Category Archives: Heritage Preservation

A news item that pertains to or effects matters of Heritage Preservation within the community of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.

Scarborough Archives verandah restoration begins

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Scarborough Archives after restoration of wooden verandah. Photo: Don Allen

By Jeremy Hopkin.

The Scarborough Historical Society is pleased to announce the restoration of the upper woodwork on the verandah of the Scarborough Archives building is complete. The facility in which the Scarborough Archives now resides was formerly the W.J. Morrish general store. Constructed during 1891, the building served residents of Highland Creek and surrounding rural areas as a general store until closing its doors in 1967.

Although essential repairs to the exterior of the building were made when the Archives first occupied the building, the verandah could not be included as it did not work within funding guidelines. In the meantime Scarborough Historical Society volunteers continually painted all exposed woodwork on the verandah to protect it from further deterioration until project funding could be acquired.

Earlier this year, Hydro One stepped forward to provide the Scarborough Historical Society with a donation to commence with restoration. A request for tender was publicized and the architectural restoration specialists of Colonial Building Restoration were awarded the work contract. They began the process of dismantling and stripping the wood on July 3rd, 2012.

Scarborough Archives verandah woodwork under restoration, 2012. Photo: Rick Schofield.

Over a century of accumulated paint was painstakingly removed from the wood by use of heat guns and stripping tools. This revealed that although most of the underlying wood is in great shape for its age, time has taken its toll – two of the main posts had to be replaced along with other small deteriorated areas. Sections with dry rot or damage were replicated and replaced so that the entire verandah could be properly reassembled and painted.

As paint was removed, notes were made on the layers of coatings which once covered the wooden members over the years. Deep under the paint remained evidence of a coat of linseed oil from what most likely is the original sealing coat made during construction in the 1890s.

Molding details which had disappeared from the posts several years ago were also re-created, utilizing an 1894 image of the W.J. Morrish general store front as reference.

The tin plated roof of the verandah, also in need of repair, was not included in the current restoration project, although the Scarborough Historical Society plans to undertake this secondary task in the near future when additional funding can once again be acquired.
The existing tin roof is not original when one examines the 1894 photograph. However, the original roof material needs further research and in the short term, to protect the existing tin,  the Society will repair the joint where the roof meets the building and repaint the existing tin with rust inhibiting primer/sealer and quality paint.

Verandah restoration image gallery:

Scarborough Archives after restoration of wooden verandah. Photo: Don Allen
Scarborough Archives verandah woodwork under restoration. Photo: Rick Schofield.
The Scarborough Archives verandah is propped up during restoration. Photo: Rick Schofield.
The Archives verandah is propped up as a post is replaced. Photo: Rick Schofield.
An employee of Colonial Building Restoration heats and scrapes paint from the verandah of the Scarborough Archives. Photo: Don Allen.
Wooden spindle from the Scarborough Archives verandah during restoration. Photo: Rick Schofield.
Verandah of the Scarborough Archives during woodwork restoration. Photo: Don Allen.
Verandah of the Scarborough Archives during woodwork restoration. Photo: Don Allen.
Verandah of the Scarborough Archives after woodwork restoration. Photo: Don Allen.

In the news: Risebrough house of L’Amoreaux

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Risebrough house, 3551 Victoria Park Ave.

*Article from www.insidetoronto.com, Mar. 2, 2012.

OMB hearing will decide whether a heritage home on Victoria Park Avenue can remain a mosque – Islamic Society of Willowdale vice president says street parking issues have been exaggerated

An Ontario Municipal Board hearing next week will decide whether a heritage home on Victoria Park Avenue can remain in use as a mosque. Scarborough Community Council refused to rezone the property last fall after city staff reported the mosque and proposed parking areas south of McNicoll Avenue would be an “overdevelopment” of 3551 Victoria Park Ave.

The Islamic Society of Willowdale bought the 19th Century farmhouse house, which has agricultural zoning, four years ago. Since then, councillors on the North York and Scarborough sides of Victoria Park have received complaints from neighbours about a lack of parking on area streets during services at the mosque. The society has proposed tearing down the home’s garage, not covered by the heritage designation, in order to create more parking.

In an interview last September, Jim Qureshi, an ISW vice president, said the mosque serves neighbourhood children and teens as a school and community centre. He said problems with street parking have been exaggerated.

Scarborough-Agincourt Councillor Mike Del Grande, however, said the difference between the city’s and the society’s positions is “not a grey area.” Del Grande encouraged any interested residents to attend the hearing, for which the board has reserved four days, starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 6.

In the news: Annis house continues to welcome guests on Kingston Road

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16-D-4.2 Jeremiah Annis house

Jeremiah Annis house, c.1890

*From www.insidetoronto.com, Feb. 3, 2012.
Also published in the Scarborough Mirror, Feb. 3, 2012

Looking Back – By Rick Schofield

Early in 1975, the Scarborough Historical Society took steps to study the historic buildings still existing in Scarborough and to approach council to have them declared historic sites for preservation under the Ontario Heritage Act. Scarborough Council was most sympathetic at that time and was of great assistance.

The Jeremiah Annis house on Kingston Road, at Scarborough Golf Club Road, is one example of a designated historic site. Built in 1867 for the Annis family, the walls are a beautiful example of the stone work the early settlers of Scarborough were capable of creating. The fancy hand-made, wooden trim around the roof and verandah reflect how the builder took great pride in his work 100 years ago. That trim was recently restored by Douglas Roberts, a modern day heritage restoration carpenter.

The fieldstone house, with its gothic centre gable, was home to Jeremiah Annis, eleventh child of Levi Annis and Rhoda Conant.

Annis was a descendant of early Puritan settlers of Massachusetts, who came to Canada from the United States in 1793, and opened one of the first inns in 1808 for pioneer travellers along the Kingston Road. Jeremiah Annis and two of his sons long played leading parts in Scarborough’s municipal life as councillors, he in 1873, Levi E. 1889-1892, and William D. 1902-1907. William D. Annis also served as Township Reeve 1908-1912.

The stone house is a picturesque example of Upper Canadian vernacular architecture, with careful consideration given to the stone work. The former dwelling has since undergone several renovations to serve the commercial needs of today’s Kingston Road traveller.

Although the interior has been gutted, the exterior of the house has retained much of its 19th century charm. A large verandah, similar to the original, was added to replace a somewhat hideous addition built in the 1960s (before the general public had any control over such matters). While earlier renovations were not kind to the building, the recent changes have been a great improvement.

Unfortunately, the widening of Kingston Road and the change in land use did little to help retain its earlier “country home” environment.

In the 19th century Jeremiah Annis often welcomed guests who passed by on their way to or from Kingston on the stage coach line. Today, the stone house still welcomes those who pass by. Perhaps this was not what Annis had in mind when he built the house in 1867, but at least it has been saved from demolition and remains viable today as The Olde Stone Cottage Pub, one of Scarborough’s designated heritage properties.

In the news: Heritage designation rejected for Pollock house

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H.R. Pollock "Lakewood" house, built 1939

H.R. Pollock "Lakewood" house, built 1939.

*From www.insidetoronto.com, Jan. 18, 2012.
Also appeared in The Scarborough Mirror on Jan. 26, 2012.

By Mike Adler.

Scarborough councillors reject heritage designation for home built in 1939.
Bluffs’ home “Lakewood” built by Harvey Robert Pollock.

A man whose family built a home on the Scarborough Bluffs says an effort to designate the property historic wasn’t fair. “Realistically, the house is tired,” said Greg Pollock, whose grandfather Harvey Robert Pollock finished a large home on land west of the Bellamy Ravine and Gates Gully in 1939, told Scarborough councillors last week. “It makes the most economical sense to tear it down and start over.”

Pollock’s testimony on behalf of the men who bought the four acres – and a letter from his parents stating they don’t object to seeing new homes there – helped to sway councillors against investigating its heritage value.

In November, local councillor Gary Crawford, after hearing from another resident, introduced a Scarborough Community Council motion directing the Toronto Preservation Board to consider a heritage designation for the home, called Lakewood, at 13 Pine Ridge Dr. At the time, Crawford said he hadn’t had time to contact the property’s new owner but said “we owe the Pollock family” to get the designation process started before something happened to the house and land.

The matter was deferred, though, and last week the new owners complained seeking a designation now is unjust. “This is financially damaging to us,” said Robert Sterijevski, adding he and George Lazarevski paid $2.1 million in September for the property, intending to build homes for themselves and create a third building lot. The Pollock family accepted this, he said, and so did agencies such as the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, which regulates building on the bluffs.

Crawford acted when Jane Fairburn, who has investigated old homes along Toronto’s waterfront for an upcoming book, argued both Lakewood and the property itself have heritage significance. She repeated that position last week, adding she is not a “crusader” who looks around for houses to designate. It’s legal for citizens to come forward to defend heritage, Fairburn told councillors. “That’s called democracy. I’m not trying to inhibit anyone.” Asked why she didn’t act before the Pollocks sold the property, Fairburn said Lakewood’s fate was never “a live issue” until recently.

Greg Pollock said Fairburn talked to his father Robert about the house, but not, to his knowledge, about a designation. He added the family knew it was impractical for new owners to think of restoring the house. Asked by Crawford whether he felt there was historical significance in what his family contributed to Scarborough, Pollock said he felt honoured by the recognition, but “to me, it’s a private matter.”

Crawford later was alone in voting to ask the board to investigate adding Lakewood to its list of properties. He said he knew a designation may not be warranted, but wanted to be comfortable in saying the property is or isn’t worthy. “I want staff to give me proper advice.”

Lazarevski and Sterijevski said they were willing to preserve some parts of Lakewood, including a gothic stone fireplace Fairburn noted was once housed in the Ontario Legislature, in order perhaps to move them to an interested museum.

Councillor Paul Ainslie also suggested a historical plaque could one day be placed on the property.