Spring 2017 VOLUME 42 150 REFLECTIONS ISSUE 1 WORKING COPY.indd 1 2017-04-20 7:08:57 PM Interested in hosting a future Ontario Heritage Conference? We are presently looking for communities who would be interested in hosting our Annual Ontario Heritage for future years starting with the 2019 opening. Hosting a conference is a great way to showcase your community and all the great work you do in heritage conservation. For more information and deadline please view the RFP posted on www.communityheritageontario.ca Stratford/St. Marys Ontario Heritage Conference, May 12-14, 2016 co-hosted by ACO and Community Heritage Ontario. Photos Liz Lundell WORKING COPY.indd 2 2017-04-20 7:09:01 PM CONTENTS 1 From the President by Catherine Nasmith 2 Sir John A. Macdonald Was Here by Lindi Pierce 4 Public Works in Ontario: An architectural legacy Spring by Sharon Vattay Issue 2017 6 William George Storm: Toronto’s Architect by Loryssa Quattrociocchi 8 New Province, New Farmhouses by Shannon Kyles 10 Victorian Inspiration: Yesterday’s Buildings Inspire Tomorrow’s Architects by Jacob Drung 12 Merrickville's Alloy Foundry: A landmark business older than Canada by Mark Oldeld 14 Misener House, Westeld Heritage Village by Jamie MacLean 16 Homer Ransford Watson: Renowned artist of Doon by Jean Haalboom 18 Halton Hills 150 Project: Celebrating Lucy Maud Montgomery in Norval by Patricia Farley 20 Eric Arthur and Barnum House: The founding of Architectural Conservancy Ontario by Richard Longley 22 A 150th Present for Prescott Basilica of Our by Bonita Slunder Lady Immaculate 28 Norfolk Street 24 The Gore Centennial Fountain, 1967 Guelph, Ontario by Marilyn Scott Photo: 25 An 1875 home becomes Ridge House Museum Loryssa by Marlee Robinson Quattrociocchi, 2016 26 The Old Town Hall, 1867, Cookstown by Elaine Splett 27 Bois Blanc Island’s Blockhouse Bonre, 1867 by Debra Honor 28 The National Arts Centre’s Rejuvenation by Victoria Angel and Jennifer Mallard Spring 2017 WORKING COPY.indd 3 2017-04-20 7:09:11 PM Editorial Committee Susan Ratclie, Guy Burry, Leo Calogero, Liz Lundell, Dan Schneider Managing Editor Liz Lundell Photo Editor Guy Burry Spring Issue Graphic and Layout Designer 2017 Leo Calogero Suite 403, 10 Adelaide Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 1J3 Template Designer T 416.367.8075 Jenier Millburn F 1.877.264.8937 F 416.367.8630 Contributing Authors/Editors/Photographers E [email protected] www.arconserv.ca Victoria Angel, Younes Bounhar, Jacob Drung, Patricia Farley, Jean Haalboom, Debra Honor, Shannon Kyles, Norm President Li, Richard Longley, Liz Lundell, Jamie MacLean, Jennifer Catherine Nasmith Mallard, Catherine Nasmith, Mark Oldeld, Lindi Pierce, Loryssa Quattrociocchi, Marlee Robinson, Megan Ryan, Vice-Presidents Dan Schneider, Marilyn Scott, Bonita Slunder, Elaine Splett, John Harrison Sharon Vattay Christine Rier Leslie Thompson Publisher Secretary Architectural Conservancy Ontario Shannon Kyles Architectural Conservancy Ontario gratefully acknowledges the Past President ongoing support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport and Richard Longley the Honourable Eleanor McMahon, Minister Executive Members-at-Large SSN: 0704-0083 Phil Carter © 2017 ACORN is a publication of Architectural Conservancy Kae Elgie Ontario. No parts of this publication can be reproduced without Jean Haalboom permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed by our writers Sarah Hill and contributors do not necessarily reect those of Architectural Jocelyn Kent Conservancy Ontario. George Rust-D’Eye Alan Stacey Charles Wickett ADVERTISE IN ACORN PreservationWorks! 2017 RATES Phil Carter, Manager Full page $750 R. Scott James, Advisor Half Page $400 Peter Stewart, Advisor Quarter Page $200 1/8 Page $125 Sta Please email [email protected] to book an ad for our Fall 2017 issue. Will Coukell, Chief Operating Ocer All ads are printed in full colour. Elizabeth Quance, Branch Coordinator Marie May, Bookkeeper WORKING COPY.indd 1 2017-04-20 7:09:11 PM B FROM THE PRESIDENT Canada 150 — Looking Back and at Canadian history, painting back in key Looking Forward missing gures and stories. Painting in historic European styles from the seven- Canada 150 celebrates Canadian history teenth to twentieth century, Monkman since several British colonies became inserts his artistic muse, Miss Chief Eagle the Dominion of Canada. In “A Fair Testickle, a two-spirited gure into sev- Country”, John Ralston-Saul points out eral tableaux. In a repainting of the Fa- that many of the things that make us thers of Confederation, called “Daddies” distinctly Canadian, such as embracing Miss Chief lounges suggestively in the the newcomer, come from Canada’s foreground, her back to the audience. indigenous peoples. Ralston-Saul’s thesis is that Canada has three founding The show will be touring Canada until cultures: French, English and First Na- 2020, with two more stops in Ontario. Catherine Nasmith ACO President tions. He also points out that the British While nothing can compare with the Photo: Sue Roden approach to indigenous Canadians was actual show, which has sculpture, paint- markedly dierent from the partnership ing and historic artifacts, some of the between the French and First Nations paintings from the show can be seen on initiated by Samuel de Champlain. The Kent Monkman’s website. http://www. French encouraged trade and intermar- kentmonkman.com/events/ riage. Champlain allied with the Huron Notwithstanding all the great things and Wendat against the Iroquois. Canada is in 2017, I am nding it hard Two hundred years later, the Iroquois, to celebrate Canada 150 on the heels under the great leader Tecumseth, of the Truth and Reconciliation Com- fought with the British during the War of mission. Rather, I am wondering about 1812. Part of that alliance was an agree- ACO’s role in re-building Canada’s narra- ment that signicant territory between tive, to include all of our stories. As Gord Canada and the United States would be Downie received his eagle feather in deeded to Tecumseth and the Iroquois if 2016, he said he was thinking ahead to the British won. Canada 300, “I will personally then cele- brate the birth of our country, celebrate Canada would not exist as an indepen- the next 150 years. It will take 150 years dent country were it not for Tecumseth’s or seven generations to heal the wound forces and his brilliant military col- of the residential school. To become a laboration with General Brock, yet how country, and truly call ourselves Canada, much are we taught about Canada’s it means we must become one. We must indigenous heritage? walk down a path of reconciliation from now on. Together, and forever.” The University of Toronto Art Museum’s Canada 150 project, Shame and Preju- — Catherine Nasmith dice: A Story of Resilience created by Cree/Irish artist Kent Monkman oers illumination. Monkman, a highly skilled painter, sculptor and curator puts a spoonful of humour in his medicine. The show takes a very tongue in cheek look Spring 2017 ACORN 1 WORKING COPY.indd 1 2017-04-20 7:09:12 PM Sir John A. Macdonald Was Here by Lindi Pierce Bellevue House, 35 Centre Street, Kingston, built 1838-40. Photo Lindi 169-171 Wellington Street, Kingston, part of an adaptive reuse project, Pierce, 2014 which will add residential units above the 1835 brick structure. Photo Lindi Pierce, 2017 Sir John A. Macdonald, “the man who The young lawyer represented 1843). Here their son Hugh John, who made us” as biographer Richard Gwyn commercial and criminal cases at the was to grow up to become Premier of dubbed him, maintains an enduring 1834 Prince Edward County Court House, Manitoba, was born in 1850. The double presence through the architecture of the a grand classical statement in ashlar with house is of limestone and has a six bay Kingston and Bay of Quinte regions. Many a monumental portico. Legend has it Georgian form, with parapet walls, stone buildings associated with Macdonald that Macdonald defended himself here corbels, and a later shed dormer and survive 150 years after Confederation on a charge of assault following a scue classical portico. — places where our new country’s rst (he was quite the rapscallion). As eldest son of his clan, John A. Prime Minister lived and practised law In 1835 John A. returned to Kingston assumed responsibility for his widowed before and during his political career. to establish his law practice. The mother, sisters Louisa and Margaret, and In 1820, Hugh and Helen Macdonald early stone house at 110-112 Rideau Margaret’s husband. Macdonald rented and wee son John immigrated to Upper Street (c.1810), owned by the family’s a number of homes to accommodate the Canada from Scotland. After stays in Macpherson relatives, became home to family, and serve as his legal residences Kingston, and later on the south shore of Macdonald, his parents and sisters. while he represented Kingston as Hay Bay, the family relocated about 1829 John A. Macdonald and his rst wife Member of Parliament. The rened stone to Stone Mills (now Glenora) in Prince Isabella are remembered in two well- house at 134 Earl Street (1866) with its Edward County, where Hugh managed a preserved homes in the city. Bellevue parapet end walls, squared coursed mill. House (built 1838-40) at 35 Centre stonework and recessed entry with Loyalist Peter Van Alstine’s 1806 Street is the (then) rural home to which ashlar voussoirs and keystone is but one stone mill was home to the young John they relocated in 1848-49, for Isabella’s example. A. on summer holidays from his studies health. Here the couple’s rst son died. John A. Macdonald’s law career in Kingston. Of local limestone, the mill is The picturesque Tuscan villa, with its can be traced through a number of four storeys in height with a loading door exotic white stucco walls, square tower, Kingston commercial buildings.