THE HISTORIC JOHN Mckenzie HOUSE

Special 100th Anniversary Insert – 1913 to 2013 THE HISTORIC JOHN McKENZIE HOUSE T HE O ntARIO H IS TORICAL S OCIE T Y N OVEMBER 2013 John McKenzie House 1913 – 2013 1913 Construction of Willowdale’s John McKenzie House is completed 1975 McKenzie family sells home 1988 House last used as private residence 1993 25-year lease signed with City of Toronto; OHS gains stewardship of the property and buildings; OHS restoration project begins 1994-98 OHS headquarters established in the house; restoration project is completed; OHS New Home Fundraiser reaches $485,000 goal The oldest known photograph of Willowdale’s historic John McKenzie House, taken circa 1919, was relied upon for many of the restoration efforts undertaken 2009 Inaugural planting day for by The Ontario Historical Society between 1993 and 1998 (see insert page 4). Parkview Neighbourhood Garden Learn more about the John McKenzie House and the OHS’s stewardship of it: www.ontariohistoricalsociety.ca/jmhouse. 2013 Heritage conservation easement signed John McKenzie House and Gardens Receive Special 100th Birthday Gift: A Heritage Conservation Easement! Erin Semande, Researcher House, the headquarters of The Ontario Heritage Trust Ontario Historical Society. While “The Ontario Historical Society (OHS) is thrilled that after four [email protected] the OHS is a long-term tenant and advocate for the John McKenzie years of hard work, a heritage conservation easement for the Editor’s Note: Be sure to also House, the easement agreement historic John McKenzie House and adjacent buildings and read “Partnering for conservation,” is with the property owner, the property has been completed. which was published in the City of Toronto. The easement Congratulations to the Ontario Heritage Trust and City of September 2013 issue of Heritage protects the Edwardian Classical Toronto staff for their outstanding efforts on this challenging Matters, a publication of The style house (1913), attached coach heritage initiative! Ontario Heritage Trust. house (1918), milk house (1907), stable (1915), a commemorative The OHS deeply appreciates the strong leadership of John he Ontario Heritage Trust parkette (the McKenzie Parkette) Filion, City of Toronto Councillor (Willowdale), on this file; Tprotects places of cultural, to the north of the House and a without his unwavering support and timely interventions, the natural and archaeological community garden (the Parkview completion of this easement would not have been possible. value across the province with Neighbourhood Garden) to the With 2013 marking both the 125th Anniversary of the OHS heritage easement agreements. east. Selected interiors are included and the 100th Anniversary of the John McKenzie House, this These agreements are essentially to protect the beautiful woodwork. a “heritage contract” between Any alterations to the heritage announcement is indeed a timely victory for all Ontarians to the Trust and a property owner, features, demolition or severances cherish and celebrate. The easement represents an important step forming a partnership between on the property must obtain Trust forward for the OHS in its over twenty-year campaign to preserve the two parties to conserve the approval. This process, which this invaluable heritage asset for current and future generations.” provincially significant property. involves the input of the Trust’s The easement is registered on title technical staff, ensures altera- – OHS Executive Director Rob Leverty with the Trust and protects the tions undertaken on the property provincial heritage values of the will not negatively impact those in its original location. economic pattern that was seen property, typically in perpetuity. features that are of value. The John McKenzie House was across the province – the assem- Property owners can range from The John McKenzie House is determined to be of provincial bling of land for development, the private individuals, municipalities located just east of Yonge Street heritage value, which is one of the subdivision and sale of lots for profit amd conservation authorities to at 34 Parkview Avenue in the conditions a property must meet and subsequent housing construc- not-for-profit organizations. intensely developed Willowdale in order to be considered for Trust tion. The property demonstrates Trust easements are a flexible neighbourhood in North York. easement protection. The criteria the early mass transformation of tool and can be tailored to the spe- While the setting of condomini- used by the Trust for determining farmland for development into cific requirements of a wide array ums and modern residential infill provincial significance are outlined residential neighbourhoods. of property types, and have been detracts from the historic context in the Ontario Heritage Act. The The Trust is pleased to con- used to protect mansions, bridges, of the John McKenzie House, the John McKenzie House was found tinue its partnership with the City cemeteries, cultural landscapes, property prevails as a heritage to represent themes of developing of Toronto and the OHS with gardens, institutional buildings, oasis amidst a busy urban land- economies, settlement (suburban- the common objective to see the archaeological sites, natural heri- scape. In fact, it is one of the few ization) and building social and John McKenzie House property tage values and even a carousel. remaining houses in the Willow- community life. The construction preserved for present and future Recently the Trust acquired an dale neighbourhood from the early of this house and the subdivision generations of Ontarians. easement on the John McKenzie twentieth century still standing and of land around it represent an Facebook “f” Logo RGB / .eps Facebook “f” Logo RGB / .eps Preserving, promoting, and protecting Ontario’s history since 1888, from the grassroots to the scholarly. www.ontariohistoricalsociety.ca facebook.com/OntarioHistoricalSociety @OntarioHistory John McKenzie House: President’s Report Community Voices Dr. Brad Rudachyk, President that go with it. In preparation of this special issue of the [email protected] Moreover, it has anchored a OHS Bulletin, the Society asked Willowdale residents fine residential neighbourhood – and OHS volunteers and friends: eldom does an organization one that John McKenzie himself Shave the happy opportunity to was instrumental in establishing. What does the John McKenzie House mean to you? celebrate two milestones in the Indeed, without the successful same year. In 2013, The Ontario rehabilitation of the house, there Chris Nitsopoulos community. The farmland on Historical Society marks not only would be no Parkview Neighbour- OHS Summer Student which the home was built was later its 125th anniversary, but also, the hood Garden – nominated this year [email protected] sub-divided and sold, kick-starting centennial of the construction of as “one of the great front gardens a community that still thrives in its headquarters – John McKenzie in North York.” hen thinking about the 2013. The John McKenzie House House. In leading the charge to save Wcommunity of Willowdale, continues to be a significant part I will leave it to others to detail John McKenzie House, the OHS many picture the towering condo of Willowdale one hundred years the history behind this storied pile. demonstrated its continuing vision, buildings that dot the landscape, later, bringing people together Suffice it to say that 34 Parkview looking both ways to the past and meeting the diverse housing needs from all over Toronto. Avenue was built by farmer- to the future. It was not enough to of thousands of people. Histori- turned-developer John McKenzie “save” the house. It had to be put cally, though, the John McKenzie We asked individuals with ties to for his wife and family in 1913 – to good use. This led to another House was much like the condo the John McKenzie House why one hundred years ago this year. series of challenges as the old shell buildings of today: a pillar of the the house has meaning to them: Instead, my remarks will suggest had to accommodate modern fire, how your Society’s headquarters accessibility and safety standards – reflects the Society itself and its not to mention telecommunication province-wide mandate. and computer equipment. Bill Aird, President, North York Historical Society The Ontario Historical Soci- The end result is not only a very “Members and friends of the North York Historical Society (NYHS) have ety seeks “to preserve, interpret special space for your Society’s a special appreciation of the historical significance of the John McKenzie and publicize Ontario's multi- headquarters, but also a welcom- House. The house, built in 1913, existed even before North York. It was faceted heritage.” The rescue and ing venue for Society and commu- part of the development of the village of Willowdale, one of four villages rehabilitation of John McKenzie nity meetings and events. Indeed, along Yonge Street in the area that would become North York in 1922. House by OHS stands as a very John McKenzie House is a win for These villages and several others beyond the Yonge Street corridor would visible reminder of the place of our all of us. continue to be the core of a largely rural North York until after the Second province’s built heritage and your The Edwardian Classical style World War when the growing population began the transformation of the Society’s commitment to it. has been described as eclectic and area from rural to urban. The Society never stands alone. vernacular, as asymmetrical and In 1913, Willowdale was the centre of a prosperous farming area. John It is the very embodiment of its solid – or “foursquare.” It has also McKenzie was a well-to-do but not especially prominent member of that motto: “From all For all.” John been portrayed as both stately community. The house he and his family moved into reflected the prosperity McKenzie House would not ex- and informal. It is indeed fitting of the time. It was a house that was built well and with some care to detail.

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