Village Squire, 1980-10, Page 6from its unique architecture, appointed the seven -member
Goderich Architectural Advisory Committee in 1975, and the
committee's job was to recommend buildings or sections of the
town which should be designated as historically or architectural-
ly important.
One of the committee members appointed was Dorothy
Wallace, who already served on the county -wide architectural
conservation group.
Other members of the committee included Gary Davidson,
county planner, Elsa Haydon, representing Goderich council,
Don Croft, Roy Breckenridge, Roslyn Campbell and Joan Van
Den Broeck.
Their first challenge was to prepare a list of the town's
buildings which should be preserved. Mrs. Wallace said the
group wanted houses that represented early Canadian building -
"that were typical of early Canadian architecture and also that
had historically -prominent people living in them."
They started with a list of over 200 buildings considered worth
conserving by the Historic Sites Service branch of Parks Canada.
Starting from this inventory, researchers Winnie Stopps, an
architectural student and Victor Lund, a planning graduate from
the University of Waterloo, searched through registry office
records and archival materials and interviewed homeowners to
compile a list of 25 buildings recommended for immediate
heritage designation.
debate the designation and there were objections. For example,
storeowners on the square were affected by the ruling since
ground floors in buildings can be altered in the future, but
second floors can't be changed without special permission from
council.
Now detailed information on buildings within the square has
been forwarded to the Ministry of Culture and Recreation and
the final steps in the designation process are almost complete.
The town of Goderich, Mrs. Wallace said, is neck and neck in a
race with another municipality to be the first town in the province
with a Heritage Conservation District.
When the designation is approved by the government, it will
be built into the town's official plan.
But while the advisory committee has had its triumphs, there
have also been buildings they weren't able to save or prevent
from being altered
For example, the Park House, now the Harbour Park Inn, was
the home of Thomas Mercer Jones, the notorious Canada
Company land agent, and the man whose unfair practices led
many local pioneers to support McKenzie in the 1837 Rebellion.
In 1945, the house was damaged by fire, and the distinctive
French -style roof, which was an important part of the home's
design, was replaced with a full third storey
Another home which Mrs. Wallace believes should be
designated for its historic interest is "The Ridge", a distinctive
"A person can love his house very much. but not afford
to get a new roof or get it painted."
The booklet they produced, The Heritage Buildings of
Goderich, recommended that 13 sites be designated
immediately, if the owners agreed.
Mrs. Wallace said when the buildings were selected. a student
in the planning office approached homeowners with a package
which included a resume of the Ontario Heritage Act. and other
pertinent information on what designation would mean to future
plans for the building.
The homeowners who complied with the designation request
were often already very interested in their home's past and
intent on preserving the building.
One of the homes recommended for designation is the former
Hand's Bakery, now owned by Rev. W. Craven, at 169 West
Street, across from the former home of Canada Company agent
Thomas Mercer Jones.
Built in the 1840's, the frame home is an excellent and rare
example of Greek Revival design. Few buildings like this exist
today, since frame homes were especially vulnerable to the
ravages of weather and fire.
The house, at the top of harbour hill, was built by D.B.O. Ford,
and laser sold to Henry Hands. a baker. During the 1866 Fenian
Raids, the house was used as a guardhouse.
For historians, the house also holds special interest, since it
was the scene of an elaborate ball described by the Lizar sisters
in their popular book, In The Days of the Canada Company.
While 10 of the buildings recommended for designation were
private homes, two were public buildings - Goderich Public
Library and the Huron Historic Gaol.
With their success in designating the first group of buildings
behind them, the committee then took a big step and instigated
designation of an entire section of the town. The heritage district
will take in "what we call the big square", Mrs. Wallace said -
an area bounded by Victoria Street -Elgin Avenue, Waterloo
Street and Nelson Street.
Mrs. Wallace admits the idea didn't gain wholehearted
support from the community - three public meetings were held to
PG. 4 VILLAGE SQUIRE/OCTOBER 1980
white frame home of the banks of the Maitland River.
The Ridge is outside the town's boundaries. in Colborne
Township. which doesn't yet have an architectural advisory
group. Mrs. Wallace said the part of the home which protrudes
at the front contains the original hunting lodge built by Baron de
Tuyll, founder of Bayfield. Then, later in its history, John Galt's
son lived in The Ridge. which Mrs. Wallace said was likely built
in the 1820's, making it one of the area's oldest surviving
buildings.
Since Colborne Township was a popular area for pioneers who
wanted to be within hailing distance of Dr. Dunlop and his
estate. Gairbraid. Mrs. Wallace said the township is packed with
history and consideration should be given to preserving it.
But. designating buildings isn't an advisory committee's only
goal. "Part of our object is to educate people about the value of
the building stock we have here and the fact that they're
unique." Mrs. Wallace pointed out.
What does designation mean for the owners of those
properties?Once a property is designated, proposed alterations
that may affect the reasons for designation must be reviewed by
the local committee and approved by the municipal council. The
intention isn't to prohibit the owner from making necessary
repairs and improvements, but to safeguard those elements of
the property which have architectural or historical merit.
Some homeowners, naturally, do refuse designation of their
property, fearing they'll either be prevented from renovating
the house or selling the property in the future. Since designation
is a voluntary process between council and property owners,
little can be done to guarantee that these buildings are
preserved.
Mrs. Wallace and other committee members, however,
understand the pressures facing homeowners - recent changes in
assessment laws, which have increased the tax burden on older
homes, and of course, the cost of heating these homes.
As Mrs. Wallace said, "Even to cope with the heating bills on
some of these houses is horrendous." Faced with these