appendix a: draft statement of significance · appendix a: draft statement of significance address:...

REPORT NO. PB-70-15

APPENDIX A: DRAFT STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Address: 1018 Greenwood Drive

Common Name: "Fairview” - The McMillan Farmhouse

Legal Description: PLAN 97 PT LOT 4 RP 20R-18885 PART 2

INTRODUCTION AND DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY

“Fairview” – The McMillan Farmhouse, located at 1018 Greenwood Drive, is situated on

the south side of Greenwood Drive and east side of Francis Road and is surrounded by

the “Greenwood Cemetery” in Burlington. The property contains a two-and-a-half storey

red brick house with a one storey red brick rear wing, constructed between 1906 and

1907.

Location Map:

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Aerial Photo (2013):

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Photographs:

Image 1: Façade (North Elevation) (Nov. 2014)

Image 2: Façade and West Elevation (Nov. 2014)

Image 3: West Elevation (Aug. 21, 2015)

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Image 4: Stained Glass Window on West Elevation (Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 5: Fieldstone Foundation (Aug.21, 2015)

Image 6: Repurposed Stained Glass Window Panel on Entrance Door (Aug. 21, 2015)

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Image 7: South Elevation (Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 7: South and East Elevations (Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 8: East Elevation (Aug. 21, 2015)

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STATEMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE VALUE / INTEREST

Physical / Design Value

Fairview – The McMillan Farmhouse is a good representation of an Edwardian style

house. Edwardian style is a simple, classical and balanced style; a transition from

ornate Queen Anne to the later more simple 20th century style; and was popular in

Ontario from 1900 to 1920. This house exhibits elements typical to Edwardian style

including: a two-and-half storey brick construction with a hip roof, brick voussoirs,

rectangular massing, and the balanced location of doors and windows.

The hip roof is broken by an offset pedimented gable with a small window. The two bay

façade is asymmetrical with projecting frontispiece topped by the pediment gable, under

which is a window in the second storey. A flat roof tops the front addition (which

encloses the original porch) continues around and along the entire width of the east

elevation, adorned with a simple balustrade. The east elevation has two window

openings on the second floor that are offset toward the rear of the building. The first

floor of the east elevation now has an entrance door, where the small window opening

that originally housed the stained glass panel once was. Two brick chimneys are extant,

one at the west, flanked by two small windows that contain stained glass; and one on

the south elevation. The west elevation has a large first storey bay window with a hip

roof. The rear of the building has a one storey red brick wing with a hip roof.

Historical / Associative Value

The McMillan Farmhouse is associated with George Blair, a notable local builder. The

house was built between 1906 and 1907 by George Blair for John Alexander McMillan.

Blair was a Master Builder who constructed a number of residential homes in downtown

Burlington.

The property and farmhouse are also associated with the McMillan Family, prominent

market gardeners. The McMillan Family has owned the property for over 100 years.

John McMillan purchased the 20 acre property on January 11, 1900. The McMillan

Family was prominent fruit and vegetable growers in Burlington. Alexander McMillan,

John's father, was a market gardener who purchased 10 acres of land in Brant's Block

on King Road (later Sand Road, now Greenwood Drive) in 1874. In 1906 Alexander,

along with his sons John and Frank, collectively held 45 acres of land for their

enterprise. Burlington at this time was known as the “Garden of Canada” for its fertile

land and warm climate, which is optimal for growing fruits and vegetables. Aside from

the optimal climate and soil for growing fruits and vegetables, market gardening was

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possible due to the large amount of land that the typical farmer had, as well as access

to rail that allowed them to easily transport their products outside of Burlington. Produce

was generally sold to wholesalers or shipped to Toronto during the growing season and

taken to the Hamilton Market during the fall harvest. John McMillan and his wife

Chrissie (Christianna) moved into 'Fairview' in 1908. The McMillan Family contributed to

grow their holdings, and by 1920 they gardened over 70 acres. John A. and Chrissie's

youngest son (John) Edgar McMillan received and acquired the bulk of Alexander's

estate following his death and continued in the family business of market gardening.

The property stayed in the family passing to (John) Edgar and his wife (Erie) Pauline,

who had a son Lorne John Grant McMillan in 1947. As the only child, Lorne received

the property following his father's (John E. McMillan) death in 1984 (his mother Pauline

died in 1991), and remains living there today. Although the agricultural land around the

property has been donated to the Greenwood cemetery, the house stands as a

reminder of the Market Garden industry in Burlington.

Contextual Value

The “Fairview” farmhouse is located west of the oldest section of the “Greenwood

Cemetery”. Initially James C. Filman (previous property owner) sold eight acres of land

to The Greenwood Cemetery Company in 1888. Many members of the McMillan Family

are buried in the “Greenwood Cemetery” including Alexander and Charlotte, John and

Chrissie, and Edgar and Pauline. Lorne McMillan donated approximately two acres of

his property to The City of Burlington for use by the Greenwood Cemetery in 2011.

Lorne retains approximately ¾ of an acre of the property which includes the “Fairview”.

Cultural Heritage Attributes

Contextual relationship of the property and the farmhouse to the neighbourhood and

the “Greenwood Cemetery”;

Historical relationship of the property and the farmhouse to the master builder

George Blair and the McMillan Family;

Two-and-a-half storey structure with a one storey rear wing, both with red brick

exterior and hip roof;

Hip roof (main structure) broken by an offset projecting pedimented gable with a

small window;

Asymmetrical two-bay façade with projecting frontispiece with double window

openings, under the pedimented gable;

Original stained glass panel on the entrance door in the east elevation;

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Hip-roofed bay window on the west elevation with window openings on each of the

three sides;

Brick chimney flanked by two small stained glass windows on the west elevation;

Two window openings on the second storey of the east elevation;

All window openings on the red brick sections with brick voussoirs and stone sills;

Central brick chimney on the south elevation; and

Fieldstone foundation.

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Address: 2085 Caroline Street

Suggested Name: The Ellis Hughes Cleaver Jr. House

Legal Description: PLAN 99 PT LOT 89 PLAN 223 LOT 2


The Ellis Hughes Cleaver Jr. House, located at 2085 Caroline Street, is situated on the

northeast corner of Caroline and Emerald Streets. The property consists of a two storey

red brick residence, constructed in 1924.

Location Map:

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Photographs:

Image 9: Façade (South Elevation) (Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 10: Detail of Front Entranceway

(Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 11: Detail of Wide Eaves and Wood Soffit (Aug. 21, 2015)

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Image 12: Façade and East Elevation (Aug. 21, 2015)



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The Ellis Hughes Cleaver Jr. House is a good example of a two storey brick Georgian

Revival style house. Typical of this style: it has a hip roof, two chimneys at each end of

the roof, and a symmetrical three bay façade with central main entrance. The house

displays Arts and Crafts influences in its dark red brick colour, projecting hood with

radiating wooden beams in the gable located over the entrances (front and rear), and

wide tiled stairs leading to the main entrance. There is a horizontal band of projecting

bricks underneath the second storey windows that wraps around the entire building. All

the first storey window openings have brick voussoirs and brick sills. There is a one

storey dark red brick wing on the west elevation that has flat roof with very wide eaves

and a simple wrought iron railing.


The subject property is associated with Ellis Hughes Cleaver Jr., a prominent lawyer,

local businessman, developer, and politician. In 1893, the property was bought by Ellis

Hughes Cleaver Sr., who was a lawyer and father of E. H. Cleaver Jr. Ellis H. Cleaver

Sr. also served as a Reeve of the Town of Burlington. The property was granted to E. H.

Cleaver Jr. from his father (Ellis H.Cleaver Sr.) in 1922. The house on the property was

built in circa 1924 for E. H. Cleaver Jr. and his wife Ariel Shapland. They lived in a

smaller bungalow on 514 Pearl Street and moved to this grand house at first pinnacle of

Cleaver Jr.’s career. E. H. Cleaver Jr. was a lawyer and worked alongside his father, E.

H. Cleaver Sr. at the firm “Cleaver and Cleaver”. In 1918, Cleaver Jr. was Reeve for

Burlington, but he left the law practice and resigned as Reeve to enlist in the war effort

overseas. He enlisted as private in a tank battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary

Force. In 1920, Cleaver Jr. served as Mayor of Burlington.

Hughes Cleaver Jr. developed the neighbourhood where the subject house is situated.

His development plan for this area (Plan 134, Crescent Survey, 1911) that included

Emerald Street and its wide boulevards was the prototype of Rossmore Bulevard in

Roseland, his later development. In 1929, he partnered with English Inns Ltd. in the

building of the Pig & Whistle Inn (5527 Lakeshore Road) that was considered to be one

of Cleaver Jr.'s greatest ventures. Other business ventures by Cleaver Jr. included the

formation and operation of Bluebird Bus Lines (2015 Lakeshore Road), a fox farm on

Caroline Street, and a cure-all remedy called “radium water” which was said to have

been ended for one patient’s troubles altogether.

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The Cleaver Family only lived in the subject property for five years. In 1929, stock

market crash left Cleave Jr. financially devastated. At this time, he sold the property to

his father Ellis H. Cleaver Sr. The property was subsequently sold to Edward and

Gertrude Dickson in 1932. Cleaver Jr. was also disbarred by the Law Society for misuse

of clients’ funds. Even after this occurrence, he was still nominated and elected as an

MP. He was an MP for Halton from 1935 to1953. He repaid his creditors and was

reinstated by the Law Society in 1952. Following his reinstatement, Cleaver relinquished

his seat in Parliament to practice law.

Contextual Value

The Ellis Hughes Cleaver Jr. House is located on a prominent corner of Caroline and

Emerald Streets. The house makes a strong contribution to the varied heritage quality of

Caroline Street. The house is part of a neighbourhood of colonial revival buildings with

well-maintained boulevards and mature trees, developed by Cleaver Jr.


Contextual relationship of the house to the neighbourhood of colonial revival

buildings;

Historical relationship of the property and the house to the Cleaver Family;

Two storey wood-framed structure with dark red brick exterior;

Hip roof with very wide eaves and wood soffits;

Symmetrical three bay façade with central main entrance;

Projecting hood with radiating wooden beams in the gable over the main / front

entranceway;

Wide, tiled steps leading to front entrance;

Horizontal band of projecting bricks, underneath the second storey windows,

wraps around the entire building;

Multi-panned window openings;

All first storey window openings with brick voussoirs and brick sills;

Two-bay east and west elevations feature a brick chimney on each;

One storey dark red brick wing with flat roof and very wide eaves, and a simple

wrought iron railing on the west elevation;

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Projecting hood with radiating wooden beams in the gable over the rear

entranceway; and

One centrally located window on the second storey of the rear elevation.

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Address: 6201 Walkers Line

Suggested Name: “The John Readhead Senior House”

Legal Description: Concession 5 NS Part Lot 7 RP 20R-7789 Part 1 & 2


The John Readhead Senior House, located at 6201 Walker’s Line, is situated on the

east side of Walker’s Line and north side of Britannia Road in Burlington. The property

consists of a red brick residence, constructed in 1894.

Location Map:

REPORT NO. PB-70-15


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Photographs:

Image 14: Façade (West Elevation) (Nov. 6, 2014)

Image 15: Detail of Steeply Pitched Gable on Façade;

(Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 3 & 4: Detail of Window: Brick Voussoirs and Wood surrounds with diamond and fine vine motif (Aug. 21, 2015)

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Image 16: Façade and South Elevation (Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 6: Detail of South Elevation

(Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 7: Detail of Foundation of Addition on South Elevation (Aug. 21, 2015)

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Image 8: Rear (East Elevation) (Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 917: Detail of North Elevation (Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 18: Detail of North Elevation (Aug. 21, 2015)

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The John Readhead Senior House is a very good example of a Victorian vernacular

farmhouse. This two storey red brick structure has an “L-shaped” floor plan with a two

storey red brick rear wing. The façade has a low-pitched gable and a steeply-pitched

gable. Most of the window openings are segmentally arched with brick voussoirs, wood

surrounds, and sills. The steeply pitched gable features an arched window opening with

brick voussoirs, wooden hoodmould, and sill. The south elevation has a projecting

rectangular bay window with brackets, and window openings on each of the three sides.

The house shows a high degree of craftsmanship that can be seen in the bargeboard

with a pattern of lines and circles in the low-pitched gable on the façade and south

elevation, the intricate relief bargeboard with a sunburst pattern in the steeply-pitched

gable, and the wooden window surrounds with diamond and fine vine motif. The house

is constructed with stone foundation that punctuated by segmentally arched basement

windows on the north and south elevations.


The John Readhead Senior House is associated with the prominent local Readhead

Family. In 1881, the subject property was purchased by John Readhead Sr. from John

Mathieson and his wife (who had purchased it from John J.C. McGregor). The house

was built shortly after in 1894. John Readhead Sr. settled in the Township of Nelson in

1868. He was a farmer, and also worked in the lumber trade. Most notably, he owned

the Lowville sawmill that burned in 1890, but was rebuilt. John Readhead Sr. was very

active in the community; he was a member of the Nelson Township Council from 1879

to1882, and the secretary / treasurer for S.S. #9 – Lowville School for 21 years. In 1902,

Readhead Sr. sold the property to his eldest son Charles. However, Charles likely did

not live here as he farmed the adjacent property. Charles, like his father, was involved

in municipal politics as a Township Councillor for 16 years (2 years of which were spent

as Deputy Reeve, 6 years as Reeve, and 8 years as County Councillor) and was

elected Halton County Warden in 1917. Charles was also active with the Nelson School

Board for 14 years prior to the amalgamation of the Nelson and Burlington school

boards.

Contextual Value

The John Readhead Senior House is a farmhouse on a large property. This property

contributes to the rural and scenic character of Walker’s Line. The property is

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historically linked to its surroundings as the nearby 6059 Walkers Line was also owned

by the Readhead Family.


Contextual relationship of the property and the farmhouse to the surroundings

and in the rural and scenic character of Walker’s line;

Historical relationship of the property and the farmhouse to the Readhead

Family;

Two storey red brick structure;

“L-shaped” floor plan with a two storey red brick rear wing;

Façade features a low-pitched gable and a steeply-pitched gable;

Low-pitched gable with bargeboard of a pattern of lines and circles;

Steeply-pitched gable with intricate relief bargeboard of a sunburst pattern;

Three segmentally arched window openings (two on the first storey and one on

the second storey) on façade with brick voussoirs and sills, under the low-pitched

gable;

An arched window opening with brick voussoirs, a wooden hoodmould, and sill

under the steeply-pitched gable;

South elevation gable-end with bargeboard of a pattern of lines and circles;

Two segmentally arched window openings with brick voussoirs, and sills on the

second storey of the south elevation;

Projecting rectangular bay on the south elevation features roof brackets, and

window openings on each of the three sides;

Two segmentally arched window openings with brick voussoirs, and sills on the

north elevation;

Red brick rear wing: East elevation - A segmentally arched window opening with

brick voussoirs, and sill on the second storey;

All segmentally arched window openings display wood surrounds that feature

diamond and fine vine motif at the top (except second storey window openings of

east and north elevations of the red brick rear wing, and west elevation of the

main structure);

Stone foundation;

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Two segmentally arched basement window openings with brick voussoirs in the

foundation of the north elevation; and

A basement window opening with brick voussoir in the foundation of the south

elevation.

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Address: 1375 Ontario Street

Common Name: The Gingerbread House

Legal Description: Plan 90, Lots 11, 12, and Part Lot 13


The Gingerbread House, located at 1375 Ontario Street, is situated at the northeast

corner of Hager Avenue and Ontario Street in Burlington. The property consists of a

two-and-a-half storey residence, constructed in 1893.

Location Map:

REPORT NO. PB-70-15


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Photographs:

Image 19: Façade (South Elevation) (Nov. 21, 2014)

Image 20: Detail of Gable and Chimney on Façade (Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 21: Detail of Porch (Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 22: Detail of Porch Pediment (Aug. 21, 2015)

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Image 5: Detail of Southeast Elevation (Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 6: Southeast Elevation (Nov. 21, 2014)

Image 7 (left): Detail of Window with Stained Glass & Decorative Wood Cladding on East Elevation (Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 8 (right): Detail of Bay Window with Stained Glass & Decorative Wood Cladding on East Elevation (Aug. 21, 2015)

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Image 23: Detail of Bay Window with Stained Glass & Decorative Wood Cladding on East Elevation (Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 10: Detail of Entrance Door on Façade (Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 11: West Elevation (Nov. 21, 2014)

Image 12: North and West Elevations (Nov. 21, 2014)

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Image 24: Carriage House (new) (Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 14: Detail of Decorative Wood Cladding on Nortn Elevation (Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 15: Detail of Decorative Wood Cladding on North Elevation (Aug. 21, 2015)

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The Gingerbread House is an extravagant example of the Queen Anne style. Typical of

the Queen Anne style is the complex roofline with dominant gable on the façade,

spindle work, various decorative details including the eaves brackets, cornices,

decorative bargeboard along the gables, and the various contrasting mouldings

throughout the building’s exterior.

The house demonstrates the Coleman Brothers’ building techniques. Typical of the

techniques are the exuberant display of carpentry and decoration skills. The house’s

complexity is pulled together by a variety of decorative wood cladding found in bands

that continue around the entire house including: Board and Batten, fish scale shingles,

square cut shingles, horizontal panels with four rows of beads, and vertical alternating

plain and beaded panels. Stained glass windows also add to the building’s grandeur,

these have a brightly coloured rectangular glass border along the top and sides of the

upper sash. Other stained glass windows on the building are found in the bay windows

and feature complex flower pattern in the centre and leaf patterns on either side.

Although the diversity and variety of details is the predominant characteristic of the

house, there are some individual features of note. These features include: the chimney

with first storey arched stained glass window with brick voussoirs and wood surround

and sill set into the chimney; elaborate entablature with moulded cornice, fan motif

frieze which also has alternating large then small brackets, and projecting architrave;

and the pedimented gable over the verandah with medallion motif made of individual

turned posts, wooden balls, dentils; and the verandah itself that features dentils under

the roofline and scroll work brackets and turned post balustrades.

The Gingerbread House has been added to over time, but the additions have stayed

true to the characteristic over-the-top woodwork and details. The major addition is the L-

shaped rear addition that displays the bands of decorative wood cladding and elaborate

entablature under the roofline. Another addition of note is the details of the Carriage

House. An early drawing shows the carriage house was a plain gable roof structure with

Board and Batten exterior, which now has extensive wood details including a finial,

bargeboard in the gable, extended roofline with a quarter sunburst pattern, shingle

siding, and a balcony supported by a large bracket.

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The Gingerbread House is associated with Alfred Brigham (A.B.) Coleman, a well-

known builder not just in Burlington but also in Ontario. The Coleman brothers were

major builders in the Town of Burlington from 1890-1900. The Coleman Brothers

worked together on many homes as speculative project. A.B. Coleman purchased the

Brant House property and established the Brant Hotel in 1900. He is also notable for his

construction of buildings at the Canadian National Exhibition, Shea’s Hippodrome,

Convocation Hall at University of Toronto, Westminster Hospital in London, and some

buildings at the Fort Erie Racetrack. He later returned to Burlington to develop Indian

Point as an up-scale vacation destination. A.B. Coleman’s brother, C.F. Coleman, was a

painter and a decorator; and his other brother James was a carpenter. C.F. Coleman

took mortgages to build houses on two lots at 447 and 451 Nelson Avenue and on

Ontario Street, where the other two identical houses are located (1286 and 1290). All

four identical houses and one very similar house at 1280 Ontario Street were built by

the Coleman Brothers in 1894 or 1895. A.B. Coleman built his own house at 479 Nelson

Avenue (designated in 1982) and the Gingerbread House at 1375 Ontario Street.

Upon its completion, A.B. Coleman sold the house to Dr. George Metherell in 1899. Dr.

George Metherell moved to Burlington from Hamilton, where he had been practicing

medicine. The Gingerbread House functioned as both Dr. Metherell's residence and

office, a common practice for the time. Dr. Metherell also made house calls to local

residents using a buggy he kept in the carriage house.

Contextual Value

The Gingerbread House is located on a prominent corner of Ontario Street and Hager

Avenue. The elaborate architecture of the subject house makes it one of the

Burlington’s best-known landmarks.


Contextual relationship of the house to the neighbourhood and Ontario Street for

its elaborate architecture;

Historical relationship of the house to the well-known builder, Alfred Brigham

(A.B.) Coleman, in Ontario;

Two-and-a-half storey frame structure;

Variety of decorative wood cladding in bands that continue around the entire

house as well as in the pedimented gable include: Board and Batten, fish scale

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shingles, horizontal panels with four rows of beads, and vertical alternating plain

and beaded panels;

Roof with original cedar shingles;

Original stone foundation except porch; and

Overall massing of the building:

Façade (South Elevation):

Asymmetrical façade with one large pedimented gable broken by another offset

smaller pedimented gable that tops a two-storey semi-octagonal bay;

The bay features a corbelled red-brick chimney on façade that runs up the middle

and through the smaller pedimented gable that features scroll-like bargeboard:

- Gable is supported by brackets fashioned from turned spindles with a flower

motif that project over the second floor windows;

- Elaborate entablature with moulded cornice, fan motif frieze, and projecting

architrave around the entirety of the exterior below the roofline;

- Chimney is flanked by quarter-pie stained glass windows in the gable;

- Second storey of the bay features two sash windows with the original stained

glass upper sash topped by two wooden decorative semi-circular fan motifs;

- An arched stained glass window with brick voussoirs and wood surround and

wood sill set into the chimney on the first storey and is flanked by sash

windows with the original stained glass upper sash.

The large pedimented gable features bell-cast eave at one side, bargeboard,

decorative shingle cladding, and three stepped windows with wood surrounds

and decorative sills:

- Elaborate entablature with moulded cornice, fan motif frieze, and projecting

architrave; and between each fan is a bracket;

- Second storey façade features with a semi-circular stained glass window with

a projecting wooden hoodmould and decorative wood sill; and

- Second storey varandah that runs from the façade along the west elevation wrap around the porch; and is supported by turned posts and abacus detailing at the roof line.

The façade also features a verandah with a pedimented gable in the first storey:

- Pedimented gable features an elaborate medallion motif made of individual

turned posts, wooden balls, and dentils;

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- Verandah features dentils under the roofline, scroll work brackets, turned

posts under the frieze, and turned post balustrades;

- Single entrance door at the end of the long porch features a rectangular stain

glass transom with wood surround; and

- A rectangular window opening on the first storey façade between the bay and

the front porch.

East Elevation:

Roof line highlights by an elaborate entablature with moulded cornice, fan motif

frieze with alternating large then small brackets, and projecting architrave that

continues around the exterior of the entire house;

Small pedimented gable (centrally located in the original house roof) features

decorative bargeboard, and semi-circular multi-paned sash window opening with

wooden muntins and decorative wooden sill;

Under the gable, a two-and-a-half storey bay features a large central window on

each storey:

- Both windows, on each storey, feature a brightly coloured rectangular glass

border along the top and sides of the upper sash; and

- Second storey window with a stained glass transom and the glass panel

features a border of brightly coloured rectangular and square panes.

West Elevation:

Roof line highlights by an elaborate entablature with moulded cornice, fan motif

frieze with alternating large then small brackets, and projecting architrave that

continues around the exterior of the entire house;

Large pedimented gable (centrally located in the original house roof) features a

balcony trellis enclosure with a large semi-circular opening and turned post

balustrade, supported by beaded wood brackets; and

Two storey square bay, centred under the gable, is identical to the square bay of

the east elevation.

REPORT NO. PB-70-15

Address: 1172 Britannia Road (Previous Address: 1040 Britannia Road)

Common Name: Bethel Chapel

Legal Description: CON 1 NS PT LOT 5 RP 20R-17117 PART 1


The Bethel Chapel, located at 1172 Britannia Road, is situated on the south side of

Britannia Road and east side of Milburough Line in Burlington. The property consists of

a pioneer cemetery and a one-storey wood clading church, constructed in 1853.

Location Map:

REPORT NO. PB-70-15


REPORT NO. PB-70-15

Photographs:

Image 25: Façade (North Elevation) of “Bethel Chapel” (Aug. 21, 2015)

Image 26: "Bethel Chapel C.W.N.C. [Canadian Weslyan New Connection]

A.D. 1853 (Aug. 21, 2015)


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Image 4: Façade and West Elevation (Aug. 21, 2015)


Image 6: South (Rear) Elevation (August 21, 2015)

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Image 27: The Bethel Church surrounded by the Bethel Chapel Cemetery (August 21, 2015)

Image 28: 25/20 Window Details (Aug. 21, 2015)



The Bethel Chapel is an excellent example of a simple rural church with classical

detailing. The one-storey wood frame structure has clapboard siding and a symmetrical

façade with central main entrance. The wooden double leaf entrance doors and

projecting cornice over the entranceway create a focal point on the façade. A hand

forged key is still used to open the door. The gable roof with plain boxed cornice, plain

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projecting verges and return eaves on the façade and the rear elevation add a simple

elegance to the building. The Bethel Chapel displays exceptional craftsmanship through

its impressive 25-over-20 windows. The church retains six of these windows; flanking

the entranceway on the façade, and the two on each of the east and west elevations.

These windows retain their wood surrounds and wood sills. The façade of the Bethel

Chapel clearly captured Robert Bateman’s attention, as he immortalized the Chapel

doors in a painting and stated “Bethel Chapel has the economy and simplicity of the

pioneer spirit, but the finish of the molding and the care in the detail show the respect

for quality of work found in our forefathers”.

The Bethel Chapel interior also retains several original features including original

woodstove, though not in operation, remains in at one of the corners. The original wood

pews, at one time removed, were refinished and returned to the church in the

1930s.The original gated pulpit, a typical feature of early churches, remains inside the

church.

The church is surrounded by the “Bethel Chapel Cemetery” to the east, west, and rear

sides. The pioneer cemetery has approximately 73 graves with the oldest gravestones

located to the west of the church. The gravestones’ surviving inscriptions commemorate

pioneers. The cemetery features gravestones and monuments in range of sizes and

materials that display intricate designs including lambs, doves, urns-of-life, hands point

heavenward and weeping willows. The cemetery remains open to burials.


The Bethel Chapel is associated with the Prudham Family, who donated the land for the

construction of the church and an associated cemetery. John Prudham settled the

property in 1844. Methodists of the area met for worship in the Prudham’s log home

prior to the construction of the church. The earliest interment is of Jonathan Dawson

(1764 - Aug 14, 1845), which indicates that there were likely burials present before the

land was donated and prior to church construction, common practice seen throughout

pioneer cemeteries across Ontario. In 1853, John and his wife Elizabeth Prudham

donated half an acre of land for construction of the church and an associated cemetery.

The church was erected in 1853, constructed by Thomas LeMessurier - a fine carpenter

from Carlisle, Ontario. Notably, William Bousfield provided split timbers and shingles

from his mill at Tally Ho (formerly located west of the Cedar Springs Road).

REPORT NO. PB-70-15

The Bethel Chapel opened in 1853 as a Canadian Weslyan New Connexion Church.

Parishioners attended the chapel for services until 1874 when the congregation merged

with the Ebenezer Church on Guelph Line. Following the merger of the two

congregations, the Bethel Chapel experienced a period of abandonment. Though the

Bethel Chapel was closed in 1874, the cemetery continued to accept interments.

Pioneer families buried here including Prudham, Pegg, Coulson, Coverdale, Nicholson,

Heatherington, Foster, and Peer. In 1930, yearly memorial services were reinstated on

the first Sunday in September by the newly formed Board of Trustees. These services

continue today. The original Board of Trustees included Charles Prudham (son of John),

Elmer Foster, A.J. Harris, George Coverdale, and William Vollick, and many of these

families continue to serve on the board and maintain the property.

Contextual Value

The Bethel Chapel contributes to the rural landscape of Britannia Road. The church is

close to the road and coupled with simple yet stunning architecture that makes it a

landmark along Britannia Road. The church is located on the land donated by the

Prudham Family, close to the house of the Prudham Family as well as near the early

farmsteads of many of the pioneers buried here.


Contextual relationship of the church to rural landscape of Britannia Road and

the “Bethel Chapel Cemetery”;

Historical relationship of the property to the Prudham Family;

One-storey wood-framed structure with clapboard siding;

Symmetrical façade with central main entrance flanked by two windows;

Two-bay east and west elevations with two windows on each;

Six original 25-over-20 panned windows (on façade, east and west elevations);

Windows with wood surrounds and wood sills;

Entrance with wooden double leaf doors;

Projecting cornice over the entranceway;

Original hand forged key for entrance door;

Gable roof with plain boxed cornice, plain projecting verges and return eaves on

the façade and rear elevation;

REPORT NO. PB-70-15

Façade retains plaque that depicts “Bethel Chapel C.W.N.C., A.D. 1853”;

Original interior wooden pews, pulpit with fence, pine floor, and wood stove;

Original gravestones and monuments including their range of sizes and

materials;

Gravestones with surviving inscriptions that commemorate pioneers; and

Gravestones with intricate design that includs lambs, doves, urns-of-life, hands

pointing heavenward, and weeping willows.

appendix a: draft statement of significance · appendix a: draft statement of significance address:...

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