Four more properties ‘safe’ with heritage designation as provincial deadline looms

A group photo on the steps of Shire Hall after the heritage designation presentation included Ernie Margetson, Heritage Designation Working Group member, Dale Hughes (Church House), Janice Gibbins (working group member), Mayor Steve Ferguson, Sandy Latchford (Built and Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee member), Councillor John Hirsch (working group member), Kerry-Lynn Aulthouse, Rahno Boutilier and Seaguinn Boutilier (Clapp House).

Municipalities across the province are rushing to get heritage homes designated as they face a tight provincial deadline that will see properties dropped from non-designated lists.

Tuesday, the County honoured four property owners who voluntarily chose to designate their historically significant properties under the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA).

That leaves more than 200 properties that are considered to have enough historical interest to be worthy of designation, but need their owners to engage before they are removed from the list at year-end – making them vulnerable to demolition should someone choose to do so.

In passing Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act in 2022, the provincial government has given municipalities until the end of this year to finalize which properties will get higher protection under the OHA. Those that do not can be demolished without question under the new legislation. Further, those who don’t meet the year-end deadline are prohibited from being re-listed for five years, and are expected to be faced with a more difficult designation criteria.

The County has 95 properties with full heritage designation, which, among other things, requires owners to notify the municipality if they ever have intentions to demolish them.

Mayor Steve Ferguson presented two of four property owners with official heritage designation certificates at Shire Hall Tuesday, April 30.

“They are to be commended for recognizing the value in preserving these assets for future generations and taking the necessary steps to make sure that happens,” he said.

Rahno Boutilier designated the Joseph Clapp House 1840, located at 1327 Royal Road, while Dale Hughes designated the Church House 1838, located at 1676 County Road 13.

County council had approved designation of four properties earlier this year; the other two being the Cooper House, at 89 Colliers Road, and the Welbanks House, at 1972 County Road 13.

Designation is not meant to prevent change; rather, to help manage change of important buildings and landscapes, to protect character and uniqueness of a place.

Each individual heritage property has a designation bylaw that identifies the property’s heritage features. In most cases, the features are limited to the exterior of the building. Owners of heritage properties need a heritage permit before making changes to these heritage features.

These four properties were the first to come forward as part of the County’s Heritage Designation Project.  The Heritage Designation Working Group has sent correspondence to all owners of listed properties asking if they would be interested in participating in the designation process. The group will host a second information session for property owners Saturday, May 25 from 2-4 pm at the Macaulay Museum (23 Church Street, Picton). The working group members include South Marysburgh Councillor John Hirsch, Michael Miller, Lorri Busch, Ernest Margetson, Graeme Phillips, Janice Gibbins, Ken Dewar, Liz Driver and Maria DiMauro.

Listing differs from designation in the following ways:
– Designated properties have a heritage designation bylaw registered on title.
– Designated properties require a permit prior to work that may alter their appearance.
– Council can control the demolition of a designated heritage property. Listed properties are only subject to a 60-day notice of demolition.

Click here to see the County’s non-designated “Heritage Inventory Listing”

Click here to see the County’s Heritage Registry of Designated Properties

About the four properties just designated:

1676 County Road 13 – Church House
Church House is located west of County Road 13, approximately three kilometres south of the hamlet for Black River. The property has been identified as a cultural heritage asset based on its physical, historical and contextual value. The property is developed with a Loyalist-style dwelling and exhibits a simple design with a low-pitched roof. The property was owned by Oliver Church, a farmer and hotel keeper until his death, when it was inherited by his sons.

89 Colliers Road – Cooper House
Cooper House is located at the end of Colliers Road, along the shoreline of South Bay. The property features a one-and-a-half storey brick dwelling with a wide central entrance and transom, exhibiting a style that was popular in the County during the 1860s. The property is also developed with a woodshed and summer kitchen which are attached to the dwelling. The property was developed by James and William Cooper, both traders that used the property as a port.

1327 Royal Road – Joseph Clapp House
Joseph Clapp House is located along Royal Road, approximately two kilometres south of Milford, and is located in proximity to numerous historical buildings along Royal Road including the cheese factory. The property is developed with a wood clad farmhouse and driveshed, these having been constructed by the son of Joseph Clapp who constructed the first mill in Milford.

1972 County Road 13 – Welbanks House
Welbanks House is located to the west of County Road 13, approximately 4.2 kilometres from the hamlet of Black River. The property features a dwelling as well as numerous barns and other agricultural buildings. The dwelling was constructed in stages, portions of which were constructed circa 1824, 1850 and 1880. A large Italianate addition constructed in 1880 constitutes the majority of the dwelling’s floor area. The Italianate addition includes an entrance bay with twin verandahs on either side, a feature that is common in various areas of the County. The original dwelling was constructed by Thomas Welbanks, a member of the United Empire Loyalists with the Italianate addition having been constructed by Thomas Welbanks Jr., the son of Thomas Welbanks.