Report to/Rapport au :
Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee
Comité consultatif sur la
conservation de l'architecture locale
and / et
Planning and Environment Committee
Comité de l'urbanisme et de
l'environnement
and Council / et au Conseil
14 October 2009/ 14 octobre 2009
Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager, Directrice municipale adjointe,
Infrastructure Services and
Community Sustainability, Services d’infrastructure et Viabilité des
collectivités
Contact
Person/Personne-ressource : John Smit, Manager/Gestionnaire, Development
Review-Urban Services/Examen des projets d'aménagement-Services urbains,
Planning and Growth Management/Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance
(613)
580-2424, 13866 John.Smit@ottawa.ca
REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory
Committee recommend that the Planning and Environment Committee recommend that
Council approve the designation of the Richardson Farmhouse, 1665 Richardson
Side Road under Part IV of the Ontario
Heritage Act in accordance with the Statement of Cultural Heritage Value,
attached as Document 4.
RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT
Que le Comité consultatif
sur la conservation de l’architecture locale recommande au Comité de
l’urbanisme et de l’environnement de recommander à son tour au Conseil d’approuver la désignation du bâtiment de
ferme Richardson, situé au 1665, chemin secondaire Richardson, aux termes de
l’article IV de la Loi sur le patrimoine de l’Ontario, conformément à
l’énoncé de valeur sur le plan de patrimoine culturel, ci-joints en tant que
document 4.
BACKGROUND
The Richardson Farmhouse, 1665 Richardson Side Road (see Location Map, Document 1 and Bird’s Eye View, Document 2), was built circa 1871 by Thomas A. Richardson and was owned and inhabited by descendants of Thomas Richardson until its sale to Uniform Developments in 2007. There is a proposed Plan of Subdivision for the site, which includes a caveat to ensure the retention of the Richardson Farmhouse.
DISCUSSION
Ontario Heritage Act
Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act provides municipalities with the authority to designate properties of cultural heritage value. The City’s Local Architectural Advisory Committee (LACAC) considers the designation and then makes a recommendation to Planning and Environment Committee (PEC) and City Council. Council’s decision can be appealed. If an appeal is submitted, a Conservation Review Board Hearing is held and its decision referred back to Council. Council may then choose to uphold or withdraw its original designation.
Official Plan
The Official Plan has heritage provisions in “Cultural Heritage Resources”, Section 2.5.5.2 and 2.5.5.5. These policies provide for the identification and designation of individual buildings under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act:
“Individual buildings, structures and cultural heritage landscapes will be designated as properties of cultural heritage value under Part IV of the Heritage Act.”
Provincial Policy Statement
Section 2.6.1 of the Provincial Policy Statement (2005) contains the following policy regarding the protection of cultural heritage resources: “Significant built heritage resources and significant cultural heritage landscapes shall be conserved,”
Research conducted by heritage staff confirmed that the designation of the Richardson Farmhouse is consistent with all of the above policies.
The Richardson Farmhouse was built circa 1871 by Thomas A. Richardson, the fourth of six sons of Anne and Frederick Richardson. Frederick and Anne Richardson were one of the earliest pioneering families in South March Township and the land on which the Richardson Farmhouse is located was originally cleared and settled by them in 1820. All six of Frederick’s sons farmed the land along with him and each built their own house on the land as was typical of pioneer families in the 19th century. The great fire of March Township in 1870 burned Thomas Richardson’s original 1857 house although oral history suggests that when this house was built after the fire it was built on the original foundation.
Four generations of the Richardson family lived in this house between 1871 and 2008. The Richardson family farmed the land that this house stands on and the surrounding 100 acres for more than 175 years and this farmhouse is important as the last remaining physical reminder of the great successes of the Richardson family in the 19th and 20th centuries. The importance of the Richardson family is evident in the naming of Richardson Side Road on which the farm is located. This house is the last remaining home on the Richardson farmland and was owned by Richardson descendants until its recent sale for development.
The Richardson Farmhouse is a one and a half storey central gable stone farmhouse typical of the Gothic Revival houses built throughout Ontario in the latter part of the 19th Century. There is also a later one-storey stone kitchen addition at the rear with a gabled roof dormer. The house faces southwest on the property and is surrounded by mature trees and is constructed of dressed limestone, featuring a central gable with a window on the front façade. This window features an unusual ogee arch. The front façade of the house is symmetrical and features two large rectangular windows and a large central doorway. The gable ends also feature a symmetrical window pattern. All of the windows have stone sills, lintels, keystones and decorative trim. There is quoining in stone in a contrasting colour at the corners of the building.
This house sits on a small hill overlooking the farm and various outbuildings located below. While these outbuildings speak to the rural and agricultural context of this area, and provide additional context for the farmhouse, they have been substantially altered and are in poor condition overall. There have also been several additions to the house over time with only the stone kitchen addition considered to be of value.
The Richardson Farmhouse is a good example of a 19th century stone farmhouse and has significant historical associations. The farmhouse meets a number of the criteria laid out in Ontario Regulation 09/06 (see Document 3): it has design value as a good example of a well-crafted 19th century stone farmhouse; it has contextual value for its role as a reminder of the agricultural history of March Township and its setting at the top of a small hill overlooking the farm is an important reminder of the prominence of the farmhouse in the rural landscape of the Ottawa region. Finally, the Richardson Farmhouse has associative value for its association with the Richardson family, who were important early settlers of South March Township.
RURAL IMPLICATIONS
N/A
CONSULTATION
The current owner and developer of the surrounding lands, Uniform Urban Developments has been notified of the proposed designation and does not object.
Councillor Marianne Wilkinson is aware of the proposed designation and fully supports it.
LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS
There are no legal/risk management implications associated with this
report.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
N/A
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 1 Location Map
Document 2 Bird’s Eye View
Document 3 Ontario Regulation 09/06 Criteria for determining cultural heritage value
Document 4 Statement of Cultural Heritage Value
Document 5 Heritage Survey and Evaluation Form
DISPOSITION
City Clerk and Solicitor
Department, Legislative Services to notify the property owner and the Ontario
Heritage Trust (10 Adelaide Street East, 3rd Floor, Toronto,
Ontario, M5C 1J3) of Council’s decision to designate the Richardson Farmhouse,
1665 Richardson Side Road, under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.
Planning and
Growth Management to advertise the Notice of Intention to Designate according
to the Act and subsequent Notice of the passage of the designation bylaw.
Planning and
Growth Management to include the property on the municipal heritage register.
Legal Services to prepare the designation bylaw, submit it to City Council for enactment, serve the bylaw and register it on title following passage by Council.
Ontario Heritage Act
ONTARIO REGULATION 9/06
CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING
CULTURAL HERITAGE VALUE OR INTEREST
No
amendments.
This is the English version of a bilingual regulation.
Criteria
1. (1) The
criteria set out in subsection (2) are prescribed for the purposes of clause 29
(1) (a) of the Act. O. Reg. 9/06, s. 1 (1).
(2) A
property may be designated under section 29 of the Act if it meets one or more
of the following criteria for determining whether it is of cultural heritage
value or interest:
1.
The property has design value or physical value because it,
i.
is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type,
expression, material or construction method,
ii.
displays a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit, or
iii.
demonstrates a high degree of technical or scientific achievement.
2.
The property has historical value or associative value because it,
i.
has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity,
organization or institution that is significant to a community,
ii.
yields, or has the potential to yield, information that contributes to an
understanding of a community or culture, or
iii.
demonstrates or reflects the work or ideas of an architect, artist, builder,
designer or theorist who is significant to a community.
3.
The property has contextual value because it,
i.
is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area,
ii.
is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its
surroundings, or
iii.
is a landmark. O. Reg. 9/06, s. 1 (2).
Transition
2. This
Regulation does not apply in respect of a property if notice of intention to
designate it was given under subsection 29 (1.1) of the Act on or before
January 24, 2006. O. Reg. 9/06, s. 2.
HERITAGE SURVEY AND EVALUATION
FORM
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Address |
1665
Richardson Side Road |
Building
name |
Richardson
Farmhouse |
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Construction date |
c.1871 |
Original
owner |
Thomas
A. Richardson |
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PHASE ONE EVALUATION |
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Potential significance |
Considerable |
Some |
Limited |
None |
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|
Design |
|
2 |
|
|
|
||||||
|
History |
3 |
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|
|
|
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Context |
|
2 |
|
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|
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Phase One Score |
7 / 9 |
|
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Phase Two Classification |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
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|
Design or Physical Value |
prepared
by Lesley Collins |
|
month/year
August 2009 |
|
|
Architecture
(style, building type, expression, material, construction method) |
|
|
The
Richardson Farmhouse is a one and a half storey central gable stone farmhouse
typical of the Gothic Revival houses built throughout Ontario in the latter
part of the 19th Century. There is also a later one-storey stone
kitchen addition at the rear with a gabled roof dormer. The house is
constructed of dressed limestone and features a central gable with a window
on the front façade of the house. This window features an unusual ogee arch.
The front façade of the house is symmetrical and features two large
rectangular windows and a large central doorway. The gable ends also feature
a symmetrical window pattern and quoins at the corners. All of the windows
have stone sills, lintels, keystones and decorative trim in a contrasting
colour. |
|
|
Craftsmanship/Artistic
merit |
|
|
While
the Richardson Farmhouse is a typical example of a one and a half storey
stone farmhouse from this period, it is well-crafted with considerable
attention to details such as the ogee arch on the front façade and the
differentiation between the stone colours in the quoining and keystones
around the windows and doors. The stone used in the house was likely quarried
from the limestone quarry on the Richardson land. |
|
|
Technical/Scientific
merit |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
Summary |
|
|
The
Richardson Farmhouse is a good example of a stone farmhouse with modest
detailing around the windows and doors. |
|
|
Sources |
|
|
|
|
|
Historical and Associative Value |
prepared by Lesley Collins |
|
month/year August 2009 |
|
|
Date of construction
(factual/estimated) |
Circa 1871 |
|
Themes/Events/Persons/Institutions |
|
|
The
Richardson Farmhouse is important for its association with one of the
earliest pioneer families in South March Township. The Richardson family has
been cited as a classic example of the migrant experience in 19th
Century Ontario.[1] Frederick
W. Richardson, his wife Anne and their daughter Mary Ann came to Canada from
Northern Tipperary in 1819. Frederick purchased 100 acres of forested land in
South March. The Richardsons had six sons who all settled and worked on the
farm throughout their lives, each building their own house prior to marriage.
Upon Frederick Richardson’s death in 1879, the land was divided among his six
sons and two grandsons with each family member receiving title to the land
they worked on while their father was alive. This cooperative type of land
ownership was common among early settlers and their sons. This
house is specifically related to Thomas A. Richardson, the fourth son of
Frederick and Anne Richardson. Thomas was born in 1838 and married Margaret
A. Armstrong in 1860 at the age of 22. The Richardson Family was greatly
impacted by the great fire of 1870, which destroyed all of their homes
including the house that originally stood on this land. Thomas Richardson
rebuilt this house circa 1871 on the same location as his original home. Oral
history suggests that the 1857 foundation of his original home was used. Four
generations of the Richardson family have lived in this house between 1871
and 2008. The Richardson Family farmed the land that this house stands on and
the surrounding 100 acres for more than 175 years and this farmhouse is
important as the last remaining physical reminder of the great successes of
the Richardson family in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The importance of the Richardson Family is evident in the naming of
Richardson Side Road on which the farm is located. This house is the last
remaining home on the Richardson farmland and was owned by Richardson
descendants until its recent sale for development. |
|
|
Community
History |
|
|
This
area of March Township was unsettled and un-cleared prior to the arrival of
Frederick W. Richardson and his family. The Richardson Family is significant
to the history of March Township as an early pioneer family but also for
their extensive involvement in municipal politics and the educational system.
Frederick Richardson was councillor, reeve and town assessor. The Richardson
family were among the founders of the School Section No. 1 and the stones for
the schoolhouse were drawn from the Richardson Quarry. The Richardsons were
also active members of the Anglican church in March. |
|
|
Designer/Architect |
|
|
Unknown |
|
|
Summary |
|
|
The
Richardson Farmhouse is significant for its association with the long history
of farming on this land by the Richardson family for over 175 years. It is the last remaining residential
building on the Richardson land. |
|
|
Sources |
|
|
Burns,
Bernard et.al. March Past. 1972. Elliot, Bruce S. Irish Migrants in the
Canadas : A New Approach 2nd Edition. 2004. |
|
|
Contextual Value |
prepared
by Lesley Collins |
|
month/year
August 2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
Community
Character |
|
|
March
Township was settled as both a farming and lumber community however, as
lumbering moved farther along the Ottawa River, this community became mainly
a farming town in the 19th Century. Today, the area of former
March Township is now part of Kanata and the City of Ottawa. There has been a
great deal of suburban residential and commercial development in the area of
the former township but there are areas remaining that represent the farming
history of March. |
|
|
Context/Links
to Surroundings |
|
|
The
Richardson Farmhouse still sits on a large agricultural plot of land and a
number of farm related buildings remain on the site. |
|
|
Landmark |
|
|
Located
on Richardson Side Road, the farmhouse is a landmark as it is set on a small
hill above the rest of the farm. This setting would allow the farmer to view
the lands from the house. Its association with the Richardson family for 175
years also contributes to its landmark status. |
|
|
Summary |
|
|
The
Richardson Farmhouse is an important landmark along Richardson Side Road and
reminder of the former farming character of former March Township. |
|
