IN THE MATTER OF THE ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT, R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER 0.18 AND IN THE MATTER OF THE LANDS AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATION IN THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake intends to designate the property at 18 WILBERFORCE AVENUE (PLAN 73A LOT 186) as a property of cultural heritage value or interest under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter 0.18.
Description of Property
The subject property is located at 18 Wilberforce Avenue. It is located in the Old Town urban area. The subject property is located within the area that was designed and developed as the Canadian Chautauqua. The design consists of a spoke and wheel pattern with streets radiating from a central point. The residence has a moderate setback from the road.
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
The property known at 18 Wilberforce Avenue has cultural heritage value or interest for its design and physical values, its historical and associative values and its contextual values.
The residence at 18 Wilberforce Avenue is a representative example of the Queen Anne Revival style and was constructed in 1894. The two-storey residential building comprises of a rectangular plan, featuring an asymmetrical façade and irregular elevations with a two-storey rectangular bay window projection on the façade and a polygonal bay window at the rear. The structure is clad in wooden shiplap and a variety of decorative wooden shingles that includes fish scale pattern, straight edge squared shingles and staggered squared shingles. The Queen Anne Revival structure also features a complex roofline comprising of a combination of gable, hip and polygonal roof and multiple types of dormers, including triangular, gable, shed and polygonal dormer. The window openings in the subject property range from rectangular vertical openings to rectangular bay windows with flat moulded wooden trims on the outside of the wooden frame and wooden sill and apron details. The rectangular bay windows feature wooden panelled trims with round and segmentally arched openings. The other wooden architectural details include moulded cornice, moulded brackets and moulded fascia in the overhanging eaves. 18 Wilberforce Avenue also displays a high degree of artistic value through the use of unique materials including wooden shiplap and decorative shingles. The various types of decorative shingles used throughout the residence blend seamlessly with the design of the residence. The usage of multiple types of shingles is unique and playful to the residence and the context.
18 Wilberforce Avenue has historical value as being associated with Crookston that belonged to William and James Crooks. The brothers worked as merchants, farmers and also built ships. The subject property is also associated with the formation of the Canadian Chautauqua in Niagara by Robert Warren, who was a postmaster for Niagara, a business owner, a volunteer firefighter, a noted fruit grower, and a proud member of the Methodist church. The property has the potential to yield information that contributes to the understanding of the Chautauqua movement. It also has the potential to yield information about the design principles that went into designing the Chautauqua neighbourhood and the lifestyle and leisure activities of the people during that time period.
18 Wilberforce Avenue has contextual value because it is important in maintaining the character of the area. The playful Queen Anne Revival style of the subject property reflects the impact of the Chautauqua movement on the design of the cottages in the region. This is also reflected through the other dramatic residence styles found on Wilberforce Avenue. The subject property acts as a character supporting resource for the diminishing structures reflective of the Chautauqua. 18 Wilberforce Avenue has contextual value because it is physically linked to its surroundings. Physically, the property at 18 Wilberforce Avenue is located on Lot 186 in the Chautauqua neighbourhood. It maintains the original demarcation of the Lot and is a part of the radial design of the neighbourhood.
Description of Key Heritage Attributes
Key exterior attributes that embody the heritage value of 18 Wilberforce Avenue in Niagara-on-the-Lake include its:
Objections
Any objection to this designation must be filled no later than 30 days after the date of publication of the Notice of Intent to Designate. Objections should be directed to Grant Bivol, Town Clerk, 1593 Four Mile Creek Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake, L0S 1T0. The last date to file a notice of objection is December 20th 2024.
Queries
Any further queries should be directed to Sumra Zia, Heritage Planner at (905) 468-3266 ext. 327 or through email at [email protected].
Dated at the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake this 20th day of November 2024
GRANT BIVOL, CLERK
