ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVANCY OF NORTH WATERLOO REGION BRANCH NEWSLETTER

MAY - JUNE 2008

Kitchener, Waterloo & Townships of Wilmot, Woolwich & Wellesley Web Site - arconserve.ca

The Executive for 2007 - 2008

John Arndt – President, Editor Gordon Nelson – Vice-President 519 578-7624; [email protected] Marg Rowell, Secretary Joyce Arndt – Membership/Treasurer Kendra Green – Member at Large Ted Ray – Display Coordinator Marjorie Bender – Social Convener Patty Clarke – Waterloo Regional Brian Dietrich – Publicity Coordinator & Branch Heritage Foundation Representative Representative to Provincial ACO Council

PROGRAM

Topic

THE BAD, UGLY & BEAUTIFUL IN ARCHITECTURAL STYLES – MOSTLY BEAUTIFUL

To be held at ANGIE’S KITCHEN IN ST AGATHA

Desserts and light snack by Angie’s

Wednesday June 4, 2008

7:00 pm

Everyone is Welcome Bring a Friend

Ted Ray – educator, world- traveler, photographer extraordinaire, will present for our pleasure and edification a visual talk on buildings and their architectural styles that he has photographed over the years. Many styles are local – a few are ugly and brutal – most are beautiful – thus the title of the talk. Ted has strong opinions on various styles - come and see if you agree with him – it’s ok to disagree!

There will be a brief Annual General Meeting of the Branch at which a new executive will be voted in for 2008-2009 year.

For more information contact John Arndt (519 578-7624) or any other member of the Executive

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Marg Rowell sent this information about the historic building in St. Agatha that now houses Angie’s Many settlers in St. Agatha came from Alsace-Lorraine and Baden in Germany and Europe. The original hotel on the site was built by Antony Kaiser who in 1839 arrived with his son, Antony Kaiser II. He was justice of the peace, first postmaster, deputy reeve and reeve of the village in the 1850s and 1860s. Unfortunately, in 1854 while he was on a visit to Buffalo, fire destroyed the original hotel. By the time he returned, his good neighbours had cleared away the ruins and made a start on rebuilding a new frame hotel, the current building. It is now covered in stucco. Learn more at the June 4 meeting.

Sketch by Theodore Dietrich 1930

Here are two great websites that have been kindly submitted by a Branch member: http://www.digital.library.mcgill.ca/CountyAtlas/ Unfortunately, the Waterloo County Atlas is not on this web site http://www.thekingshighway.ca/

Book Notice: Towers of Time, by Marc Boileau. Looking Back Press, 2006.

This book is about the ghosts, tombstones and survivors of those architectural gems - the towered post offices and government structures - built in so many cities and towns between 1871 and 1918. The author describes these “domestic embassies” which were inspired by the original Parliament Buildings (built 1859-1865) design by Thomas Fuller and Chilion Jones. A narrative and visual description is provided of the three great architects in the employ of the Architect Branch of the federal government who were responsible for most of these towered structures -Thomas S. Scott, Thomas Fuller and David Ewart. A community was proud of its clock-towered federal building; however, this pride did not last into the twentieth century. The ghosts he refers to are those buildings that have been demolished, e.g. Kitchener (demolished in 1964), Paris (demolished in 1961), Preston-Cambridge (demolished in 1961), Listowel (demolished in 1982); local survivors, although not as federal buildings, can be found in Waterloo, Galt-Cambridge, Stratford, Woodstock, Elmira, Elora (still a postal service building), Hespeler-Cambridge. “The construction of public buildings is invariably charged with politics and few of these buildings were constructed without some controversy. In the Towers of Time you will find anecdotes of the debates, the local contractors and builders, construction follies and tales of timepiece intrigue and destruction.” [From the back cover] A GOOD READ! For a copy of the book email Marc Boileau at - [email protected]

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LANG TANNING COMPANY, BERLIN/KITCHENER DEVELOPMENTS HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT (HIA)

Cadan Inc and E.R.A Architects, both of Toronto, have written an excellent 49 page Heritage Impact Assessment Study [HIA study] concerning the former Lang Tanning Company industrial building complex located in downtown Kitchener. This study was presented to Heritage Kitchener at their May 6 meeting. In all likelihood there will be much media attention when the HIA is presented to City Council. This study extensively describes the following: property location and general description, existing heritage recognition, description of the property and its heritage attributes, statement of cultural heritage value, historical occupancy and evolution, architectural description, proposed site development, conservation principles, and the impact of the proposed development.

The Lang Tannery site occupies 5 ½ acres bounded by Charles, Joseph, Francis and Victoria streets. There are 15 interconnected buildings built between 1896 and 1956. [page 3]. Here is a summary of the proposed development of the site in relation to stated conservation principles. [page 23] : maintain appropriate physical relationships and visual settings that contribute to the cultural significance of the complex; preserve the historic character of the tannery, do not over repair or restore; respect the visual expression of the complex’s construction and operation; create related new construction that conserves the essential form and integrity of the Lang Tannery; conserve the exterior elements that are important to defining the overall heritage value of the buildings; provide for the participation of the people for whom the place has special associations and meanings by making the property relevant and integrated with the community. [Editor’s note: the authors of this study compare the development of the former Lang Tannery property to the Gooderman Brewery and Brick Yard redevelopments in Toronto. In such a context, it appears that this will be an exciting development for downtown Kitchener.]

CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED: [Note: editor’s words in square brackets]

From Cathy Nasmith: April 28, 2008 John: I just found out via Brian Dietrich that the North Waterloo Region Branch [executive], on your recommendation, took it upon themselves to cover the cost of the excellent lunch and refreshments at the [provincial ACO] Council meeting at Doon Heritage Crossroads [held March 15]. And a special thanks for organizing the spectacular tour with Tom Reitz of the collection, which came as a surprise and real treat for all of us. The special 75th anniversary certificate from Regional Chair Ken Seiling was a thoughtful gesture greatly appreciated and is displayed proudly in our office on Adelaide Street. Congratulations on hosting the ACO’s largest Council meeting ever. Sincerely Catherine Nasmith, President Architectural Conservancy of Ontario

From Robert Shipley: [Re article in April 2008 Newsletter “The Schweitzer House (aka UW Grad House) Under Threat,” and various articles in The Record including “Grad House Receives Reprieve,” http://news.the record.com/news/Local/article/346332] Hello Friends of the Grad House: In case you have not heard about this yet, the word is that the Engineering Faculty has withdrawn its request to use the land on which the Grad House stands for expansion of engineering buildings. This is good news for those of us who have expressed strong interest in retaining the building and the institution it houses. However, I think this is more of a beginning than an end. I would like to float the idea of setting up a “Friends of the Grad House” group with at least three goals: a) to begin collecting money for renovation, b) to engage students about the needs of a growing grad population and c) beginning to look at design solutions to address the existing problems with the building and site. If you are interested, please let me know. Regards – Robert Shipley [email protected] (519)888-4567 ext 35615

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From Jane Snyder RE DOORS OPEN WATERLOO REGION Saturday, September 20, 2008. Most sites are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special 2008 Ontario-wide theme Engaging citizens in community conservation We hope you will: 1) list this event in your newsletters/publications/event listings 2) announce the event at your meetings, executive meetings and AGM's 3) think about ways that we can cross-promote your events and Doors Open Waterloo Region 4) announce a call for volunteers to your organizations 5) want to volunteer for Doors Open 2008! 6) Want to attend! Look for your copy of the Doors Open Waterloo Region map & guide in the Saturday, September 13 edition of The Record! Please don't hesitate to contact myself or Karl Kessler at [email protected]. or telephone - 519-747-5139. Thank you again for your support for Doors Open. Kind regards, Jane Snyder, Promotions, Doors Open Waterloo Region

NORTH WATERLOO REGION BRANCH TO PARTICIPATE IN HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT (HCD) STUDY

ACO (through the joint efforts of the following branches - North Waterloo Region, Hamilton Region, , and St. Catherines, as well as Heritage and the Huron County Historical Society) has been awarded a Trillium Grant to undertake a study of Heritage Conservation Districts (HCDs). The study will be undertaken by the Heritage Resources Centre at the University of Waterloo with Kayla Jonas as project coordinator. Each participating branch of ACO will have volunteers from their branch and from the Heritage Resources Centre assisting in the collection of data about the HCD under study. Marg Rowell has generously volunteered to be the resource person for the North Waterloo Region Branch. The study is being undertaken with the full cooperation of the municipalities, including heritage planners and municipal heritage committees in which the HCDs are located. The North Waterloo Region Branch will be responsible for Victoria Park Conservation District in Kitchener, New Hamburg Core Area in Wilmot Township, and Brant Avenue Heritage District in [since there is no ACO branch there].

The aim of this study is to answer the following question – “Have Heritage Conservation Districts in Ontario been successful heritage planning initiatives over a period of time?”

There are at least 75 HDCs in the province with the earliest designation in 1980. There appears to be a resistance to HCDs from some members of the public with concerns about loss of control over one’s property, impact on property values and bureaucratic processes. The benefits of HCDs, such as establishing high standards of maintenance and design, and allowing the development of and compliance with shared community values, are not as widely perceived as might be the case.

Specific Objectives of the Study: to determine if HCDs have achieved the goals set out when they were designated; to ask if residents/owners are satisfied with the HCD process; to communicate with municipality to determine how many applications for alterations have been made and how long they have taken; to examine if and how property values have been affected; to look at what characteristics of HCDs and their contexts have most influenced their performance; to speculate whether the existing HCDs were the best candidate areas in their municipalities when they were designated. Information will be gathered through site visits, interviews with residents and owners, the examination and analysis of relevant documents, and the analysis of real estate sales histories.

The aim of the study is to answer the above question, and, by doing so, the conclusions coming forth will be of benefit to municipalities and residents of Heritage Conservation Districts.

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