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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD 11-12 City Report to Council PICKERING ReportNumber: PD.11-12 Date: April 16,E 2012 From: Neil Carroll Director, Planning & Development Subject: Historical/Architectural Designation - Nesbit-Newman House, 560 Park Crescent Recommendation: 1. That Report PD 11-12 be received; 2. That Council endorse the recommendation of the Heritage Pickering Advisory Committee for designation of the Nesbit-Newman House; 3. That the City Clerk be authorized to begin procedures to have the Nesbit-Newman House, municipally known as 560 Park Crescent, designated under Part IV, of the Ontario Heritage Act; 4. That any lot established through a future development process to accommodate the Nesbit-Newman House be configured so as to distinguish the home within the neightbourhood and provide a reasonable property boundary to retain the heritage context, being approximately 135 feet in frontage on Park Crescent and 140 feet in depth; 5. That the City Clerk, in consultation with Heritage Pickering, draft and forward an appropriate `Notice of Intent to Designate' to the owners of the property, the Ontario Heritage Trust, and the local newspaper; and 6. Further, that the City Clerk be directed to draft the necessary by-law together with the reasons for designation for Council approval. _ Executive Summary: At its meeting held on March 3, 2012, the Heritage Pickering Advisory Committee passed a motion recommending that a heritage evaluation be prepared for the Nesbit-Newman House, 560 Park Crescent with intent to obtain Council's approval for heritage designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, and that the City Council be requested to action accordingly. The purpose of this report is to secure Council approval to commence the necessary proceedings to have the Nesbit-Newman House designated as a heritage property in accordance with Provincial legislation. The background information included as Attachment #2 to this report has been provided by heritage consultants John Sabean and Gordon Zimmerman, in consultation with the Heritage Pickering Advisory Committee. Reg PD 11-12 April 16, 2012 Subject: Designation of Nesbit-Newman House Page 2 It is recommended that any lot established through a future development process to accommodate the Nesbit-Newman House be configured so as to distinguish the home within the neightbourhood and provide a reasonable property boundary to retain the heritage context., being approximately 135 feet in frontage on Park Crescent and 140 feet in depth. Financial Implications: No direct financial implications to the City are associated with the recommended action to designate. Should a designation plaque be pursued, the estimated cost of $300 is provided in the 2012 Heritage Pickering Budget. Background: The Heritage Pickering Advisory Committee is pursuing the Nesbit- Newman House at 560 Park Crescent as a property for designation. The legal owner of the property is the Estate of Harry Newman and The Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company acts as Estate Trustee. The property is currently occupied by a member of the Newman family. An assessment of the historical and architectural significance of the property was recently undertaken by heritage consultants John Sabean and Gordon Zimmerman in consultation with the Heritage Pickering Advisory Committee, under contract with the City. The assessment concluded that the Nesbit-Newman House warrants a high level of protection and designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. Various details of the report are outlined below. The Nesbit-Newman House, located at 560 Park Crescent is a 1 '/2 storey, 3 bay, fieldstone vernacular farmhouse in a modified Georgian style, built in the mid 1850s. The house sits on a 4.8 hectare lot on the west side of Park Crescent, at the western terminus of Surf Avenue, in the City of Pickering's West Shore neighbourhood (see Location Map, Attachment #1). Historically, the Nesbit-Newman House has been associated with a number of prominent Pickering citizens: Peter Nesbit, a renowned farmer and an elder in the Dunbarton Church, Harry A. Newman, Q.C., first Canadian President of the Lions Club International, William G. Newman, the youngest Reeve ever to serve Pickering Township, a Member of the Provincial Parliament serving as Minister of Environment in 1974 and Minister of Agriculture and Food in 1975. The Nesbit-Newman House is historically significant as a vestige of the early Scottish settlement surrounding the Hamlet of Dunbarton. The house was constructed by Peter Nesbit (1808-1896) as part of his "Lakeview" farm in the mid-1850s at a time when Pickering's booming economy prompted residents to build permanent and sturdy homes in place of earlier, sometimes temporary, structures. Report PD 11-12 April 16; 2012 50 Subject: Designation of Nesbit-Newman House Page 3 The Nesbit-Newman House is architecturally significant in its proportions, unified design, symmetrical balance and general massing as a fine, extant example of an Ontario farmhouse in the vernacular American classical tradition. The ashlar fieldstone masonry of the exterior walls is of a very fine order and the door, window and other exterior details are reflective of the Georgian principles of proportion and symmetry. The house is characterized by a symmetrical centre hall plan and possesses a traditional rear "tail" in this case, a contemporary two-storey addition. Historical photographs of the interior reveal the same fine attention to proportion and detail as shown on the exterior, and will be rare existing examples of Georgian detailing and design. There are no signs of structural distress visible, indeed, the stone masonry appears as sound as that at Thistle Ha' (on the 7th Concession Road), which is contemporary with the Nesbit-Newman House. The house is set atop a small raise of land, providing a proud and imposing presence from the street. Its park-like surroundings are key to its history as a farm and the natural spaces immediately surrounding all sides of the building are critical in retaining its pastoral setting. As the only remaining 19th century stone building in the West Shore neighbourhood and one of very few buildings of this vintage in South Pickering, the Nesbit-Newman House is a visible landmark and a cherished resource in the community. The first hundred years of domestic architecture of Ontario is a noteworthy tradition and the Nesbit-Newman House is a fine example of the Loyalist/Georgian period in that tradition, and is largely unaltered - an increasingly rare occurrence. Summary of Reasons for Designation: • Historical association with early Scottish settlement near the hamlet of Dunbarton • Historical association with and notable citizens including John Galbraith, Peter Nesbit, Harry A. Newman and William G. Newman • A superior example of an increasingly-rare stone Georgian farmhouse • A superb quality of the stonework. • The original sidelights and transom of the front entryway • A stellar contribution of the house to the streetscape • Pastoral setting with natural space immediately surrounding all exterior walls • Status as a visible landmark in the West Shore neighbourhood and South Pickering community Heritage Pickering recommends that the Nesbit-Newman house, 560 Park Crescent, be designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. Should a development application to subdivide the lands be received following the designation, Heritage Pickering recommends that the City only approve plans if they include a reasonably-sized lot for the Nesbit-Newman House. The house should be generally balanced within the lot and a reasonable property boundary should be provided to distinguish the home within the neighbourhood and respect the heritage context. Frontage along Park Crescent should be no less than 135 feet and lot depth approximately 140 feet, to be determined at the time of review of the development application for the total property. As such, the designation would not preclude the development of the majority of the existing property. Report PD 11-12 April 16, 2012 Subject: Designation of Nesbit-Newman House Page 4. Should Council support Heritage Pickering's request, the City Clerk will commence designation procedures, including the drafting.and provision a `Notice of Intent to Designate' to the property owner, the Ontario Heritage Trust, and the local newspaper. A designation by-law will also be prepared in consultation with Heritage Pickering for Council approval, including reasons for designation. A designation statement provided by Heritage Pickering is included as Attachment #3 to Report PD11-12. The detailed heritage report on the subject property is included as Attachment #2 to this Report. Attachments: 1. Location Map 2. Heritage Report -Nesbit-Newman House 3. Designation Statement Prepared By: Approved/Endorsed By: { Isabelle Janton Nei Carrot , , RPP Planner II - Site Planning Director, Pla Wing & Development Uld Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City C cil t/, 20 / Tony Prevedel, .Eng. Chief Administrative Officer ATTACHMENT # ~ _To REPORT # PD . 1. C ~g HAMPTON COURT VICKI z DRIVE FRENCHMAN Ld BAY FAIRPORT c BEACH PUBLIC > p MLH q SCHOOL o 0 PUBL IC SCHO OKLAHOMA DRIVE OKLAHOMA r O ABINGDON COURT NTECOS L ~ - W M > W cy of N C) S O ROAD Y STONEBRIDGE z a Tnfluk cr fil LANE > a S z > ~ J n > O U m . r A r:: p COURT a OWNLAND 0 LOOKOUT POINT TULLO STREET Li Ol~,~~F PARK v cRFF~~~Fw w U ~ O SUBJECT ~ U v PROPERTY Y PM ELLO (560 PARK m CRESCENT) SURF AVENUE Of - U PETTICOAT NT G P r ~ 0F- H N W M W W M CRT. C015 Y cn n Y 0~ L) r a BROADGREEN ~O ~Q LAKE ONTARIO City of Pickering Planning & Development Department PROPERTY DESCRIPTION Plan 175 Lot 12,13, Pt. Lot 11, 40R-11659 Part 1 OWNER Estate of Harry Newman DATE Apr. 5, 2012 DRAWN BY JB FILE No. n/a SCALE 1:5,000 CHECKED BY IJ H oTerc netrcEnterprises Inc. antl Its suppliers. All ri9hte Reserved. Nat c plon o/ survey. PN-2 2012 MPAC antl Its • Iles. All rl hte Reee rved. Not a Ian o/ Surva 2 I :TTACHWlENT#=' To 53. REPORTf, Historical Flwport for Heritage Pickering April 2012 yst it' '.rfa r 0-60 Park Crescent Broken Front, Range 3, Lod 27 City of Pickering Lat 43 ° 48' 30.09" N ; Long 79' 06' 22.84" w john W. Sabean, PhD, ONIC, Historical Cori- ultant . _ Gordon Zimmerman, BArch (Toronto), Architectural Consultant jwTTe,CH.MENT# , _TO REPORN PD --a / - /:l F 4 Historical Report for Heritage Pickering April 2012 Summary 3 Evaluation 5 Introduction 8 Property History 9 Personal History 10 Building History 12 Historical Significance 13 Architecture 14 Architectural Significance . 16 Conclusion 16 Reasons for Designation 16 Recommendations 16 Notes 17 List of Sources 19 Appendices: 22 Appendix 1: Photographs 22 Appendix 2: Maps & Aerial Photographs 25 Appendix 3: Documents 31 Appendix 4: Inventory Form 33 John W. Sal: oan, PhD, OMC, Historical Consultant Gordon Gi€ irnerman, BArch (Toronto), Architectural Consu taw.. 2 ATTACH6MENT# TO REPORT# PD I a J Histor-ic~r? Report for Heritage Pickerim., April 2012 560 Park Crescent City of Pickering Broken Front, Range 3, Lot 27, S 1/2 Municipal PIN: 263110744, Assessment Roll Number: 1801010029231000000 Legal Description: Plan 175, Lot 12, 13, Pt Lot 11, now RP 40R11659, Part 1 Lat 43 ° 48' 30.09" N Long 79 ° 06' 12.84" W A 11/2 storey, 3-bay, fieldstone farmhouse in a modified Georgian style, built in 1853. The house sits on a lot of about 4.8 hectares, with a frontage on Park Crescent of about 1070 feet (326m). Unterman McPhail (2001) Property History Patentee: William Holmes Owner at time of building: Peter Nesbit Present occupant: Richard Newman Ownership Summary William Holmes 1796-1832 John Galbraith 1832-1840 Peter Nesbit 1840-1877 Jeremiah•0'Connor 1877-1884 Arthur Row Farewell 1884-1889 Wesley Walton 1889-1912 Scarborough Securities 1912-1921 Harry Allen Newman 1921-1951 Harry Folinsbee Newman 1951-2011 John Galbraith, Provincial Land Surveyor and Justice of the Peace forthe Home District. Peter Nesbit, renowned farmer and church builder. Harry A. Newman, Q.C. the first Canadian President of the Lions Clubs International. William G. Newman, Reeve of Pickering Township and Member of the Provincial Parliament. John W Saboan, ;'Iti C)NIC, Ilt tc r~ ::zal (Coln dt'.1111 Gordon zinirnerni,'.in, B,Arch ('Foronto), Architec"tur<al COnsr IUMt. .3 ATTACHMENT#_~2._TO REPORT# PD Historical Report: for Heritagg l'ickerinl April 2012 Based upon the Census records of 1851 and 1861, and on the Assessment Rolls for the 1850s, this 11/2 storey stone farmhouse was built in 1853 by Peter Nesbit. This is a very prominent landmark building, located in a park-like setting on the west side of Park Crescent. It is especially notable as viewed from Surf Avenue. Architecturally, this is a fine early example of a stone Georgian-style farmhouse or cottage. It was built to replace an original log structure when the time came for the family to build amore permanent second home. A number of prominent individuals have made this house their home. john W, S;,ibean, Ph].), OM(.,, Historical C onsult n+t Gordon Z.inarnermmn, fl Arch (Toronto), Architeci. anal Consultant 4 ATTACHMENT# 5 7 REP€lRT# PD /a Historical Report for Herit i9;e Pickerin( April 2012 rt I~I ~ "@;;+dl IVi~ HISTORICAL Thematic The 1830s brought the first massive wave of immigration to Pickering Township, and the 1840s saw the population doubling bringing with it an attendant economic boom, flamed by the development of Frenchmans Bay as a commercial harbour-especially with the exportation of pine logs and timber. By the 1850s much of the lands of southern Ontario had been cleared of the dense forest that the first settlers encountered. The economy of the province was on an upswing and many settlers had arrived at a stage where they could afford the time and expense of building a second, more comfortable, more permanent home. With the arrival of William Dunbar in southwestern Pickering Township in the 1830s, an influx of Scottish immigration followed to settle near the hamlet that he had laid out (and named for himself). Peter Nesbit was a native of Haddington in Scotland and was among those who were drawn to Dunbar's Scottish settlement. John Galbraith, Provincial Land Surveyor and Justice of the Peace for the Home District undoubtedly lived in a log house on this lot. He was responsible for conducting a re-survey of the Broken Front lots in 1833. Peter Nesbit, a renowned farmer, was part of the Scottish settlement begun by William Dunbar, for whom the hamlet of Dunbarton was named. Nesbit, described as one of the "worthies" of Dunbarton by William Wood, minister of the Dunbarton Presbyterian Church, and Pickering Township's first historian, was an elder in the Dunbarton Church and contributed to it a long and distinguished service. It was he who built the present stone house. Harry A. Newman, Q.C. was the.first Canadian President of the Lions Clubs International and an advocate for the blind. At his own expense he had a decommissioned church moved from Toronto to Dunbarton to become St. Paul's on the Hill Anglican Church. William G. Newman, Harry's son, was the youngest Reeve ever to serve Pickering Township. He then served for 15 more years in public office as a Member of the Provincial Parliament, holding at different times the portfolios of the Environment and Agriculture. John W, Sahean, PhD, 0M(:`, 1Li.s!.orid:,.a1 Consultant - C >rd Orr Z,irrlrYlE.'1°ilazan, R.Arch, (Toronto), Ard'hitCctm<al Consultant A;TTACHMENT# a TO REPORT#PD jijsto it {ll t2vpo t for f lcrit >ric Pickering r Ail ril 1 . The farm established on this lot was part of the development of the environs of Dunbarton. ARCH T The Nesbit-Newman House, in its proportions, unified design, symmetrical balance and general massing is a fine, extant example of an Ontario farmhouse in the vernacular American classical tradition. The door, windows and other fine detailing of the exterior and interior reflect the respect of the Georgian tradition for proportion and symmetry. In plan the house appears to be a traditional centre hall, symmetrical, three-bay, storey-and-a- half Loyalist stone farmhouse of Upper Canada. It has the traditional "tail", in this case two stories in its modern incarnation. There are no signs of structural distress visible; indeed, the stone masonry appears very sound. As viewed from the street the construction and detailing of this century-and-a-half old house appears very fine, indeed. The broken fieldstone masonry of the exterior walls is of a very fine order and in good condition. The wood windows and doorways reflect the extremely fine workmanship that is a hallmark of Loyalist/ Georgian buildings of Upper Canada's first seven decades. The designer of the Nesbit-Newman House in the middle of the nineteenth century is not known, but the general design is uncomplicated and may have been derived from a copybook. John lei', sahetua, P111), ON K", Historical ("onsuit".111t Gordon Zirri-mei*anan, P,Arch (Toronto), Ar(,hitechiral Consultant: 6 ATTACHI ENT#-.----TO 59 REEPORT# PD--/-/---Lo? Historical Repoi-t for Heritage Pick(,;ving April 2012 ENVIRONIMENT This is a very prominent landmark building, located in a park-like setting on the west side of Park Crescent. It is especially notable as viewed from Surf Avenue. The lot has some interesting background in that it is located at the extreme northern and eastern end of the southern Carolinian Forest, an area that shows characteristics of both southern species and northern species of flora and fauna. There are also indications that this and its neighbouring lots were used by First Nations people for purposes of agriculture. The house is set fairly close to the road (Park Crescent), but has much land surrounding it to the south, west, and north. Mature vegetation covers much of the property, and much of the original character of the site is largely unchanged. i The house is highly visible along Park Crescent, and makes a dramatic vista when viewed from Surf Avenue. It is a major landmark not only on its street, but also within the context of the whole subdivision of the West Shore. John W, Sahe,-in, Phi), ONIC, Historic,, fl Colasultant: Gordon Zimmerman, B.r' rch (Toronto), architectural Consultant ATTACHMENT# ~ TO REPORT# PD oZ- . _ v April 2()12 ~w MM The Nesbit-Newman House, a 11/2 storey vernacular farmhouse with Georgian influence, is located on Park Crescent, opposite the west end of Surf Avenue, in the southwest corner of Pickering. The house faces east, looking down Sun` Avenue towards Frenchmans Bay. It is set on a rise with a large property surrounding it. The property's eastern boundary is Park Crescent. Houses along Cliffview Road, Broadgreen Street and Sandcastle Court mark the south, west, and north boundaries. To the northwest is a park, Lookout Point Park, the highest point in the vicinity. There are mature trees on most of the property. A survey would have to be done to see what tree species are presently to be found, but this area between the Rouge River and Frenchmans Bay marks the northern and eastern terminus of the Carolinian (or southern deciduous) Forest. When settlers first arrived in this area they would have found a mix of white pine, maple, oak, and beech among other species. In his re-survey of the Broken Front lots in 1833, John Galbraith noted especially the abundance of ironwood on lots 26 and 27; ironwood is a common species of the Carolinian forest zone.' There is also an indication of the presence of First Nations people on Lot 27 and the neighbouring lots. Galbraith recorded an association of pine and oak trees, which may indicate locations of lands originally cleared by members of the Iroquoian Confederacy for purposes of corn agriculture. The Seneca village of the seventeenth century has been shown to have been located to the west of the Rouge River, but they could well have occupied the area near the Lake Ontario shore between Frenchmans Bay and the mouth of the Rouge River for the growing of crops. As one commentator has noted: "The predominance of Pine in this portion of the survey area, and the Pine-Oak stands along the Baseline Road in lots 24 and 28. at the 2nd and 3rd range interface, in conjunction with historical reports and other survey field notes supports the same conclusion."2 Had things gone differently, the southwest corner might well have been the first area of Pickering Township to be settled rather than the last. While William and Margaret Peak, who settled along the lake south of what is now Pickering Village, are generally recognized as the first permanent European settlers of Pickering Township, they were, in fact, preceded in settlement by John and Catherine Fisher and their family. We don't know when the Fishers first arrived or exactly where they established themselves, except that they were here by 1799, and were located somewhere near what is now Port Union, probably along Kingston Road. Unfortunately, John died in September of that year and his family were forced to moved away.3 John W, Sahe; n, PhD, C}MC, Historical Consultant (.Iordon Zimmerman, B.Ar•ch (Toronto),Architectural Consultant 8 ATTACH1V1ENT# TO REPORTS PD. 61 Historical Rr.j)(WL foi- Hel-'L IgC Pickering _ April 2012 William Holmes, who owned many acres of the southwest, may also have intended to set down his roots in this area as well, as early as the 1790s, but duty called him away and he sold off his lots over the next 30-35 years. Had the Fishers and Holmes been permanent settlers along Kingston Road in the southwest, and-had David William Smith built his mills in the early 1800s further east also along Kingston Road, with the Peaks settling near the lake about 1800, Pickering might well have attracted many more early settlers to the south of the township, especially between the Rouge River and Duffin's Creek. As things actually developed, however, most of the land in the southwest was granted to absentee landowners, including Holmes, preventing any largescale settlement. In the early years the residents of the Nesbit-Newman House would have associated with the hamlet of Dunbarton. In 1831, William Dunbar, for whom Dunbarton is named, came to Pickering Township from Scotland and founded what was largely a Scottish settlement along Kingston Road. Although hardly evident from its present location, the hamlet was created as a port for Frenchmans Bay. Kingston Road has been rerouted and no longer goes through.the hamlet, and the construction of the railway and Highway 401 have long separated the hamlet from access to the bay. Rouge Hill was another nearby hamlet, even smaller than Dunbarton. It sat at the top of the escarpment along Kingston Road at the west end of Pickering. It eventually had a post office of its own and two inns, one of which was used as a stagecoach stop in the days before the automobile. And just to the west of Rouge Hill was the tollhouse where a toll was collected from travellers crossing the Rouge River along the Kingston Road. But Rouge Hill catered more to the weary travellers who passed by than to local traffic. To the west at Rosebank, and to the east at what became Fairport Beach, cottage communities began to develop just before the end of the nineteenth century. While these areas catered especially to Toronto and Rochester vacationers, locals also made good use of the facilities. So popular was Rosebank'as a summer resort that it eventually had its own train station and was served by seven passenger trains as well as Picnic specials. It also had its own post office from 1916. Today the residents of the area would be part of the Fairport Beach Ratepayers Association. William Holmes was the patentee of Lot 27, Broken Front, on 28 May 1796. Holmes sold the entire lot (of approximately 211 acres) to John Galbraith in January 1832.4 Peter Nesbit (or Nisbet) bought the south half of the lot (100 acres) at the very end of 1840. Jeremiah O'Connor purchased the lot from Nesbit in 1877.5 O'Connor sold to Arthur Row Farewell in 1884, and Farewell sold to Wesley Walton five years Iater.6 Scarboro Securities purchased the south half lot from the Walton estate in 1912. Harry Allen Newman and his wife Margaret R. Newman purchased part of the property in 1921.7 Harry and Margaret sold this same part to Harry Folinsbee Newman in 1951. John W, Sahean, PhD, OMC, Historitail C4 nsultant Gordon Zirnmei•r-nan, R,A'1 ch (Toronto), Architectul-al Consultant: 9 AATTACHMENT# . 2 TO REPORT PD ILIA Historical ICE pot for Hcrit ge Pickering r~ _ 6G April 2012 William Holmes William Holmes (c1766-1834) was a surgeon, army officer, office holder and justice of the peace. Having served as an army surgeon in Quebec and then Detroit, he was garrisoned in Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake) by 1792. According to the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Holmes "proposed to settle in the province [Upper Canada]" and in that year he was granted 1200 acres of land in Pickering Township, "where he also purchased land."8 He was also granted a town lot in Newark in 1796. Whether his intentions were to settle in Newark the old capital, York, the new capital, or Pickering Township where he owned so much land in a favourable location by Lake Ontario, is uncertain. In any case, he and his regiment were transferred to Quebec in 1796, "and his appointment as surgeon to the forces in Lower Canada on 17 Jan. 1799 precluded his plans for settlement." Holmes should be remembered for more than his absentee ownership of Pickering Township land. He was an able administrator, a prominent physician, and even a keen farmer during his years in Lower Canada. He is noted especially for his work in improving the condition of facilities for the insane. He was known in Quebec as the "Insane Physician" for taking sole "responsibility for care of the insane and the only medical man on the commission for their relief."9 John Galbraith John Galbraith was a Provincial Land Surveyor, appointed in 1819. In January 1832 he purchased Lot 27 of the Broken Front from William Holmes. That he lived in Pickering is attested by the fact that he served as a Justice of the Peace in the township, one of three along the waterfront, along with Francis Leys and Charles Fothergill.10 To that the Illustrated Historical Atlas (1877) adds: "The leading men on the front road then [c1834] were 'Squire' Galbraith, a P.L.S., and 'Squire' Leys who kept the only post-office for years."11 Galbraith was still living in Pickering in 1837.12 He is most likely the one who built the log house, the first house on the lot. It was at the request of Fothergill that Galbraith was ordered to re-survey the Broken Front lots, which he accomplished between 14 June and 4 July 1833. His field book and map are held by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in Peterborough. His comment on Lot 27 was: "Land and timber the same but getting farther from the Lake as we proceed to the west the timber towards the west side of the lot not so heavy as near the east & more hazel & other brush."13 The trees listed on Lot 26 were: maple, oak, beech, and ironwood. Peter Nesbit (1808-1896) Peter Nesbit (or Nisbet), who hailed from Haddington in Scotland, was one of the Scots who attached himself to William Dunbar's settlement. He occupied Lot 27 from 1840 to 1877, naming his farm "Lakeview".14 A writer for the Pickering News described Dunbarton in 1889. He wrote about some of its prominent citizens, including Nesbit: Model farmers cause us to think of another gentleman Pickering-famed for the same laudable enterprise, Mr. Peter Nesbit. His farm called Lakeview situated west of the John W, abean, PhD, OM(', Historical (~c~~z5ult;~ant Gordon Zimmerman, B.Arch (Tormit.o), Architectural C.onsultant:~ 1.0 gTTACHMENT# -=:~..--TO ! . y~ April 201'11 , harbor was in all respects one to be taken as a standard. Now for about fifteen years he has resided in the village decrying all evil and being a power for good.15 In fact, Nesbit's fame as a farmer stretched well beyond Pickering Township. For example, Thomas McMurray, the one-time Reeve of the United Towns of Draper, Macaulay, and Stephenson, cited Nesbit in his chapter on Agricultural Shows in his book The Free Grant Lands of Canada.16 A good summary of Nesbit's life is provided by the Rev. William Wood in his history of Pickering (1911) where he referred to Nesbit as one of the "Three Worthies of Dunbarton." Wood, the minister of Dunbarton Presbyterian Church, devoted a whole chapter to merchant John Parker, teacher Jonathan Holmes, and farmer Peter Nesbit.17 About Nesbit he says: Mr. Peter Nesbit, another of the fathers of the community, was a native of Haddington, Scotland. At an early age he was employed in herding sheep, his mother rolling his little plaid around him and giving him a barley bannock by way of lunch. In early manhood, he crossed the Atlantic and for a time was employed in railway construction. in the vicinity of Buffalo. An attack of ague compelled him to change his residence, and he came to Canada. For some time he worked with the farmers, but ultimately settled on the farm on the Lake shore southeast of Dunbarton (now Mrs. Walton's). One of the interesting experiences of his early days in Canada was that of driving a herd of cattle numbering about forty from this township to the State of.Michigan, walking with them all the way. His marriage to Janet Muir, then recently out from Scotland, and his settlement on the farm took place toward the close of the thirties. Mr. Nesbit and his wife were for many years highly esteemed members of the Erskine and later of the Dunbarton congregation. In 1840, he was elected and ordained to the eldership, an office which he held and the duties of which he performed with ability and faithfulness to the close of his life. Mr. Nesbit was a man of high principle, upright and conscientious in all his dealings and strenuously earnest in upholding the right. His daughter writes of him: "My father never neglected a duty if he knew it or could in any way carry it out and many a dark and stormy night I have seen him taking his staff in his hand and walking to Dunbarton and back to attend prayer meeting, saying it was less trouble to walk than to take out a horse." In matters ecclesiastical, he manifested the genuine Scotch conservatism, being, as were many of the best men of his day, strongly opposed to the introduction of hymns and the use of the organ in public worship. In the early fifties Mr. Nesbit re-visited the land of his birth. His mother had earnestly urged him to let her see his face once more before her death. He arrived just in time to gratify her wish; three days later she passed away. He was always thankful that he had been able to comply with her last request. When the new Church in Dunbarton was erected, the honor of laying the corner stone was conferred upon Mr. Nesbit, in recognition of his many years of faithful service in the Eldership. John VV. S<rI}fan, PhD, OM{', Historical Cons{rlt<IM G. ord err Iirnrr;{ r marr, li.Arch Joronto), Arc t itecturni Cmnsultant ATTACHMENT#2_TO 3EPORT# PD 1 / - / a Fiistori(:srl Repoi E for Flerit' ipe 11k,kerim, . 6 . . As old age drew on, Mr. Nesbit retired from farming and took up his residence in Dunbarton, in the house he had built for himself there His wife, the true-hearted companion of nearly half a century, was taken from his side in 1891, after a prolonged period of patient suffering, and four years later on March 10th, 1896, in the eighty- ninth year of his age, Mr. Nesbit himself closed his pilgrimage, a father in Israel revered and mourned by the whole community. Harry Allen Newman, QC (1888.1978) Harry A. Newman, who owned this house for 30 years, and is the grandfather of the present owners, was a lawyer by training and occupation; his contributions to society were both local and international. He was called the founding father of Lions International in Canada. He was one of the 20 charter members who held the inaugural meeting of the Lions Club of Toronto in 1920 and was appointed its Charter Secretary. In 1921, 1922, and 1923 he served as Vice President of the association. In June 1924, in Omaha, Nebraska, he was elected as the first Canadian President of Lions Clubs International. At the Lions convention the following year, at Cedar Point, Ohio, he introduced Helen Keller to the delegates. She then challenged the Lions to become "knights of the blind in a crusade against darkness." Harry promoted the idea of Lions clubs working for the blind of the world as a major project. In aid to the local Anglican Church of which he was a member, Newman had the Church of the Ascension in Toronto dismantled in 1934 and reassembled in Dunbarton on land that he had purchased for the purpose. The newly reestablished church was dedicated on 16 November 1934 by Archbishop Owen as St. Paul's on the Hill. Forty-two years later, in 1976, Newman deeded the church property to the incumbents and church wardens and St. Paul's was consecrated, 21 March 1976, by Archbishop Lewis Garnsworthy.18 Among other contributions to the local community Newman served as Chair of the fundraising campaign for the expansion of the Ajax and Pickering General Hospital in 1964. It should be noted that Newman had many passions including philanthropy, cattle breeding, and, landscaping. It was he who erected the stone wall along Park Crescent, and he who planted many of the trees that still grace the property. William Gould Newman (1928-1988) Harry A. Newman's son, William G. Newman, who grew up in this house, at age 27, was elected the youngest Reeve ever to serve in Pickering Township. He went on to be elected Member of the Provincial Parliament in 1967. His 15-year term in office included stints as Minister of the Environment in 1974 and Minister of Agriculture and Food in 1975. According to the 1851 Census (actually conducted in January 1852), Peter Nesbit and his family were living in a one-storey log house. By the time of the next Census in 1861 they had moved into a one-and-a-half storey stone house. This would indicate that the stone house presently under review was built sometime during the 1850s. The Assessment Rolls show an increased assessment of £100 between 1853 and 1854, and no further increase until well after 1861. It would appear, then, that the house was constructed in the year 1853.19 john W. Sabean, PhD, t: MC, Historical C;onsrfltant C,ordorl 7..irnznerman, R.Arch (Toronto), Ar-chit_e aural Corrsrrltant: 12 TTACHiENU..~._..TD REPORT# J Historical Repoi-t for Heritage Pickerino _ - _ . . _ April 2012 This property and home have seen a number of their occupants rise to prominence in a number of endeavors. John Galbraith who lived on this lot in the 1830s, as a Provincial Land Surveyor would have known where the best available lots were for settlement. For him it was close to Kingston Road and therefore convenient for travelling either into York for reporting his work or eastward (and north along Brock Road) to reach the areas he was commanded to survey. It would also have been attractive to him because of the peculiar mixture of hardwood and softwood trees and their accompanying species of flora and fauna. When Peter Nesbit moved to the lot he was part of a Scottish movement into the area in the wake of William Dunbar who purposely set out to create a Scottish settlement. Continuing to clear the land that had started with Galbraith, Nesbit made his farm into a model farm recognized both locally and further afield. When his resources were sufficient and the general economy was on the rise, Nesbit built this fine stone house and moved his family from the log house they had been occupying for about 13 years. And Nesbit's contributions to the well- being and growth of first the Erskine Church and then the Dunbarton Presbyterian Church were celebrated by his own community and by the heads of the denomination. He was rewarded by the congregation when a new church building was erected by being given the honour of laying the corner stone. Harry Newman, a later owner of the stone house, also had much to do with the growth and stability of his local church. The presence of St. Paul's on the Hill Anglican Church at its location along Kingston Road was due solely to his initiative. Although Newman contributed much, and in many ways to the local community, his influence reached out far beyond the confines of Pickering Township when he assumed the mantle of President of the Lions Clubs International and through it championed the cause of the world's blind. Harry's son William also had a distinguished career both within Pickering and in the larger context of the province serving both as Reeve of the municipality and MPP for the Pickering riding. john t4/, Sahean, PhD, t: MC, Historical C onsult,:Inn (lordon %irrtrnernlan, R.Arch (Tor Consultant 1.3 ATTACHMENR a _TO REPO U PDT L a Historical Report for Far ~ it sl e E' c ~ccatsi~ 2012 The Nesbit-Newman House, in its proportions, unified design, symmetrical balance and general massing is a fine, extant example of an Ontario farmhouse in the vernacular American classical tradition. It was built, unapologetically, to be of its time and to meet the needs and requirements of its owners. It continued the respect for proportion and firm building of the Georgian tradition as it had been brought to Upper Canada following the American Revolutionary War. As with almost all examples built in Upper Canada in the seven decades after that war the Loyalist Georgian house was "a little squarer and more stolid than its counterparts across the line. "20 Generally speaking, roof slopes were a little steeper, as here; window sizes and proportions were determined by glass pane sizes, which were shipped from elsewhere, usually the United Kingdom. In the case of this house, if the front-facing windows are original they will be fine examples of "12-over-12" Georgian style, double-hung windows, with the masonry opening width to height being in the "golden ratio". The front door appears not to be original, but its transom and sidelights do; and if so, again, will be fine examples of Georgian proportions and detail. Later changes to this fine classical building would be the dormer, the front plaza and stonewall, and the masonry of the chimneys. Remarkably, the cellarway enclosure on the north side appears to be the same age as the main structure. Historical photographs of the interior reveal the same fine attention to proportion and detail as shown on the exterior, and will be rare existing examples of Georgian detailing and design. The setting of the house within the landscape reflects perfectly the classical perception of one's being in command of nature and being confident in one's place in it. The house is situated on a rise from the west shore of Frenchmans Bay, with a view straight down easterly to the harbour mouth, and southeasterly to Lake Ontario. Fortunately the municipal street pattern and park system has maintained this view to and from the house. To make it even more dramatic the view to the house is backed by the hillside leading to Lookout Park. While the design of the house is true to the classicism of the first half of the nineteenth century, it was built in the same decade that the railway came to Upper Canada. It is not difficult to envision the landscaping around the house being the setting for picturesque Victorian scenes. The subsequent changes to the house such as the cobblestone verandah (later a forecourt) and the stone demising walls and gates brought the setting into the Victorian age. In plan the house appears to be a traditional centre hall, symmetrical, three-bay, storey-and-a- half Loyalist stone farmhouse of Upper Canada. It has the traditional "tail", in this case two- storey in its modern incarnation. The living room and the dining room occupy the east-facing )ohn tN S<rxh~a~~, Phl) t.)"' C, I3istori€a[ Consukant Go dnri Zirn!,l ! I n,<al., 13,A cin ( oror o), .Arch iu (:;:,.wal C on,,i,Et"'ilit ATTACHMENiT# 2 TO 67 MStoric ii r: port for Herit~~TIfe PCkt;,rilli, April. 2012 front of the house on each side of the entrance hall and staircase. Presumably two, or three, or four bedrooms comprise the second floor, and the kitchen and utility rooms occupy the "tail". The enclosed cellarway and the door and transom on the north side (from the dining room) obviously had a function, but what that was is conjectural at this time. The arrangement of living and dining rooms, each with its fireplace and ample windows is one of the most humane aspects of such Georgian houses. That together with the sunlit welcoming entrance may be why these Georgian designs retained their popularity even when fashions and tastes were moving into what we call the Victorian era and a different aesthetic. Without access to the interior of the house one can only surmise the building's construction, but it should be noted that there are no signs of structural distress visible; indeed, the stone masonry appears as sound as that at Thistle Ha' (on the Seventh Concession of Pickering), which is contemporary with the Nesbit-Newman House, and which has masonry described as "broken coursed fieldstone at its best. "21 It should be noted that the vertical piers that are presumably remnants of a twentieth-century verandah around three sides of the house do nothing to enhance the dwelling. It is difficult to determine the historic function of the fine property surrounding the house. It began as a farmhouse, but there seems to be no remaining structure relating to farming. I As viewed from the street the construction and detailing of this century-and-a-half old house appears very fine, indeed. As noted above, the broken fieldstone masonry of the exterior walls is of a very fine order and in good condition. The wood windows and doorways reflect the extremely fine workmanship that is a hallmark of Loyalist/ Georgian buildings of Upper Canada's first seven decades. There are disturbingly fewer and fewer of these extant, such as the Richardson-Will House in the north of Pickering. The asphalt shingle roofing and its structure appear sound. The dormer and its window were obviously added for functional reasons, but they do little to enhance the dwelling's appearance from the street. The generous tree planting on the property appears thoughtfully designed. While the designer of the Nesbit-Newman House in the middle of the nineteenth century is not known, it is significant that the house was built towards the end of a solid classical tradition that was brought to Upper Canada by the United Empire Loyalists and by British colonists after the American War of Independence. As is noted by John Blumenson few houses of this vintage and design, so central to the domestic architecture of Upper Canada, and, indeed, the British colonies as a whole, remain.22 And even fewer remain that have not been drastically altered and changed. The change in architectural styles from Classical to Gothic-inspired in Britain and the United States started before Victoria came to the throne in 1837. Indeed, ecclesiastical architecture was changing as early as the 1810s. That vernacular architecture in Upper Canada did not John W. Sab(.,an, PhD, {')MC, historical C;onsiaitant Gordon Zirnrnt i~ mari, R.Arch (Toronto), Architecti.wal Consultant 1.5 ATTAM MENU ~ TO Historical Report for Heritage L'ickerino 0 68 _ _ . April 2012 embrace eclecticism until much later would seem to indicate that houses of the design of 'the Nesbit-Newman House suited the needs of those settling townships such as Pickering even though the design may have appeared dated in the eyes of newcomers from Britain and the United States. As Professor Eric Arthur recognized as early as eighty years ago, the first hundred years of domestic architecture of Ontario is a noteworthy tradition of which we should be justly proud. The Nesbit-Newman House of Pickering is a fine example of the Loyalist/ Georgian period in that tradition, and is largely.unaltered-an increasingly rare occurrence. The house's situation on a rise, at the west end of Surf Avenue, terminating that view, and, again, looking out to the mouth of the harbour is a fillip. The provenance of the landscaped grounds around the house bears further study. This is a highly visible structure, a fine example of the stonemason's art. There are few enough of this vintage in Pickering, especially in the southwest of the city to warrant a high level of protection. • Historical association with the Scottish settlement surrounding the hamlet of Dunbarton. • Historical association with notable citizens including John Galbraith, Peter Nesbit, Harry A. Newman and William G. Newman. • A superior example of an increasingly rare stone Georgian farmhouse. • The stellar contribution of the house to the streetscape. • The superb quality of the stonework, including the later stonewall along the street line. • The original sidelights and transom of the front entryway. • The pastoral setting surrounded with mature vegetation. • A very prominent landmark for the entire West Shore neighbourhood. Designate the house under the Ontario Heritage Act,,preserving enough land around it to maintain character. Frontage along Park Crescent should be at least 135 feet (41m), with the house balanced in the middle, to keep it from being overshadowed by its neighbours. In particular the sightlines from Surf Avenue should be preserved, so that the dramatic approach from the east is maintained. To the west (or behind the house), a buffer should be in place, again to set this house apart and maintain character. John W. S<iheiui, PhD, 0110, Mstorical Consultant _ Gordori Zimmerman, R.Arc.h (Toronto), Architect i.ir; l Consultant ~ ~9.6 ATTACHMENW, 6 9 EP03TO PO i- is Histod(:: l Rt.,l. ort fol- heritage Pickeriilr) April 20121 1. John Galbraith. "Notes from a Survey of the Broken Front lots, 1833" MS at Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough. See also Rob Nisbet, "A Re-Survey of Part of Pickering Township by John Galbraith, 1833", Pickering Naturalist, 4: 4 (Winter 1979), 128. 2. Nisbet (1979), p. 129. 3. John Sabean. "Peaks or Fishers: Who Settled Pickering First?" Pathmaster 4: 1&2 (2001), 14. 4. All reference to land transactions, unless otherwise noted, are to the Abstract Index to the Deeds of Pickering Township at the Land Registry Office in Whitby. The lot was larger than the normal 200 acres because of its location on the uneven shoreline. See also Thomas Ridout. Pickering Township Map (1823). 5. Note: the occupant of the lot as listed in the Pickering Township map in the Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Ontario (cited as Beers, 1877) as J. Connor. This is an obvious misprint for J[eremiah] O'Connor, and was probably occasioned by the very recent sale of the property. 6. Charles E. Goad. Atlas of Ontario County, Province of Ontario. Toronto: Chas. E. Goad, 1895. This insurance map shows W. Walton on the lot. 7. The Guidal Landowners' Map shows the owner as Scarboro Securities Company: Guidal Landowners' Map of Pickering Township. Map and Advertising Co., 1917. 8. Vol. VI, p. 325. 9. DCB,.VI, p. 326. 10.'See letter from Fothergill to Col. William Rowan, 9 Oct. 1833, Charles Fothergill Papers at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library (TFRBL)-MS Collection 140, vol. 24 ("Rough Copies of Letters"). More conveniently this letter has been cited in "The Correspondence of Charles Fothergill Between 1831 and. 1837", Pathmaster 9: 3&4 (2009), pp. 26-27. 11. Beers (1877), p. ix. 12. George Walton. The City of Toronto and the Home District Commercial Directory and Register. Toronto: T. Dalton and W.J. Coates, 1837. 13. See letter from Fothergill to Peter Robinson, 22 May 1833, in TFRBL collection above. To be cited in Pathmaster 11: 3&4 (2012). 14. The house is located on the Tremaine wall map of 1860, and is labeled "Lakeview". George C. Tremaine. Tremaine's Map of the County of Ontario, Upper Canada. Toronto: George C. Tremaine, 1860. )ohn W, Sal hall, PhD, 01100, it;stol-ic fl t;{1nsult'ant (,ordorr Zirnr ermari, R,Arch (Torow..o), Architectui-al Consult;-mt 17 ATTACHMENW-iR---TU REPORTO tliu~tori{:afi Rf,,port for [ler;t-igo Pi(,kerhy . April '201 15. Pickering News, 1 November 1889, p. 4. 16. (Bracebridge, 1871), p. 60. 17. William R. Wood. Past Years in Pickering (Toronto: Briggs 1911), pp. 60-62. See also: Diane Schillaci. The Memories Make the History, Don't They., The Story of Dunbarton- Fairport United Church and Erskine Presbyterian Church (1986), pp. 35-36. 18. The Church of the Ascension was originally located at 131 Richmond Street West in Toronto. It was built in 1877, in a modified Gothic style; the architect was Stewart Strickland. In December 1933 it was disestablished. 19. Shortly after Nesbit purchased the Lot at the end of December 1840 (Instrument 18011), he took out a mortgage with Robert Knox (Instrument 18012, 16 January 1841). He was able to discharge the mortgage by April 1849 (Instrument 34423). It. might be argued that this loan could have been used to build a new (stone) house, but the more likely explanation is that the money was used to purchase the lot (with its existing log house). The date of 1810 assigned to the construction of this house in the municipal records is wildly out of context. 20. Alan Gowans, Building Canada: An Architectural History of Canadian Life (Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1966), p. 48. 21. The emphasis is the author's John. I. Rempel, Building with Wood and other aspects of nineteenth-century building in central Canada (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1980), p. 271. 22. John Blumenson, Ontario Architecture: A Guide to Styles and Building Terms, 1784 to the Present (Toronto: Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1990), p. 5. john W, Sahnrmm Phl); ONW, Wstori(:al (.,onsulu.mt: -Gordon Zimmerman, R.Arch (Toronto), Ar(,hite(,tural (:onsult.ant 18 &TTACFIII em --'ro 71 REF03T0PD Historical Report for Heritage Pickering, _ April 2012 II, OF SOURC;"_L~b! Census records, Pickering Township, 1851-52, 1861, 1871. Galbraith, John. Notes from a Survey of the Broken Front Lots, 1833. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough. Minutes of the Pickering Township Council, 1811-1876. Ontario Archives (OA): MS 281(1). Pickering Township: Abstract Index to Deeds, Land Registry Office, Whitby. Pickering Township: Assessment Rolls. OA: F 1864. Pickering Township: Index to Land Patents. OA: MS 693, Reel 155. Pickering Township Papers. OA: MS 658, Reel 394. Beers, J.H. Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Ontario, Ont. Toronto: J.H. Beers, 1877. Blumenson, John. Ontario Architecture: A Guide to Styles and Building Terms, 1784 to the Present. Toronto: Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1990. Brown, George. Brown's Toronto City and Home District Directory 1846-1847. Toronto: George Brown, 1846. Connor, J.C. and J.W. Coltson. The County of Ontario Directory for 1869-70. Toronto: Hunter, Rose & Co., 1869. Curl, James Stevens. Victorian Architecture. London: David and Charles, 1990. Delhaise, John. Cornerstones: Rural Churches of Southern Ontario. Erin, ON: Boston Mills Press, 1988. Farewell, J.E. County of Ontario. Whitby: Gazette-Chronicle Press, 1907. Favretti, Rudy and Joy. For Every House a Garden. Chester, CT: The Pequot Press, 1977. Fram, Mark. Well Preserved. Erin, ON: The Boston Mills Press, 1988. Gowans, Alan. Building Canada: An Architectural History of Canadian Life. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1966. Greenwald, Michelle. The Historical Complexities of Pickering, Markham, Scarborough, and Uxbridge. -North Pickering Community Development Project and Ontario Ministry of Treasury, Economics and Intergovernmental Affairs, 1973. John W. SahEran, PhD, OMC, Ilist.f_ rical Cmisultrm.t G,ordorr Zirnrnernt<:rn, H.Arch ("Toronto), Architectural Consultant 19 ATTACaiMENT#_-':,---TD REPORT# PD Historical Report for H rtt igr i> <lcr.•r°tng . . April 2012 Johnson, Leo A. History of the County of Ontario 1615-1875. Whitby: The Corporation of the County of Ontario, 1973. Lovell, John. The Canadian Directory for 1857-58. Montreal: John Lovell, 1857. McKay, William A. The Pickering Story. Pickering: Township of Pickering Historical Society, 1961. McMurray, Thomas. The Free Grant Lands of Canada. Bracebridge, 1871. Rem pel, John I. Building with Wood and other aspects of nineteenth-century building in central Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1980. Richardson, A.H. and A.S.L. Barnes. Rouge, Duffin, Highland, Petticoat Valley Conservation Report. Toronto: Ontario Department of Planning and Development, 1956. Rowsell, Henry. Rowsell's City of Toronto and County of York Directory for 1850-1. Toronto: Henry Rowsell, 1850. Sabean, John W. Time Present and Time Past: A Pictorial History of Pickering. Pickering: Altona Editions, 2000. Schillaci, Diane. The Memories Make the History, Don't They: The Story of Dunbarton-Fairport United Church and Erskine Presbyterian.Church. 1986. Unterman McPhail Associates. Inventory of Heritage Properties, City of Pickering. Toronto: Unterman McPhail Associates, 2001. Walton, George. The City of Toronto and the Home District Commercial Directory and Register. Toronto: T. Dalton and W.J. Coates, 1837. Wood, William R. Past Years in Pickering. Toronto: Briggs, 1911. Nisbet, Rob. "A Re-Survey of Part of Pickering Township by John Galbraith, 1833", Pickering Naturalist, 4: 4 (Winter 1979), 128-130. Tunis, Barbara. "Holmes, William", in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, 1987, VI, 325-327. Department of Defence. Topographical Map. Markham 30 M/14. 1932. Department of Defence. Topographical Map. Markham 30 M/14. 1943. Department of Defence. Topographical Map. Markham 30 M/14. 1960. Galbraith, John. Survey Map of Lakeshore, 1833. Jo}jai W Sahel'm, PhD, OM(', }]ist~_,1°i~~<~l (:.onsullanl Gordon Zimmerman, R.Arc i (Toro tol, An k iter:tural (;onsultant 20 ATTACHME U-2-TO 7 3 EPORT# Pa /f /a fll 'toriL'F. l I (.q)owl,: for 1c7"it?ri(j Pit'kerillt2' April 201? Goad, Charles E. Atlas of Ontario County, Province of Ontario. Toronto: Chas. E. Goad, 1895. Guidal Landowners' Map of Pickering Township. Map and Advertising Co., 1917. Ridout, Thomas. 1823. Pickering Township Map. OA: A.23. Smith, George. 1967. Map of Pickering Township: Centennial Souvenir. Pickering: Pickering Township Historical Society. Tremaine, George C. 1860. Tremaine's Map of the County of Ontario, Upper Canada. Drawn by John Schier. Toronto: George C. Tremaine. Aerial Photographs, courtesy of the Pickering Planning Department. Pickering Public Library: Pickering-Ajax. Digital Archive. www.pada.ca Pickering Township, Historical Society Digital Archive Joho W. Sahean, PhD, ONIC, ffi.storical Consultant Gordon Zimmerman, B.Arch (`Toronto), Architectural Consultant: 2i.. ATTACHMENT# _TO sIEF®HT FO-/L! - i a Httitorical R porl foi Heritage Pickc,r-ing ~ 7 r April 2012 pp d • 6 l ) % r ~S1 . :d1! ; ila~. ~ y-;1?~ . ~L►V. ilkeita ,7tti' :.y, I t 41 East Elevation East and North Elevations John W. Sabe,:,m, PhD, ()M(,, Hist.ox-ic<il C.onsrzlt,11-it Gordon Zimmerman, R.Arch (Toronto), Architectural Corimiltant 22 ATTACHMMa K~-TQ 7 5 1-3istorical Rf,, ort for Ff ritag(t Pickering _ . April 2012 i South Elevation a 4 r . 1. j~c' K r Vj East Elevation JcAn V!%. S= }wf: t PhD, ONIC, Historical Consultant Gordon ZOnmerman, R AnT (Krt ntol 1rtIitm:t:inal C onsuhant: 23 ATTACHMEi W, -i2- iEPOaTf; PD 11-12. . ickerin" Historical lcr ol-,t tt~r Herifk ~e, Ia r 1 r 6 April '2012 r n ; _ e 1J, East and North Elevations Ono Ilk 4'' East and North Elevations John W. Sabean, PhD, ONIC°, 1listorical Consultant Gordon Zirr men iarr, R.Arch (Toronu)), Architectural Consultant 24 ATTACHMENT# a TO f 7 Historical Report for Heritage Pickering . April 2012 John Galbraith, Re-survey Map 1833 t 4 d ~ jj"it ;w "4 ~ ; is t~ 11~ ' M ~ 1 ~ y ti'e ~1 i 1 ) j ~'1 N. k~1 l ~ ~ 1 11'4 14 ~1 - ~ \ya l Thomas Ridout, Pickering Township Map 1823 john VV. 4ah(?;,in, PhD, OW, flistorical C" own llltarat Gordon Zirnrne'rman, R.Arch (Toronto), Arc,hite(Aural Consultant 25 MACHlMENT# -2 -TO nnau Pa /-2 Historiczr€ Report lo€ Her €t '€ge Pick r hi g ~ _ . _ . . . . April 2012 v € f i KCd p}}i. 1i F ! Ez r.. •-t. 3 T vvr Tremaine's Map of the County oMatarb 1860 a._.r C j ~ r `ty 4 Ix J .Sr c' taf i S p µ 72, 4 J x N mrJ 4! Q' ' ,oy ~rs o x r s J i. • U !!l! Illustrated Historica/At/as of the County of Ontario 1877 johir W, S< Er~r~:r€i, PhD, OM(', }listoi icrak C'rs.rsa~txir,t G~or(Jmi Zimrnermarr, R,Ar'ch (Tor'r>rr o), Ar-chitccn.wal 26 ATTACHMMU-2 --T 1E,P®iiTO PD 79 Fflstorit I~~~l~x=rt for H r it arc P-jck('rrr= ; . P;I r i1 2012 + ~ I K \'i * r J Charles E. Goad, Atlas of Ontario County 1895 I 30 29, 7 2 FG 2R 23 o a 3 o c c Q ~ ,~c Guidai Landowners' Map of Pickering Township 1917 John W, Sabes.-iri, PhD, C: MC:, Historical Cr}rrsrrttalit Gordon Zimmer-man, BArch (To ror)to), Architerctr.rr<al (..m)sulLmt 27 WACHMENU ~o AEPORWPO historical itef oil for Heritti,ne Picker in April 2012 J)urq bill r` -.-t4r~ µ 'K OuGt R41 C ~N "rr _ RdSE01tNkC s,, J rf~, Department of Defence, Topographical Map, Markham 30 W141932 V 7 'i / e "ant 'x/fly _ k b 1 i j ¥j Department of Defence, Topographical Map Markham 30 W14 1960 John W. Sahe,'ui, PhD, OMC, Historical Consultant Gordon Zimmerman, R.Arch (Toronto), Architectural Consultant 2 Historical Report for Heritage Pickering; April 2012 &T-»a ><.lr ellhrPwn e. ~i..Terr6eech. r ~cE on.,poFr o/sn.. r.nv./re/<erni.'Y AM (W Yn..n.h.P or /'.c.!e ng, Co..ny and R 9r.e Nero. ~~ro .~~:v.e - FAIRPOVI T' BEACH - .~kG.sn~mae.P.Yn.ndB.oFrnF..n G .,..._..,.,n F.<<.. /.n r 1 ~ BF-MG A UMM5I0N OF• - r ene s oi...sm er.... enar..l LorW927RA/YGE 2 A&:v A," OF Sov/t/ H.sLF' a- o -W-27,.3. ./.nc< ti•M r e p'...a. el the B/a tzw F/co yr Co/v 7-° Of'/P/CA'Ei4//VG •GS/a ~ yer COUNTY AND - VINCE OF ONTARIO, r ~-Tf onre:.. /d .,.ks d S..w I e/M~YFen g ..~!F .b! ,e.! el..,...;~,'..1 ....!d be!....n a.e.-d o..d Tw~.d • 0 T • .9.. a e.ew•n rmnt Can .,.n a f~...e.d r...n.ti:p ..h:.h S~ t//off. ~ C~+r as.. w. ~.r ..o.r..sCC P. -10- orr,• z2. ter,: 'A Fr.. 9 U./n F..eby oppe.e .l bA~ewn o..y%...1<M C5 oMPY N./6•W N,~ . uenesea .l w. 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Sabean, PhD, OMC, Historical Consultant Gordon Zimmerman, B.Arch (Toronto), Architectural Consultant 29 ATTKCHMENT# TO ,IEPD;TT# PD Ml 5to icdd Rr por' to Etcr u)~!e ! c Picrh w 2 April"'201`? a► ' A' .y .'9 Aerial Photograph of Broken Front, Lot 27 1993 01 jai f `~<.~•a -~r'`~' s! .1; ~ .h, r ~ ; ~ ~ ~ _ p ^S, ' ~ e i~ 4--~ sn f t Y 4 01 Aerial Photograph of Broken Front, Lot 27 2010 John W. Saheinn, PhD, t:}MC, Historical Consultant Gordon'Z.immernwin, BArch (Toronto), Architectural Consultant 30 i lNTTACHV1ENT#-j2-----T0 - $ 3 c~FulTip PD--// Historical Report for Heritage Pitkei-ing) April 2012 CITY OF PICKERING - INVENTORY OF HERITAGE RESOURCES Field Survey Form: Built Heritage Features Municipal4ire address: 560 PARK Cl` SrENT Lot: 27 Con: 3 6_F,_ Site name (if known"; _ Village: F~3]rRp Assessment Roll No,: (eiever Feature category: Resider =al ] Coninrrerciat [ I Industrial ( ] Agricultural 1 1 Public Works f I Religious l ] Social Recreational [ ] GoverunenVins0tutiona€ l j Transpcrtatior: ( ] Other. Feature type: Farnto}use. Current use: Occupancy: Abandoned I I Vacant I ] Occupied( ✓ I Construction period: Pre-1860 ( ✓ 1 1660-19001 1 1901-i940 f I Known:_ - Datestone and/or plaque(s) [ j Type:..__.......__ - (Copy text on next page..) Storeys: One [ ] One and-a•half I Two I ] Two and-a-hall ( ] Three [ j Other: Foundation material: Stone ( ✓ j Brick ( I Corcrele ( ] Concrete Block Other Wall construction: Stone ( ✓ 1 Log ( j Ffarne I i Back [ I Dichromatic__,_., Bond. Cladding: Wooden, i ] Masonry ( ] Stucco ( ] Metal ( ] Other: Type: Root type. Gable: Front( ] Side ( ✓ I Cwbs;Centre ( 1 Hip( I Gambrel I I Other: Root material: Asphalt Shing4l ( ] Ge?dar ( ✓ ] S€ate ( 1 Met<-a ( I Other Style: Vernacular (note irfiuences) I ✓ ] Neo-Classics! ( I Classic. Revival [ ] Gotha: Revival I ~ lialiansate ( ] Second Empire [ j Queen Anne ( Four Square [ j Period Revivals Colonial Revivals I Bungalow ( 1 Cottage I Other: Notable features "exterior one it known, interior,, ThrP Lp -4r4nteast,_~ia~at,:~t r-;-vr'j,#~r inn Ju„gr. ail iplitrh its end transom Ei rectancu r,y <n pw op e t ngs rsfona Vtx,~suirs and six oar ( i „asti}: csrlra f4J C19LY.S..LMtllrfl' vs ?~1vt p_frl z : gng,,%L2 r,~lf :SxfJ frarn..e Kiri41.15._r~s'~r . Alterations,'modern additions: Little altered I I Aaeied ( ✓ I Much altar ad I j Note Ro-h rernoyed: door reclau 4d' ;1,-r;rj„e tdel9,_ Integrity of associated landscape: L the allered ( ✓ ] Altered I ] Much ;-altered ( I Ass.,ua2r :1 ft aiLr 5: 3 1 wgli 3 onus Fnrk;..Gt,as onto x CnSf'fp..9:'S gnc1 .41 r. north_gn rrt~c _y+s#h cc}hhle t ne v.'alls and.p er ,d:iye_i4_rrrth,,,i~e_ Group value: Establishes character ( ] Maintains character I ✓ ] Incornpatibl Notes: $Q3rder;tGgl area, of,ntixe0..ggP.................. _ . . _ Landmark value: Dominant ( ✓ ] f=amiliar ( I Little knc a) in neighbourhood [ J Notes' LOGaif,4n Park Cscerr. atttte enrol A_jdrj ~!3su14v,_It~rrpynus_yl3,w R9ccnrler. J_Sminon..'R.Urt rmsSr?...... _,....,Date tvrpverr:[??4,_2.9Ut..,..... Title f rrn:.U.a1911MI AcPhail As Film; Neg. John t't', Sabeinn, PhD, OM(' , Historical Consultant Gordon Z,irrinierlT an, R.Arch (T ororiu.)), Architectural CMWn LJlMM, i ATTACHMENT 1EPOiTUP0 }{i tr;it_il[i 3i;itlt,i Htil1, c I'r keiitlb _ _ April 2012 CITY OF PICKERING - INVENTORY OF HERITAGE RESOURCES Field Survey Form: Built Heritage Features MuniclpaUfire address: `i69..PA5 RESCENT _ tat: 27 Con: 3,8.F Site name rit known) : Village: Fja crt_F3 c1......... - Assessment Roll No.: "eleven digits" Photograph: 11! 01 illl:ill~ll '4 L East elevation of 560 Park Crescent from Surf Avenue. Additional notes: • CwnFf requested that no photographs ha taurn on the grop?rty. fl rorder: iv~krr Ji:,osi, fl tirtet . Cate Nn'er tn, ?4.:.200 True;:;€m: unterrrran t cPt) 3i . I- s! r, ;Neg. 8 1 f,i n] 17 Consultant (:rf?rt 0rl 7,iM M(? nrar:, BArch, (Toronto), Arch, itect ira1 (0,,)_ ilia<1)t' 2 L ATTACHMENTS ~ TO REPOW, PI) Q F U J 11istoric~ l ttcpawt for Heriu;u e flick ing, April 2012 ■ II ,1N,VEN"r1U`RY FO NESBIT-NEWMAN HOUSE Name: Alternative Name(s): Location 560 Park Crescent Street Address: Broken Front, Range 3, Lot 27, S 1 /2 Concession and Lot: Lat 43° 48' 30.09" N Global Positioning System (GPS): Long 79° 06' 12.84" W Fairport Village; Dunbarton; Rouge Village / Hamlet: Hill East Direction ositionin : Description 263110744 Property Identification Number: 1801010029231000000 Assessment Roll Number: Canadian Inventory of Historic Buildings CIHB : Designation: Associations Nesbit; Newman Family / Families: Events: Date of Construction Known: 1853 Circa: Builder: Peter Nesbit Architect: Not known Heritage Information Georgian vernacular; John W. Sahei:m PhD, f NIC, lfisto ri_t. <ft (,onsultant Gordon Zirrimerman, [3.tlrch (Tonmto~), Architecturat Consultant. 33 A'.i TACHMENT# TO Historical Report for Heritage Pica cI l'119 J - . _ 8April 2012 American classical tradition Design or Style: None Date Stone or Plaque: Archaeological Notes: Occupancy (with date): 1853: farmhouse; 2012: residence Type of Building: Residential; farmhouse Building Plan Ground Floor: 1 1/2 Storeys: 3 bays front /east elevation Bays: Traditional Upper Canada Georgian Layout: Substructure Stone Materials: Good Condition: Main Wall Structure Fieldstone Materials: Good Condition: Building Envelope N/A Materials: Condition: Roof Side gable; dormer a later addition Type: Asphalt Materials: Good Condition: Porches and Stairs: Porch (not original) removed; pillars still standing Wall Openings John W, Sahean, PhD, 0MC, Historical Ccinst3it<;nt Gordon Zirnrnernian, BArch (Toronto), Architectural Consultant 34 MACH MENT# ~ TO His o 3(,,ai R M PR ,7717677//i c ~ Cf'1'il1r 87 _ April 2012 Wood, double hung Windows: Centre door with sidelights and Doors: transom lights Condition: Notable Features Classical proportions and balance Exterior: Interior: Alterations: West side "tail" altered Other Buildings Barn: Shed: Other: Landscape: Extensive grounds to south, west, and north; stone wall along Park Crescent; tree groupings Landmark Value: Dominant; view from Surf Avenue Additional Notes: Photographs Historic with date : Recent with date : Sources 1998 Treadway 2001 Photo Unterman McPhail John W, Sahean, PhD, 0MC, Historical C.onsultant Gordon Zimmerman, B.Arch (Toros uo), Architectural Consiritant 35 ATTACHMENT#~_TO REPORT# PID ILI ~ n Nesbit-Newman House 560 Park Crescent, Pickering Designation Statement Description of Property 560 Park Crescent, Pickering The subject property is a one-and-a-half-storey, three-bay fieldstone farmhouse built in the mid-1850s in a modified Georgian style. It is located on a 4.8-hectare lot on the west side of Park Crescent, at the western terminus of Surf Avenue, in the City of Pickering's West Shore neighbourhood. Statement of Cultural Value or Interest The Nesbit-Newman House is historically significant as a vestige of the early Scottish settlement surrounding the Hamlet of Dunbarton and for its association with several prominent Pickering citizens. The house was constructed by Peter Nesbit (1808-1896) as part of his "Lakeview" farm in the mid-1850s at a time when Pickering's booming economy prompted residents to build permanent and sturdy homes in place of earlier, sometimes temporary, structures. Nesbit, a native of Haddington, Scotland, was part of an influx of Scottish settlers to Pickering in the 1830s following the arrival of William Dunbar and the development of Dunbarton. A renowned farmer, Nesbit has been described as one of the "worthies" of Dunbarton and contributed a long and distinguished service to the local church. When the new Dunbarton Church (now Dunbarton-Fairport United Church) was constructed in 1886, it was Nesbit who was given the honour of. laying the cornerstone. A later resident of the home, Harry A. Newman (1888-1976), also made significant contributions to Pickering's religious community. In 1934, Mr. Newman established St. Paul's bn-the-Hill Anglican Church by funding the relocation of a deconsecrated Toronto church to lands that he owned in Pickering along Kingston Road. Mr. Newman remained active in the community throughout his life and served as the first Canadian President of Lions Clubs International and Chairman of the fundraising campaign for the expansion of the Ajax and Pickering General Hospital in 1964. Mr. Newman's son, William G. Newman (1928-1988), is another notable citizen with a connection to the property. William G. Newman served as Reeve of Pickering Township in 1956 at age 27, making him the youngest ever head-of-council in the municipality. He enjoyed a long history in politics as a Member of Provincial Parliament from 1967 to 1981, becoming Minister of Environment in 1974 and Minister of Agriculture and Food in 1975. The Nesbit-Newman House is architecturally significant in its proportions, unified design, symmetrical balance and general massing as a fine, extant example of an Ontario farmhouse in the vernacular American classical tradition. The ashlar fieldstone masonry of the exterior walls is of a very fine order and the door, window and other exterior details are reflective of the Georgian principles of proportion and symmetry. The house is characterized by a symmetrical centre hall plan and possesses a traditional rear "tail;" in this case, a contemporary two-storey addition. The house is set atop a small raise of land, providing a proud and imposing presence from the street. Its park-like surroundings are key to its history as a farm and the natural spaces immediately surrounding all sides of the building are critical in retaining its pastoral setting. As the only remaining 19th century stone ATTACHMENT REP©RT;r PD - /d2 89 building in the West Shore neighbourhood and one of very few buildings of this vintage in South Pickering, the Nesbit-Newman House is a visible landmark and a cherished resource in the community. Description of Heritage Attributes Key attributes that embody the heritage value of the Nesbit-Newman House include its: • Historical association with early Scottish settlement near Dunbarton and notable citizens Peter Nesbit, Harry A. Newman and William G. Newman • Existence as a fine, extant example of a Georgian-inspired Ontario farmhouse • Rectangular plan with symmetrical three-bay main fagade • Finely crafted ashlar fieldstone masonry with flat-arch voussoirs above all openings • Medium sloped gable roof • Stone chimneys centrally located on both gable walls • Moulded wooden cornice with eave returns on gable walls • Formal fenestration arrangement with small windows in relation to surface area of stone walls • 12-over-12 Georgian-style, double-hung windows on the main fagade • Central entrance with well-proportioned transom and truncated sidelights • Stone cellarway enclosure on the northern elevation • Two Arts and Crafts-style stone posts bordering the driveway north of the house • Neatly arranged loose rubble stone pile running parallel to the street at the front of the house • Setting atop a small raise of land at the terminus of Surf Avenue • Clear and unobstructed relation to the street (Park Crescent) • Pastoral setting with natural space immediately surrounding all exterior walls • Status as a visible landmark in the West Shore neighbourhood and South Pickering community