HAMILTON HISTORICAL BOARD JOINT PLAQUING SUB-COMMITTEE To: Chair and Members Emergency & Community Services Committee

From: Dr. Walter Peace, Chair Hamilton Historical Board Signature of Chair Date: March 11, 2008 Re: Commemorative and Artist’s Recognition Plaques (Report 08-001(HHB)) (Ward 9)

Recommendation: a) That the wording for the Augustus Jones commemorative plaque, hereto attached and marked as Appendix A to Report 08-001(HHB), be approved. b) That the wording for the Augustus Jones artist’s recognition plaque, hereto attached and marked as Appendix B to Report 08-001(HHB), be approved. Background:

As part of the 2005 Stoney Creek Public Art project it was determined both a City of Hamilton commemorative plaque detailing the life of Augustus Jones and an artist’s recognition plaque were necessary to complete the project. Augustus Jones is regarded as the outstanding surveyor in ’s early history.

The attached commemorative plaque text (Appendix A to Report 08-001(HHB) was approved by the Joint Plaquing Sub-committee on 5 February 2008 and by the Hamilton Historical Board on 12 February 2008.

The attached artist’s recognition plaque text (Appendix B to Report 08-001(HHB) was reviewed by the Arts Advisory Commission on 27 March 2007, approved by the artist, Les Drysdale, on 12 April 2007, approved by the Joint Plaquing Sub-committee on 5 June 2007 and the Hamilton Historical Board on 12 June 2007.

The commemorative plaque and the artist’s recognition plaques will be installed in Stoney Creek Town Square at the site of the Augustus Jones public art piece, Jones Street and King Street East. There will be a plaque unveiling ceremony on 27 September 2008 in conjunction with Apple Day at Battlefield House Museum & Park. SUBJECT: Augustus Jones Commemorative and Artist’s Recognition Plaques (Report 08-001(HHB)) – Page 2 of 3

Financial Implications:

The funds for the manufacture and installation of the commemorative plaque are identified within the approved operating budget under the Manager of Museums and Heritage Presentation.

The funds for the manufacture and installation of the artist’s recognition plaque are identified within the approved Stoney Creek Public Art project budget under the Director of Culture.

Analysis/Rationale:

It is the mandate of the City of Hamilton Joint Plaquing Sub-committee to recognize Hamilton sites of architectural, prehistoric and/or historical importance with commemorative plaques. Plaques may be awarded for the following reasons.

Architectural Reasons which may include age, style and/or location. The building is noted for one or more of the following characteristics: • an outstanding example of an architectural style • an exceptionally early building • an unusual building, type, structure, or composition • the first or last of a kind • an important visual landmark • a special relationship between building and site • the work of a major architect • a group of buildings which form an important streetscape • an exemplary restoration or adaptive re-use project

Historical/Prehistoric Importance • close association with a noteworthy person (to recognize his/her lasting importance; selected because of his/her association with the place) • close association with a noteworthy event • effectively illustrates a significant, broad pattern of cultural, social, political military, economic or industrial history or pre-history

Staff Consultation:

Yes X No □

Anna M. Bradford, Director of Culture Ian Kerr-Wilson, Manager of Museums & Heritage Presentation and staff liaison to the City of Hamilton Historical Board Elizabeth Wakeford, Arts Coordinator and staff liaison to the City of Hamilton Arts Advisory Commission SUBJECT: Augustus Jones Commemorative and Artist’s Recognition Plaques (Report 08-001(HHB)) – Page 3 of 3

Rebecca Oliphant, Cultural Heritage Special Events Coordinator and staff liaison to the City of Hamilton Joint Plaquing Sub-committee. Appendix A to Report 08-001 Page 1 of 1

AUGUSTUS JONES (C. 1757 – 1836)

Augustus Jones was born of Welsh ancestry in the Hudson River valley circa 1757. He received survey training in City in 1786 and he moved to Niagara in 1787. From then until 1789, to meet the needs of Loyalist refugees, Jones worked under Deputy Surveyor Philip Frey, helping lay out all or part of eleven townships in the , including Barton, Saltfleet, Binbrook and Grimsby.

In 1789, Jones replaced Frey and, for the next decade, surveyed thousands of acres of frontier wilderness. His work included the town site Lenox (later Niagara- on-the-Lake), the greater part of York Township and a portion of the town of York (Toronto). He formalized the boundaries of the Six Nations Tract along the and laid out Upper Canada’s major military roads, (Governor’s Road) and . He is regarded as the outstanding surveyor in Upper Canada’s early history.

When his career as a government surveyor ended in 1800, he retired to his extensive land holdings in Stoney Creek. His eight-room home overlooked a lagoon near present-day Confederation Park. In 1817, he moved to Cold Springs (near Paris on the Grand River) where his personal friend, Mohawk leader , had provided him with 1200 acres of land along the Governor’s Road. Jones became actively involved with the local Indigenous Peoples and died there in 1836. He is buried in an unmarked grave alongside his son, Reverend , in Greenwood Cemetery, .

City of Hamilton Hamilton Historical Board 2008

255 words

Original wording authored by Ron Place of the Stoney Creek Historical Society. Additional information provided by Alun Hughes, Department of Geography, Brock University. Fact checking completed by the Joint Plaquing Sub-committee.

Appendix B to Report 08-001 Page 1 of 1

AUGUSTUS JONES

SCULPTURE BY LES DRYSDALE

On a windy fall day Augustus Jones is portrayed in the moment of checking his sight mark, a circumferentor in his outstretched right hand, a Gunter chain for measuring distances hanging form his left hand, and a satchel holding a note pad and writing utensils slung over his shoulder. A heavy overcoat blowing in the wind and a scarf wrapped around his neck shield him from the elements and insects, while thick leather leggings and footwear afford protection against the dense bush and prolific snakes.

His Gunter chain hangs on the stump of a black oak tree, part of the unique mini- ecosystem of the Carolinian Forest. At the tree’s base, a red-tailed hawk finds its prey -- a Massassauga rattlesnake. Amid the tulip, sassafras, and white and red oak leaves, the soil reveals the footprints of flying squirrel and a Opossum, Canada’s only native marsupial.

The sculpture implies a direct, yet symbolic, link between the natural history and the history of human development in the area. It serves as a reminder to ourselves of the responsibility we have for conscientious stewardship of our unique environment, and of the treasure that is in danger of being lost without responsible development.

FUNDED BY THE CITY OF HAMILTON 2005

BRONZE – 1.93M X .91M X 1.06M

CITY OF HAMILTON PUBLIC ART COLLECTION

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