barn could be evaluated for salvage and reuse. The dwelling at 6680 Old Church Road was relocated from The Gore Road, south of Mayfield Road, about Although this may be an early 19 th century structure, the extent of the alterations and loss of its original story and location, eliminate it as a candidate for heritage conservation. It can be demolished. Given its potentially early construction date, its demolition should be photo documented while in progress and the building materials evaluated for salvage and reuse. The rows of mature windbreak trees along the laneway to No and fronting on Old Church Road, as well as the split rail fence flanking the west side of the laneway, merit consideration as to how these 19 th century, cultural heritage landscape elements could be incorporated into the redevelopment plan. The association of this property with the Wilson family from 1829 to 1910 is worthy of commemoration, perhaps through a historic marker and/or in the naming of the streets and parkettes in the proposed redevelopment plan. This gesture could also be extended to the Atchison family who owned the property from 1919 to 2012.

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5 CONTENTS SUMMARY 1.0 REPORT OBJECTIVE AND METHODOLOGY 2.0 EVALUATION CRITERIA 3.0 SUBJECT PROPERTY 3.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION 3.2 DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL 4.0 HISTORICAL OR ASSOCIATIVE VALUE 4.1 ALBION TOWNSHIP 4.2 CALEDON EAST 4.3 PROPERTY HISTORY EARLY HISTORY WILLIAM WILSON JAMES WILSON HENRY WILSON THOMAS WILSON JOSEPH AND JAMES WHEALEY ARTHUR GRIFFIN SPECIALTY PAPER BAG COMPANY WILLIAM, BERYL AND WILBERT ATCHISON 5.0 DESIGN OR PHYSICAL VALUE OLD CHURCH ROAD OLD CHURCH ROAD 5.3 BARN 5.4 OUTBUILDINGS 6.0 CONTEXTUAL 7.0 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS DISCLAIMER APPENDIX: BARN ASSESSMENT SOURCES ENDNOTES SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

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7 CULTURAL HERITAGE IMPACT STATEMENT 6660 AND 6680 OLD CHURCH ROAD, TOWN OF CALEDON 1.0 REPORT OBJECTIVE AND METHODOLOGY Caledon Villas Corporation owns hectares of land in the west part of Lot 21, Concession 2, Albion Township, known as 6660 and 6680 Old Church Road in the Town of Caledon. This parcel of land is Part 1, RP43R (PIN ). Caledon Villas Corp. has applied for permission to redevelop the property as a housing subdivision. This property fronts primarily on the north side of Old Church Road, and at the northwest on the east side of Innis Lake Road. A Catholic High School abuts the southwest corner. The nearest community is Caledon East village to the west. As this property is on the Town of Caledon s Built Heritage Resources Inventory as 6660 Old Church Road, Identification Number 1016, there is a requirement to submit a Cultural Heritage Impact Statement ( CHIS ). The objective of a CHIS is to determine if the property holds cultural heritage value or interest and, if so, to recommend measures to mitigate any negative impact resulting from the proposed redevelopment. The Inventory lists four built heritage resources on the property. The Principal Resource identified is a vertical board, Central Ontario (gambrel roof), , barn. The Secondary Resource is a farmhouse of undetermined style, date of construction, and materials (presumed to be the No dwelling). The driveshed/ carriagehouse/ garage and other outbuilding are listed as Other Resources. The Contextual Landscape Elements are the roadside tree row, tree-lined lane, and Sugar Maples along road and lane. The farmstead is altered. The second dwelling, relocated to this property about 1984 and known as No. 6680, is shown in the photographs accompanying the Inventory. This property is not listed on the Town s Heritage Register of cultural heritage properties, as defined by s.27 of the Ontario Heritage Act. Aerial view (Provided by Town of Caledon) SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

8 The findings and recommendations of this CHIS are based on documentary research, a property title search at the Peel Region Land Registry Office, a site visit by the heritage consultant on May 14, 2013 (access permitted to exterior and grounds only), and information provided by the Town and an Atchison family member, Vicki Kidd. The assessment of the barn was undertaken on June 13, 2013, by Victor R. Snow, Heritage Restoration, Construction & Consulting Services. No structural assessment/engineer s report was commissioned to determine the structural condition of the buildings on site. In May 2012, Detritus Consulting prepared a draft Archaeological Assessment Stages 1 and 2 for the subject property on behalf of Caledon Villas Corp. That report is available under separate cover. 2.0 EVALUATION CRITERIA Ontario Heritage Act Regulation 9/06: Criteria for Determining Cultural Heritage Value or Interest sets the minimum standard for criteria to be used by municipalities when evaluating a property being considered for protection under section 29 of the Act. One or more of the criterion in the categories of Design or Physical Value, Historical or Associative Value, and Contextual Value must be met for the property to be protected (designated). For purposes of this CHIS, the evaluation categories of Regulation 9/06 are referenced as a framework for research and discussion. It is the Council of the Town of Caledon that determines whether or not to protect or otherwise conserve a property for cultural heritage reasons. 3.0 SUBJECT PROPERTY 3.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION This property contains two frame dwellings (Nos and 6680) facing south to Old Church Road, with No the farthest west. No (to the east) was relocated to this site in 1984 from The Gore Road, south of Mayfield Road. 1 Each dwelling is accessed by a separate laneway running north/south from Old Church Road. Both dwellings are occupied by tenants. To the rear of No are three driveshed/outbuildings and a gambrel roof, vertical board barn. The barn is not in use. The site currently houses livestock and the fields are under agricultural cultivation. Partially along the Old Church Road frontage and along the laneway to No are rows of mature windbreak trees. There is a traditional split rail fence along the west side of the No laneway, between the row of trees along the laneway and remnants of an orchard on the west. SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

9 Above: Current Site Plan Below: Proposed Redevelopment by Caledon Villas Corp. SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

10 3.2 DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL Caledon Villas Corp. intends to subdivide the acreage into a street plan with building lots, a parkette, woodlot, and stormwater management pond (see previous page). Houses will be constructed for sale. The current proposal is to demolish all existing buildings and structures). 4.0 HISTORICAL OR ASSOCIATIVE VALUE 4.1 ALBION TOWNSHIP Albion Township is intersected by the Humber River, which historically presented several good locations for water powered mills. A branch of the Humber River cuts across the east half of Lot 21, Concession 2, Albion. The township was opened for settlement after being surveyed in According to the 1877 Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Peel, Mr. Wm. Downey, a bachelor, was the first to succeed in reaching his land in the township, where he built a house in In 1821, the population of Albion was 110 with 62 acres of land reported as cultivated. By 1848, the population had increased to 3, As railways such as the Toronto, Grey & Bruce, Hamilton & Northwestern, and Credit Valley developed in the 1870s, Albion Township and the surrounding areas experienced accelerated settlement and increasing prosperity. The Town of Caledon was established on January 1, 1974, as an amalgamation of Albion, Caledon, and the northern half of Chinguacousy townships. 4.2 CALEDON EAST The nearest historic community to the subject property is Caledon East, formerly known as Paisley, to the west. It was established as a post office in and by 1857 had a population of about seventy five with daily stagecoach service. 4 Caledon East continues as a thriving community. 4.3 PROPERTY HISTORY EARLY HISTORY The Upper Canada Land Records index indicates that Lot 21, Concession 2, Albion Township, was issued by the Crown on April 29, 1818, as a free grant to Margaret Johnston. She qualified for a free grant as a daughter of a United Empire Loyalist who maintained allegiance to the British Crown during the American War of Independence ( ). Loyalists living in the United States were allowed to immigrate to Canada and receive free grants of land. In 1818, Johnston was a tenant in York (later City of Toronto). Johnston must have abandoned her right to the Albion Township lot. The hundred acres of the southwest ½ of Lot 21, Concession 2 (west half containing the subject acreage), were then SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

11 allotted by the Crown to Richard Oxtoby. According to the late Peel County historian Perkins Bull, Oxtoby was a native of the parish of Waiter, Yorkshire, England. In addition to the west half of Lot 21, Concession 2, Oxtoby received Lot 31, Concession 3, Albion (a Clergy Reserve) while a resident of the Town of York. He identified himself at that time as a yeoman (farmer). The Crown gave him a six month extension to complete the required settlement duties on his lot(s), beginning August 20, This was owing to he, his wife, and five children being sick so long. 5 (Typically settlement duties involved the construction of a 16 by 20 foot dwelling and the clearing of some acreage.) Oxtoby received the Crown Patent for the west half of Lot 21 on March 24, It is not known if he was ever a resident of this lot WILLIAM WILSON On February 14, 1829, Richard Oxtoby, by then a farmer living in Markham Township, sold the hundred acres of the southwest half (west half) of Lot 21 to William Wilson of Albion Township, also a farmer. The purchase price was 25. Wilson also acquired and patented on March 25, 1831, the hundred acres of the east half of Lot 21. According to the Wilson and Bracken genealogy, William Wilson, sometimes called English William Wilson, was born in 1769 in Yorkshire, England. 6 He married Mary Ann Thompson in James, said to be their only child, was born in 1809 or 1810 in Yorkshire. One account states the family immigrated to Upper Canada in According to a Wilson Family Tree written by Edith Wilson Hutchinson, 7 My great, great, great, grandfather English Wm. Wilson, his wife Mary Thompson Wilson and son James came from Yorkshire, England, to Lot 21, Conc. 2, Albion Township in Ontario, Canada around William is said to have worked on the Rideau Canal when he first arrived. The Wilson and Bracken genealogy cites an article in the 1831 Colonial Advocate newspaper stating that the Wilson farm was the Largest cleared farm with a comfortable frame house, 100 acres under cultivation, and 12 acres of wheat, expecting to reap 35 bushels an acre in its first crop. Esther Heyes in her book The Story of Albion claims that in December 1836, 8 After an ill planned rebellion at Montgomery's Tavern led by William Lyon Mackenzie.... heading his horse to safety from the Tavern, Mackenzie had supper with a friendly farmer who risked his freedom on that dark December night. English Wilson continued to support the reformers. The 1837 Toronto and Home District and the Brown s directories list William Wilson with Lot 21, Concession 2, Albion. By that date he owned the full two hundred acres of Lot 21. The history of St. James Church, Caledon East, has a tradition that the first log church was built in 1843 on the southwest half of lot 21, concession II. 9 Known as Albion Church, it was on the north side of Old Church Road, on William Wilson s property. Trudy Mann notes in Early Churches of Albion and Caledon Townships Peel County: 10 SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

12 Perkins Bull, in his book From Strachan to Owen, states that there was an early log church built by a neighbourhood bee with the material provided by William Wilson. This was hard by [sic] the farmstead doubtless on Lot 21, where on 28 October 1844 Rev. Hill (of the Mission of Chinguacousy and parts adjacent) was reported as presenting 51 candidates for confirmation. A log church capable of seating 250 persons is shown on the 1851 census. Today s location of that church would be the northeast corner of Innis Lake Road and Old Church Road. In that year St. Jude s Church in Caledon closed with the members transferring to St. James Albion. There is no registered transaction whereby Wilson transferred any part of Lot 21 for use as a church site. The former church location is believed to be the northeast corner of Innis Lake Road and Old Church Street on land that was severed and now not within the boundary of the subject property under consideration for the CHIS. The 1843 log church building on the Wilson farm was torn down and the frame church was built in 1848 by the parishioners on land given by William Matthews, across the road on the northwest corner of lot 20, Con II, with the cemetery adjacent to it. 11 The frame church building was demolished but the cemetery still exists at that location. Several Wilson family members are buried there JAMES WILSON James Wilson was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1809 or 1810, and immigrated with his parents William and Mary Ann Wilson about He married Elizabeth Bates on September 16, 1829, when she was age twenty. She was born in Canada. They were married at St. James (Anglican) Church in Toronto. The family tradition is that they settled on the west half of Lot 21, Concession 3, Albion (east of the subject property), on January 29, According to the Wilson Bracken genealogy, James and Elizabeth had several children: 12 Mary Ann Wilson, b. October 7, 1830; died 1915 Emily Wilson, b. March 25, 1832, d Elizabeth Wilson, b. March 06, 1834, d. August 11, 1914 William Wilson, b. April 12, 1836, d. August 22, 1912 James Wilson, b. January 14, 1838, d. March 20, 1843 Sarah Jane Wilson, b. October 30, 1839 John Wilson, b. November 24, 1841; died 1843 Ann Wilson, b. December 22, 1843, d. August 29, 1890 Thomas Wilson, b. December 04, 1844, Sandhill, Caledon East, d. January 21, 1927 Henry Wilson, b. December 27, 1847, d Edward Wilson, b. January 26, 1850, d Julia Wilson, b. September 15, 1851, d SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

13 The 1851 census for Albion lists a James Willson, 52, 13 born in England, a farmer, married to Elizabeth, 40, born in Canada. Their children were Mary Ann, 21; William, 16; Sarah, 12; Ann, 8; Thomas, 6; and Henry, 4. They occupied a two storey, frame house. A notation in their listing under the heading Places of Worship lists a Church of England, built of logs, 250 persons. 14 This is presumed to be the log church on Lot 21, Concession 2, although at that date the property was still owned by his father William. James is listed on Lot 21, Concession 2, in the 1858 Voter s List for Albion. 15 The 1859 Tremaine map for Albion Township (shown right) labels all of Lot 21, Concession 2, and the west half of Lot 21, Concession 3, as the property of James Wilson. A building (likely a dwelling) is plotted in the centre of the east half of Lot 21, Concession There is no building plotted on the west half of Lot 21, Concession On January 14, 1860, William and Mary Ann Wilson sold the two hundred acres of Lot 21, Concession 2, to their son James, an Albion farmer, for 1,000. James mortgaged the property to William for 500. If repaid, the obligation of James was to pay William and Mary Ann 40 per annum or 20 should either decease; and provide William and/or Mary Ann a suitable and comfortable house and sufficient firewood left at the door of the house for the duration of their lives. 17 District 2 of the 1861 personal and agricultural census for Albion lists James Wilson, age 55; Elizabeth, 40; Nancy A., 16; 18 Thomas, 15; Henry, 12; and Julia, 10, with a 1.5 storey frame house and 300 acres in total, including Lot 21, Concession William died September 1, 1863, and is buried across Old Church Road in St. James Anglican Cemetery. The 1865 property tax assessment roll is the earliest available for this part of Albion Township. It lists James Wilson, age 61, with several properties: Lot 21, east half, Concession 2, 200 acres, $3,200 (west half, Lot 21, Concession 2, is not listed separately) Lot 21, west half, Concession 3, 100 acres, $800 Lot 19, west, Concession 3, 50 acres, $800 Lot 22, west, Concession 4, 50 acres, $800 Lot 22, east, Concession 3, 10 acres, $350 SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

14 The Mitchell s directory for Albion Township lists a James Wilson as the owner of Lot 30, Concession 5, and Lot 21, Concession 2. The 1868 tax roll lists James, 63, on the west half, Lot 21, Concession 2, 200 acres with 120 cleared, valued at $3,300. He also owns the west half of Lot 21, Concession 3, 100 acres valued at $900; and the west half of Lot 19, Concession 3, 50 acres valued at $850. No other lands are assessed in his name. In 1870, the 200 acres of Lot 21 are listed as east and west halves, correcting earlier errors in the description of this being 200 acres of the east or west half (instead of the whole lot, east and west). The 1871 personal census lists a James Wilson, age 65, born in England and his spouse Elizabeth, age 63, born in Quebec. Neither can read nor write. Henry, 21, born in Ontario is in the household. Also living with them is Mary Ann McKee, age 13, Irish. Thomas Wilson, age 23, is next door HENRY WILSON On June 15, 1874, James and Elizabeth Wilson sold three hundred acres to their son Henry Wilson. All were Albion farmers. The acreage was composed of all of Lot 21, Concession 2, and the west half of Lot 21, Concession 3. The purchase price was a substantial $12,000. Henry was born December 27, 1847, in Caledon East. The 1877 map of Albion Township (shown right) labels the subject property Henry Wilson. The dwelling and 1877 orchard are plotted within the east half of the lot. A building is plotted at the northwest corner of the west half of Lot 21, Concession 3, with Henry as owner. No building is plotted on the subject property (west half of Lot 21). On December 29, 1879, at age 32, Henry married Elizabeth Bracken, 19. She was born in Chinguacousy Township, the daughter of Margaret and John Bracken. SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

15 The 1881 personal census for Division 2 Albion lists James and Elizabeth Wilson, both 72, and born in England. James is listed with one house uninhabited. Their household is listed next to Henry, 33, Elizabeth, 21, and their son James, age six months (born the previous November). Henry and Elizabeth had several children: James ( ) William John ( ) Mary Elizabeth ( ) Henry Clinton ( ) Myrtle ( ) Albert Spencer ( ) Arthur Percival ( ) Alban Hedley (1895-) Henry s father, James, died on March 20, 1883, followed by his mother, Elizabeth, on January 4, They are buried in St. James Anglican Cemetery, Caledon East. The 1888 and Union directories for Albion have Henry Wilson as the owner of Lot 21, Concession 2, with a post office address of Caledon East. The 1891 personal census for Albion has Henry s family living in a wood, two storey house with nine rooms. This could have been on any of his property holdings. The Wilson family tradition is that in 1901 Jimmy [Henry s son] returned from the [Canadian] West and convinced his family to move West. Henry, Jimmy, and Albert went ahead to buy and prepare the land. In 1906, the decision was made to sell their Albion Township farm. They travelled by train through Winnipeg, Swan River, Hudson Bay, and Tisdale to Star City Sask. While in Winnipeg Henry had paid $3 per acre for 2 sections [of land]. Star City, Assiniboia East, Saskatchewan, Canada.... They built a good frame house on the banks of the leather River. Two sections: W2 and W2. 20 Henry died on January 27, 1928, in Saskatchewan. He is buried at Norwood Cemetery, St. James Anglican Cemetery, five miles north of Star City, Saskatchewan. 21 Elizabeth died in 1936 or THOMAS WILSON On February 21, 1906, Henry and his wife Elizabeth sold the east half of Lot 21, Concession 2, to Adlington Gott, for $7,000, subject to a mortgage of $5,388. On February 2, 1907, Henry and Elizabeth sold the west hundred acres of Lot 21, Concession 2, to Thomas Wilson for $5,000 plus the remainder on a mortgage of $2,300. Thomas was a farmer in Chinguacousy Township. This sale price may be an indication that there was a SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

16 dwelling and/or some development on the west half of Lot 21 by The barn assessment compiled for this CHIS by Victor Snow concludes that the barn was most likely erected in the first decade of the 20 th century (see Appendix) JOSEPH AND JAMES WHEALEY Thomas and Martha Wilson of Albion, farmers, sold the west half of Lot 21 to Joseph Samuel Arthur Whealy of the City of Toronto, a tea merchant. This was on June 16, 1910, for $5,000. Joseph, identified as a City of Toronto manufacturer, and his wife Minnie, sold to James Whealy on December 29, The price was $6,000 and subject to a mortgage of $3, ARTHUR GRIFFIN On June 1, 1918, James Whealy sold to Arthur Griffin for $7, SPECIALTY PAPER BAG COMPANY In July 1918, Griffin sold to the Specialty Paper Bag Company of Toronto for the considerable sum of $21,000. The transaction appears to be only for the hundred acres of the west half, Lot 21, and was subject to two mortgages of $3,300 and $ WILLIAM, BERYL AND WILBERT ATCHISON The Specialty Paper Bag Company of Toronto sold the hundred acres on March 15, 1919, to William John Elgie Atchison, an Albion farmer. The price was a dollar plus the outstanding mortgage of $3,100. On May 15, 1957, William J. Atchison and others sold the acreage to Beryl Rosetta and Wilbert George Elmer Atchison, as joint tenants, for $10,000. In 1984, the Atchisons moved the house known as No from The Gore Road, south of Mayfield Road. The Town has no record of a building permit for this relocation. 23 According to Vicki (Atchison) Kidd in May 2013: The house at 6680 was moved from The Gore Road in approximately 1984, a building application at The Town of Caledon should confirm the exact year. The little house (6680) originally was below Mayfield Rd. The larger original house was there when William Atchison purchased the property in 1919, along with the barn. SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

17 The other two outbuildings were built by William Atchison in approximately 1940, the driving shed was purchased and then reassembled on the farm. The wood shed that is now falling down was constructed in the 40 s by the Atchison. The house was built to our knowledge in the early 1900s with a pump in the room off the kitchen to pump water from the cistern that is now located in the back porch. It was originally clapboard, then covered with red insul-brick and then covered with steel siding while owned by George and Beryl Atchison. Wilbert (George) and Beryl Atchison sold to the current owner, Caledon Villas Corp. in DESIGN OR PHYSICAL VALUE Only the exteriors of the dwellings and outbuildings were examined by the heritage consultant. The exterior and interior of the barn were examined by Victor Snow (see Appendix) OLD CHURCH ROAD The dwelling known as 6660 Old Church Road is a 1.5 storey, frame structure that has been enlarged in all directions. Atchison family member Vicki Kidd states that the house and barn were standing when William Atchison purchased the property in It was built to our knowledge in the early 1900s. William Wilson acquired the west half of Lot 21, Concession 2 (subject property), in He also owned or soon acquired the east half of Lot 21, Concession 2; the west half of Lot 21, Concession 3; and other lands. The 1859 and 1877 maps of Albion Township indicate that there was a dwelling on the east half of Lot 21, Concession 2. Given his other holdings, there would be no immediate need for Wilson to build on the west half of Lot 21, Concession 2. The house was not standing in 1877, as evidenced by the map of Albion Township. It may be that Henry Wilson had the house and barn erected before or about the time the west half of Lot 21, Concession 2, was sold in 1907 as the family had move to the Canadian West the year earlier. The style of this dwelling is non descript. It likely began as a simple rectangular plan with one or more roof dormers. The bargeboard and support posts of the front verandah are an attempt to reference 19 th century woodwork but are manufactured trellis and commonly milled support posts that could be any date. The window openings and sash are varied; the cladding has gone from clapboard to Insulbrick to recent siding. There is no rare, unique, or representative quality as prescribed by Regulation 9/06 that would qualify this dwelling as a candidate for protection under the Ontario Heritage Act or other heritage conservation measures. SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

18 No Old Church Road Above: South (front) facade Right: Detail of south verandah Below: West facade SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

19 No Old Church Road Above: East facade Below: North facade SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

20 No Old Church Road Above: South (front) facade Below: South and East (R) facades SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

21 No Old Church Road Above: North and East (L) facades Below: North and West (R) facades SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

22 No Old Church Road Above: L: South facade of outbuilding at end of laneway; R: Barn Left: East and North (R) facades of outbuilding shown below Below: South facade of outbuilding northeast of dwelling SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

23 No Old Church Road Above: North facades of outbuilding and dwelling Below: East facade of outbuilding west of barn SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

24 Left: Looking southeast along laneway to No Old Church Road, showing rows of windbreak trees along laneway and fronting on Old Church Road Below: Looking northeast from laneway to No Old Church Road, showing row of windbreak trees, split rail fence, and orchard SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

25 Above: South facade of barn Below: East facade of barn SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

26 Above: North facade of barn Below: West facade of barn and outbuilding SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

27 Interior of Barn SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

28 Interior of Barn SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

29 OLD CHURCH ROAD The dwelling known as No was relocated about 1984 from The Gore Road, south of Mayfield Road. It is a single storey structure on a concrete block, split foundation. Its form as a single storey structure with a low pitched, hipped roof is in keeping with the early Regency style of architecture that was popular in the first half of the 19 th century in Ontario. Unfortunately, the typical Classical Revival doorcase (often with a door, sidelights, and transom) does not exist and the window openings have all been modified. Other alterations have also been undertaken and the condition of the interior is unknown. Without knowing the original location of this dwelling, with which to undertake further research, its history is unknown. Given its relocation and the extensive alterations, there is no argument for retaining this structure for cultural heritage reasons. There is merit in observing and photo documenting its demolition. Some early building materials may be suitable for salvage. The Town of Caledon s Heritage Resource Officer may advise on whether the Town has any need for salvaged materials. 5.3 BARN The barn was assessed in June 2013 by Victor R. Snow, Heritage Restoration, Construction & Consulting Services. That report is included as an Appendix. Snow concludes that the barn dates from the late 19th Century or more likely the early 20th Century: In Snow s opinion: While barns are vanishing landmarks, this barn lacks any merit to warrant such a designation. There is nothing uncommon or definitive about any characteristic either in construction, style or individual detail. Restoration would not be warranted considering the cost of same and the fact that the barn has problems that compromise the likelihood that it will survive the ravages of time. It also appears to have minimal use for on-going farming and in its current state poses a liability risk. 5.4 OUTBUILDINGS Vicki (Atchison) Kidd stated in 2013 that: The other two outbuildings [other than the barn] were built by William Atchison in approximately 1940, the driving shed was purchased and then reassembled on the farm. The wood shed that is now falling down was constructed in the 40 s by the Atchisons. The 1940s date of construction/erection of these outbuildings, combined with their poor construction and advanced deterioration condition, preclude any cultural heritage value or interest as prescribed by Regulation 9/06. SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

30 6.0 CONTEXTUAL This rural landscape is abutted on the west by a large, modern design, school building. In view farther west is a large scale, recent, urban development. Both detract from the rural context of this farm property. Typical of the cultural landscape of a farmscape, rows of mature trees serve as a windbreak flanking both sides of the laneway to No and along the Old Church Road frontage. Parallel to this row on the west side of the laneway is a section of split rail fencing. On the west side of the fencing is the remnant of an orchard. 7.0 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS 6660 Old Church Road Dwelling Based on the findings of this CHIS, there is no cultural heritage value or interest found in the dwelling known as 6660 Old Church Road. Its demolition without documentation or salvage does not represent any loss to the understanding of the built heritage of Albion Township or the Town of Caledon Old Church Road Dwelling The dwelling known as 6680 Old Church Road may be an example of the Regency style of architecture popular in early 19 th century Ontario. It was relocated to the subject property about 1984 and altered extensively for reuse. Given these alterations, the relocation, and loss of its original story, its cultural heritage value or interest is minimal to none. The value to this structure may be in what its demolition reveals about its date of construction. It is recommended that the demolition be photo documented. Should this prove to be an early 19 th century structure, there is the potential for salvaging building materials such as timbers, flooring, builder s hardware (door locks, etc.). The Town of Caledon Heritage Resource Officer may have some interest in the photo documentation and in some salvaged materials. Barn Victor Snow concludes that there is no merit in retaining the barn. It is a poor and deteriorated example of an early 20 th century type. Regarding the salvage of materials, Snow recommends: Additionally, while Mennonites have been known to dismantle barns for reconstruction, even they are turning to contemporary pole barns with the attendant benefits to farming operations. However, if the barn is to be demolished, then the timbers and boarding may be of interest to those who recycle same into flooring. Further, the stone foundation might be of use to the Town of Caledon in some municipal project, particularly in landscaping/parks. SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

31 Outbuildings The 1940s outbuildings are of no cultural heritage value or interest and can be demolished without any loss to the understanding of the built heritage of Albion Township or the Town of Caledon. Cultural Heritage Landscape Elements The rows of mature windbreak trees along the laneway to No and fronting on Old Church Road, as well as the split rail fence flanking the west side of the laneway, appear to be within the proposed stormwater management pond area. It seems reasonable to give serious consideration to how these 19 th century, cultural heritage landscape elements could be incorporated into the redevelopment plan. Commemoration of Wilson Family The Wilsons were early Albion Township settlers and owned the subject property from 1829 to The first Wilson owner, William Wilson, was a founder of St. James (Albion) Church and had a log church building constructed on his property. If the story of his being host to William Lyon Mackenzie during the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837 can be verified, this is an interesting association of the Wilsons with this turbulent period in Canadian history. There is merit in commemorating the Wilson family through a historic marker (plaque, cairn) or in the naming of the streets and/or a parkette of the proposed redevelopment. This gesture could be extended to the Atchison family who owned the property from 1919 to DISCLAIMER This Cultural Heritage Impact Statement is based on a review of the known and relevant archival sources available and on information provided by in interviews and by the client. The study of a cultural heritage resource is an ongoing process that involves interpretation and analysis of the available source materials and an examination of the subject property. Conclusions and recommendations based on the findings are made in a professional and conscientious manner, without bias. Further archival and physical evidence may reveal information about the property that could not have been known to the heritage consultant and may alter future conclusions and recommendations regarding this property. SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

32 Appendix: Barn Assessment Victor R. Snow, Heritage Restoration, Construction & Consulting Services June 2013 GENERAL INFORMATION - The barn has a four bent, three bay frame with gambrel roof, most commonly seen in large barns late in the nineteenth century. - The central bay is the "threshing floor", as is typical, with the other two bays being the hay/straw mows. The granary occupies part of the west bay. - "Gambrel" denotes a style with two varying pitch slopes to each side of the roof, the upper slope being flatter and the lower slope steeper. The change in roof pitch provided greater internal volume and storage space for hay and straw. However, in my observation, this style of rather elaborate framing allowed for a larger barn generally but requiring somewhat smaller dimension timbers for framing which was an important consideration in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. - Additionally, the purlins that support the rafters rest on top of the principle posts exactly at the position where the transition in slopes occurs, eliminating the complexity of purlin posts and struts. - As the prime softwood trees, pine and hemlock, were used extensively in house building, etc., they were sold accordingly and farmers were generally left with hardwood trees. - Large straight pine timbers, free of knots over considerable distances were widely used for the masts of sailing ships and, of course, extensively for every type of furniture, doors, siding and trim. - In this case, the main framing components are beech and maple, the least desirable woods since both are prone to serious Powder Post Beetle infestation. Additionally, they were difficult to hew and in this barn all components are circular sawn. There is an abundance of beetle holes but no obvious sign of ongoing insect activity although the absence of doors and some siding allows the wind to carry away the small amounts of fine sawdust that record such activity. - At this point, the lower visible timbers do not appear structurally compromised but that is always an ongoing concern with beech and maple. "Wane" (bark remaining on the edges) on many timbers makes the identification of the woods easy, even at considerable distance. - The foundation is comprised of large split stones as well as some rubblestone, primarily igneous granite or gneiss as well as some sedimentary. It generally has horizontal alignment or SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

33 coursing with large quoins (cornerstones) but overall is not particularly neat and not likely the work of a skilled stonemason. - An earthwork ramp is built up to the rear doors in the common manner to allow access to the central bay. DATE OF CONSTRUCTION The barn dates from the late 19th Century or more likely the early 20th Century based on the following: - contemporary style wire nails are visible with no sign whatsoever of cut (square) nails - exclusively circular sawn components - the use of beech and maple in all major framing components (some diagonal braces and floor joists are coniferous wood) - narrow width floor planking (earlier barns tend to have wide planking) - sawn rafters (earlier barns tend to have pole rafters) - the overall construction is of somewhat lesser quality, typical of later barns, particularly considering the difficulty of working with hardwoods HERITAGE DESIGNATION CONSIDERATIONS While barns are vanishing landmarks, this barn lacks any merit to warrant such a designation. There is nothing uncommon or definitive about any characteristic either in construction, style or individual detail. RESTORATION The following problems were observed: - beetle infestation - foundation cracked and not plumb - missing doors and some siding - exterior boards are heavily weathered - floor is irregular, sunk or heaved in some areas and not level Restoration would not be warranted considering the cost of same and the fact that the barn has problems that compromise the likelihood that it will survive the ravages of time. It also appears to have minimal use for on-going farming and in its current state poses a liability risk. Additionally, while Mennonites have been known to dismantle barns for reconstruction, even they are turning to contemporary pole barns with the attendant benefits to farming operations. However, if the barn is to be demolished, then the timbers and boarding may be of interest to those who recycle same into flooring. Further, the stone foundation might be of use to the Town of Caledon in some municipal project, particularly in landscaping/parks. SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

34 SOURCES Abstract of Title, Lot 21, Concession 2, Albion Township, and related documents. Peel Region Land Registry Office and Peel Region Archives. Census enumerations for Albion Township, 1851 to Ancestry.ca and Barrie Public Library. Post Office Records. National Archives of Canada online database. Perkins Bull Property and Family Files. Peel Region Archives. Albion Township Tax Assessment Rolls. Peel Region Archives Voter s List for Albion Township. Peel Region Archives. Mono Road Tweedsmuir History. Peel Region Archives. Murdoch, Su. Heritage Designation Report, St. James, Caledon East, Anglican Cemetery, Innis Lake Road, Town of Caledon, Ontario, October Town of Caledon. Tremaine, G.R. & G.M., publisher. Tremaine s Map of the County of Peel Canada West. Toronto, Walker & Miles, publisher. Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Peel, Ontario. Toronto, Reprint edition. Walton, George, ed. City of Toronto and the Home District Commercial Directory and Register. Toronto, Reprint edition. Barrie Public Library. Directories for Peel County. Peel Region Archives. Lovell, John. The Canada Directory for Private Collection. Wilson and Bracken Family History; and McAulay/Smith Family Journal. Ancestry.ca The assistance of Vicki (Atchison) Kidd; and of Sally Drummond, Town of Caledon Heritage Resource Officer, is appreciated. SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

35 ENDNOTES 1 The information about the relocation of No was provided by an Atchison family member, Vicki Kidd, in Walker & Miles, Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Peel, Ontario Post Office Records, National Archives Canada. 4 Entry for Caledon East, Canada Directory for Perkins Bull property file for Lot 21, Concession 2, Albion. 6 This Wilson and Bracken Family History is found in the online database of Ancestry.ca. The accuracy of any information in this genealogy is not verified. 7 Mono Road Tweedsmuir History. 8 The battle of Montgomery s Tavern near Toronto was on December 4, 1837, not in Su Murdoch, Heritage Designation Report, St. James, Caledon East, Anglican Cemetery, Innis Lake Road, Town of Caledon, Ontario, October Trudy Mann. Early Churches of Albion and Caledon Townships Peel County (Town of Caledon) with Resource and Record Locations, Extract provided by the Town of Caledon. 11 Su Murdoch, Heritage Designation Report, St. James, Caledon East, Anglican Cemetery, Innis Lake Road, Town of Caledon, Ontario, October Su Murdoch, Heritage Designation Report, St. James, Caledon East, Anglican Cemetery, Innis Lake Road, Town of Caledon, Ontario, October In 1978, the Town of Caledon was given three photographs identified as Wilson's Cemetery, Lot 21, Con. 2 S Albion, Unger Farm - 20 Sideroad N. Three stones are shown; only one is legible. Accompanying the photographs is a document stating: On the farm presently owned by David Unger, is a small family plot containing one tombstone bearing the names of four children: Emily Nov 1843 age 3, James Nov age 6 yrs, John Nov age 2 yrs, Edward The cemetery location is the east half of Lot 21. These may be children of James and Elizabeth Wilson. This is a photocopy submitted by Margaret Richardson of what may be a page from either a Tweedsmuir History or the Ontario Genealogical Society cemetery transcription. SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE

36 13 This age does not correspond to an 1809 or 1810 birthdate. Unexplained contradictions in reported ages and country of birth are common in census enumerations. 14 This was the only Church of England notation found in the 1851 census enumeration for Albion Township. There is no 1851 agricultural census for Albion to confirm the location of the James Wilson property but in 1861 he owned Lot 21, Concession 2, and other property. 15 Perkins Bull property file. 16 There is no definitive proof that other buildings did not exist on these lots. Some lots on this 1859 map have names and are known to have buildings that are not depicted. 17 Instrument No. 7758, Peel Region Land Registry Office 18 Nancy A. is not listed in the genealogy as a daughter. This might be Ann. 19 Of note is that the copy of the 1861 agricultural census for District 2, Albion, appears to be missing in the online Ancestry.ca database. 20 Wilson and Bracken Family History. 21 The McAulay/Smith Family Journal: Index of Individuals. 22 The first page of this Instrument is not on microfilm at the Peel Region Land Registry Office. 23 Sally Drummond, Heritage Resource Officer, Town of Caledon, reported in May 2013 that I ve checked with our Building Section, and there are no building permits on record for this property and apparently 6660 Old Church isn t considered a valid address in our property database system. SU MURDOCH HISTORICAL CONSULTING JUNE