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The Monica Cook Estate, Pickering
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Site History
The subject property is part of lot 23 BFC (broken front concession) Range III,
Pickering township. It was patented from the Crown in 1796 by Captain George Hill.
In October 1834Isabella IIill, presumably the widow of George, sold the whole lot
to David Gardiner (Gardner/ Gardener/ Gardenier).'
In 1846, David Gardiner mortgaged 50 acres for £50. Ile died about 1848 and
his son, Richard Gardiner, "Ileir-at-law," settled the estate. Richard divided the
Gardiner sold the most northerly 40 acres to William Proudfoot in 1836. This
later became the Paul Whitney (1840)/Robert Secker (1863) parcel.
In 1848, John Tool purchased 25 acres of the south half (excepting 4 village lots sold)
from the David Gardiner estate. (The "village lots" were created when the Plan of the
Village of Fairport was registered on October 6, 1848. The original village site is to
the south of the subject property.) Tool, sold in 1851 to John Palmer. In 1877,
Palmer's descendants had what remained of the parcel subdivided into Palmer's Plan
of Pickering Harbour.
In 1851, Richard Gardiner (David's executor) sold 26 acres of the north half to John
Tool. Tool purchased an additional 5 1/2 acres of the north half from Stephen
Gardiner in 1853.
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acreage into parcels between himself and presumably his brothers: Thomas G. (10
acres); William F. (apx. 11); Stephen C. (it 3/4); and James [J.] (17 1/4).
In 1850, Stephen C. Gardiner purchased the 17 1/4 acre parcel belonging to
James and secured a mortgage for £50 with the Peoples B [Building] Society. (Earlier
that year, "Thomas arranged a mortgage with The Home District B. [Building] Society.)
The 1851 assessment roll for Pickering township indicates that Stephen C. held
75 acres of lot 22 (to the east) valued at £520 and 25 acres of lot 23 (£200); Thomas
held 10 acres of 23 (£ 120); William 11 acres of 23 (£ 132); and Richard 26 acres of
23 (£260). The 1851 census places Stephen C., a farmer, in a one and a half storey
frame house (most likely on lot 22); William, a shoemaker, in a one storey log house;
Richard, a farmer, in a one storey log house; and James, a labourer, may have been
living with Thomas, a shoemaker, in a one storey log house.
Over the decade, the Gardiners divested themselves of a number of smaller
parcels to various owners.
The 1860 assessment roll lists Stephen on 75 acres of lot 22 valued at $1900
and 23 1/2 acres of lot 23 valued at $800.' The 1861 census identifies him on lot 22
valued at $4000 (market value), however, his frame 1 1/2 storey house was listed as
being vacant.
On the 1865 assessment roll, Stephen is assessed for 43 acres of lot 22 and 5
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acres of 23. Ile rented the balance of his combined acreage on lots 22 and 23 to
William Stoner.
The 1871 census totals Stephen's holdings at 100 acres, with 6 town/village
building lots and 3 dwelling houses. He is listed on a 5 1/2 parcel of BFC 23.
Stephen died about 1874, aged about 68.
Pickering historian, Dave O'Brien, identified the subject property on the 1877
Beers Illustrated Atlas of the County of Ontario, as a house on a 5 1/2 acre parcel
labelled "Mr. G.". A second house appears on the map to the northeast, on lot 22, and
is labelled "Mr. S. Gardiner. "z
In 1882, Stephen's widow, Sarah, sold part (which was possibly all of her
parcel) of lot 23 to a neighbour to the east (north part, lot 22), Weston Palmer.
Weston died in 1887. His son and executor, Charles Palmer, sold to Catherine
Remmer in 1896. It is likely that about 1915, Catherine's executors sold "about 18
acres" to William Sharpe. Sharpe sold to Douglas May Taylor in 1930 and Taylor to
Monica and Harry Thomas Cook in March 1945. The house was occupied by Monica
Cook until her death in 1993. ' •
z On the 1860 Tremaine map of Ontario County (attached), the entire apx. 25 acre
parcel is identified as "S. Gardner." It is unlikely that Tremaine would have marked
the names of the small parcel owners within the larger acreage.
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Analysis
Without a more detailed analysis of the registered documents for the subject
property (which time does not permit for this report), it is impossible to be conclusive
about the original owner, date of construction, or root of ownership of the .subject
property. The evidence is also complicated by the fact that there were a number of
houses on the parcel; a number of family members resided on the saute lot; and there
was frequent temporary parcelling of the acreage.
From the census records, it is evident that there were a number of houses
erected on lot 23 by the Gardiners. In spite of the availability of sawn lumber from
the numerous mills in the township, the earliest houses on the lot were of log
construction. The 1851 census indicates that there was an equal mix of log, log and
frame combinations, and frame construction in the area at that date. In frame, the 1
1 /2 storey form .seems to have been the most prevalent.
In 1871, Stephen Gardiner is listed with 3 houses, 6 building lots, and a total
of 100 acres spread across lots 22 and 23. If, as the Beer's Atlas indicates, the subject
property was the Stephen Gardiner parcel, theoretically he could have built his first
house where indicated by Beer's on lot 22. On the 1861 census that house is listed as
vacant and Gardiner is identified with the 5 1/2 acre parcel of lot 23. This may
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indicate that lie had built a house on his lot 23 parcel by 1861.
In 1850, Stephen purchased additional acreage in lot 23 and mortgaged for £50.
There is an increase in the assessed value for 17 acres of lot 23 at 1119 in 1853 to 23
1/2 acres at £253 in 1854. This could be an indication of construction in the 1852-53
period. Ile discharged the 1850 mortgage in 1856; re -mortgaged again in 1868 for
$250 and in 1871 for $50. The mortgages may or may not relate to building activity.
They also may reflect the construction of a first (log) and second (frame) house on the
lot 23 site.
In style, the house is in the Gothic Revival tradition with a centre gable, storey
and a half in size, and clad in board and batten. Tile style was popularized by
American architect, Andrew Downing, in his book, The Architecture of Country
Houses, published in 1850. The ornamental, moulded battens used on the subject
house are described by Downing as being "reserved for more important buildings."'
The style and other architectural features are in keeping with the 1850s, although they
continued in popularity for much of the second half of the nineteenth century and
could easily date much later.
' A.J. Downing, The Architecture of Country Houses, Dover reprint edition, 1969.
p.50.
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Summary
It is possible that this residence was constructed by Stephen Gardiner between
about 1852 and 1860. It may be the second house on the site (replacing or
incorporating a log structure). Further documentary research combined with the
analysis of the construction techniques should be undertaken to verify the most likely
date of construction and original owner. This preliminary report is not to be taken as
conclusive.
"Is this a Tuttker House?"
Background
The Pickering LACAC tradition that this is a "Tunker Mouse" may originate
with a member who recalls that about thirty years ago a similar house in Unionville
was given this attribution. The member is also aware that there are/were about six
other known examples of similar style and design in the Pickering area, including a
house from Markham township that is now at the local museum.
Locally, the millwork and floor plan is categorized as being "anywhere from
about 1840 to 1865." The subject property is described as having a floor plan of "2
up and 2 down, summer kitchen behind, low ceilings, horsehair plaster, lathe, 3x5s not
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a20, squared timbers, a unique relationship of the second floor and the line of the eave
meets lower than usual.i4
The Tunkers
The Tunker/Dunker sect was also known as the German Pietist Church of the
Brethren. They were of the Anabaptist theology and named Dunkers for their practice
of whole body baptismal immersion. They were of the Plain Folk group like Quakers,
the Society of Friends, and Mennonites and others for whom architecture and material
goods were/are simple in line and functional.' This philosophy is particularly evident
in their meeting houses which survive throughout southern Ontario. There is a Tunker
meeting house in Vaughan township on Bathurst Street, north of Highway 7.
The Plain Folk/Anabaptist tradition is within the German/English and
Pennsylvania to Upper Canada lineage. It peaked in numbers of followers in the first
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half of the nineteen century. By the third quarter of the century, it was in decline and
From a May 1995 conversation with Dennis Mann, P`ckering LACAC.
s Information provided by the Sharon Temple, John McIntyre (author of several
publications on the Anabaptist sects), and from Hallowed walls: church architecture
of Upper Canada by Marion MacRae and Anthony Adamson (1975).
' An article by Julia Beck and Alec Keefer entitled, Mennonite Two -Door Houses
of Rainham and South Cayuga Townships, Haldimand County explores one type of
their residential architecture.
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members had begun to join other congregations. Accordin to Leo Johnson in
many � lg Jg
his History of the County of Ontario, 7.1 percent of the population of Pickering
township in 1842 was Quaker. Baptist and Anabaptist comprised 4.1 %.
In the 1851 census for Pickering township there were Mennonites, Quakers,
and Friends listed in the vicinity of the subject property but the predominate religion
was Wesleyan Methodist. There does not seem to be any connection between the
Tunkers and the principals of the property or area residents. There is an association
between the Friends and Stephen Gardiner, as resident in his household were two
children, Ira Woodruff, aged ten, and Elizabeth Woodruff, aged six. These two were
the children of a neighbouring family who were of the Friends faith. The Gardiners
were Wesleyan Methodist, Ontario born, and of Welsh descent. Stephen's wife, Sarah,
was Wesleyan Methodist, Ontario born, and of German descent.
aDisciples of Christ
Another sect in the Pickering area was the Disciples of Christ. Followers,
known as Christians, considered themselves to be members of the "Christian Church."
They may have originated as the Bible Christian Church 11qunded in 1815 by William
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O'Brien' as a splinter group from the Wesleyans in England.
The Christians are not viewed historically as being members of the Plain Folk
' Information provided by Pickering historian, Dave O'Brien.
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group, that is, in the Quaker/ Mennonite/ Friends tradition; nor, are they connected
with the Tunkers, although by the 1860s members of the Tunker faith were being
absorbed into the Christian church. The Disciples of Christ peaked in popularity
during the 1870s. In 1884, many Christian congregations united with the Methodist
church. Two examples of Disciples of Christ churches are the Christian Baptist Church
in Newmarket and Victoria Hall in Aurora.
There is a strong association between the subject property and the Disciples of
Christ. In 1847, David Gardiner, who likely was Wesleyan Methodist, deeded a
portion of lot 23 to the Trustees of the Bible Christian Church for use as a church and
cemetery. The Christians eventually sold it to the Friends. "file church was demolished
in the 1980s and the site is now known as the Fairport United Church cemetery on
Liverpool Road South. There is also a Disciple's cemetery at Brock Road and
Highway 2 (where eighteen members of the Palmer family are buried).'
Analysis
The term Tunker does not seem to be well known by -the heritage community
a Dave O'Brien
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in Pickering.' There was a visible presence of Quakers or Friends in the area whose
building skills and craftsmanship may have influenced early construction. One
carpenter in the vicinity was a Quaker, John Fuller, who was aged 41 in 1851. There
were, however, a number of other carpenters available at the time. A neighbour to the
north and south of the subject property was John Tool, a Friend. .
There was a relatively large percentage of Disciples of Christ in the immediate
vicinity of the subject property throughout the entire period when it was likely
constructed. For example, Weston Palmer to the east was listed in 1851 as "no
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profession of faith," but in 1861 professed himself as a Disciple.
As stated, the Christians are not known to be of the Plain Folk tradition. The
influence of their religious profession on their architecture is believed to be minimal.
To further explore the potential Tunker attribution, the house identified in Unionville
as "Tunker" should be located and the attribution reviewed. A more detailed
comparison of the subject property with other known Tunker structures may support
the attribution. Based only on the archival research, there does.not seem to be a direct
association with the Tunkers.
01 ' Dave O'Brien and Dennis Mann concurred that the term "Tunker" is not well
known in the area.
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XComment
INThis comment is based on the research evidence only and without the benefit
of the architectural and structural assessment which was not available at the lime of
INcompiling this Report.
It is unlikely that there is a direct association of the subject property with the
Tunkers and therefore no argument for preservation on that basis can be made. From
casual observation, the
architecture of the house
is not extraordinary, although the
construction techniques
have yet to be analyzed.
It is believed that there were/are a
number of examples of this style and type in Pickering. The state of preservation of
these other examples is unknown.
The house does present a unique opportunity to illustrate various aspects of the
history of Pickering township. It is tangible evidence of the settlement experience of
the Gardiners and the creation of a rural community; the evolution of the village of
Fairport; and the development of Pickering Harbour — each of which are significant
aspects of Pickering's history. The site also provides the occasioty to commemorate the
achievements of the Cooks, particularly Monica Cook's work in developing
therapeutic techniques for developmentally challenged children.
Assuming that it has structural integrity, retaining the house and "telling its
story" through a commemorative plaque would be a creative way to preserve the
structure and interpret aspects of Pickering's heritage, as well as pay tribute to Monica
Cook. This is not to suggest that the structure should be preserved as a museum. It
would be advisable, however, to protect its architectural integrity through an easeiment
agreement with the 'Town of Pickering and/or through designation under Part IV of
the Ontario Heritage Act.
For both historic integrity and cost considerations, ideally the house should
remain on site and the access road to the proposed development be rerouted.
Alternatively, and depending on the structural condition, the feasibility of relocating
the main section of the house to one of the proposed building lots would be worth
investigating. The house could be sold/ or tenanted for occupancy under the conditions
set by the easement/designation agreement.
The house does provide a unique opportunity to utilize an existing heritage
resource to express the architectural and historical heritage of Pickering, as well as
acknowledge the achievement of a local resident, Monica Cook. Through creative
planning, the project could be achieved to the benefit ,pf -the community and still
accommodate the current development proposal. It certainly would add character to
the new neighbourhood!
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BUILDING AVAILABLE FOR
RELOCATION OR SALVAGE
MONICA COOK HOUSE PICKERING
760 Liverpool Road South, Pickering
Story and a half, Gothic Revival style home clad in
board & batten, estimated to have been constructed
circa 1850. Original section has a "2 up & 2 down"
floor plan, with a "tail" at back, as well as a later side
addition.
This building is being offered for sale for $1 to be
relocated or salvaged. Interested applicants should
contact Heritage Pickering at 905-420-4605 befdre
November 30, 1995. This building must be removed
from the site, prior to March 31, 1996.
Arrangements for removal or salvage must meet with
the approval of Urban Land Management Inc.,
including method of removal, estimated date of
removal, and liability responsibility. OL r Z S
Ey
BUILDING AVAILABLE FOR
RELOCATION OR SALVAGE
MONICA COOK HOUSE PICKERING
760 Liverpool Road South, Pickering
Story and a half, Gothic Revival style home clad in
board & batten, estimated to have been constructed
circa 1850. Original section has a "2 up & 2 down"
floor plan, with a "tail' at back, as well as a later side
addition.
This building is being offered for sale for $1 to be
relocated or salvaged. Interested applicants should
contact Heritage Pickering at 905-420-4605 before
November 30, 1995. This building must be removed
from the site, prior to March 31, 1996.
Arrangements for removal or salvage must meet with
the approval of Urban Land Management Inc.,
including method of removal, estimated date of
removal, and liability responsibility. oG r Z S
la
Su Murdock
Archival and Historical Consulting
The Headmaster's Residence, 47 Rodney Street, Barrie, Ontario L4M 4B6
Telephone: (705) 728-5342
Facsimile: (705) 728-0334
October 25, 1995
David O'Brien
699 Front Road
Pickering, ON
L1W 1P1
Dear David,
Last May you were kind enough to meet with me regarding the Monica Cook
Estate. My report was forwarded in June to the Architectural Conservancy with a
request that the Town of Pickering send you a copy, in appreciation of your assistance
and interest in the project.
Only yesterday I heard from the Conservancy that the Town has refused to
make copies available. They also are not willing to comment on the current
proceedings regarding the estate.
If you are interested, however, I would be pleased to discuss my research
findings with you (and learn of any local gossip regarding the project)!
cii:�erely
Su Murdoch
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