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Municipal Heritage Committee

Monday, May 8, 2017 6:30 PM Boardroom, Development and Engineering Services, 305 Street, Bradford

Agenda

A meeting of the Heritage Committee of The Corporation of the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will be held Monday, May 8, 2017 at 6:30 PM, in the Boardroom, Development and Engineering Services, 305 Barrie Street, Bradford, ON. Pages 1. Call to Order The Chair calls the meeting to order.

2. Adoption of Agenda Recommendation: That the Committee Agenda dated May 8, 2017 be adopted as printed.

3. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature

4. Presentations/Deputations

5. Open Forum Members of the public who are in attendance are invited to address the Committee by signing the Open Forum Register.

6. Adoption of Minutes

3 - 6 6.1 Adoption of Minutes

Recommendation: That the minutes of the April 3, 2017 meeting be adopted as printed.

7. Correspondence

7 7.1 Forests

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8. Request for Removal - Subcommittee Reports

9. Unfinished Business

8 - 45 9.1 Presentation - Designation of Coulson’s Hill Church

9.2 Old Bradford High School Update

9.3 108 Moore Street Update

9.4 Doors Open Update

9.5 Heritage Conservation District Update

9.6 Quaint House Update

9.7 Tax Incentive/Rebate Program Update

9.8 Auld Kirk Plaster Work Update

10. Media Updates

11. New Business

11.1 Committee Logo Materials

12. Announcements

13. Next Meeting

13.1 Meeting Date - June 5, 2017

13.2 Agenda items

14. Adjourn Recommendation: That the meeting is hereby adjourned at ______.

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Heritage Committee

Monday, April 3, 2017 6:30 PM Boardroom, Development and Engineering Services, 305 Barrie Street, Bradford

Minutes

Members Present: Rob Keffer, Mayor Ian Cooper Ron Orr, Councillor Diane Milos Franz Aschwanden Lynda Usher Roseann Beintema Munawar Chudary

Regrets: Jennifer de Winter Brenda Winter

Staff: Leisl McDill, Committee Coordinator Brandon Slopack, Planner Ryan Windle, Manager of Community Planning

Call to Order The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. Adoption of Agenda HC-2017-13 Usher/Milos That the Committee Agenda dated April 3, 2017 be adopted as amended. CARRIED. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature There were no declarations at this or any other time.

Presentations/Deputations There were no presentations or deputations. Open Forum There were no request in Open Forum. Page 2 of 4 Page 4 of 45 Heritage Committee - Minutes April 3, 2017

Adoption of Minutes Adoption of Minutes

HC-2017-14 Milos/Chudary That the minutes of the March 6, 2017 meeting be adopted as printed. CARRIED. Request for Removal - Subcommittee Reports Request to demolish - 3876 county road 88 Ian Cooper presented the subcommittees findings on the property. They reviewed the ownership and the current condition of the property. The Committee discussed the hurdles to preserving vacant houses on agricultural properties.

HC-2017-15 Cooper/Milos That the Heritage Committee not object to the demolition application for the property at 3876 County Road 88. CARRIED. Unfinished Business Designation of Coulson’s Hill Church Ian Cooper noted that he has begun research on the property. The Committee discussed the designation of the property and what would be included since there are two separate churches, a cemetery and fencing.

108 Moore Street Update Staff had no update on the property.

Doors Open Munawar Chudary updated the Committee on the sites that have been confirmed and what other possible sites could be involved. The Committee will continue to work on filling the remaining locations.

Heritage Conservation District update Ryan Windle spoke to the draft Terms of Reference for the study. Staff are prepared to move forward with creating the Request for Proposal document. The Committee discussed architectural control and its inclusion in HCD Plans following implementation of a HCD.

HC-2017-16 Aschwanden/Cooper That the Heritage Committee endorse the Terms of Reference for the Heritage Conservation District Study, Request for Proposal. CARRIED.

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Tax Incentive/Rebate Program update Brandon Slopack presented the Committee with the draft Heritage Tax Rebate Program. Application documents and different program options were presented and discussed. The Committee members will review the program in more detail and continue discussions at their next meeting.

Quaint House update Staff had no update on the property.

School Houses update Brandon Slopack noted the recommendation made in June of 2016 regarding the school house at 2699 Sideroad 10. The Committee discussed their concerns for the condition of the Fisher's Corners school house at 3769 Line 9. Staff will continue to contact the property owner and involve By-law Enforcement staff if necessary for property standards issues.

Media Updates Lynda Usher noted that two articles were published in March regarding Heritage Week and the Trinity Angelican Church. New Business Waiving of normal tariff fees at Land Registry Offices for Municipal Heritage Committee members and their assistants. The Committee noted the waving of fees would not include costs for copying.

Demolition Requests for Buildings not on the Heritage Registry Ian Cooper reviewed properties that are not on the Heritage Register and have made applications for demolition. The Committee noted one property that appeared in good condition and were sorry to see it demolished.

Auld Kirk Plaster Work Mayor Keffer spoke to the Committee about the need for repairs to the interior roof of the Auld Kirk.

HC-2017-17 Usher/Ashwanden That the Municipal Heritage Committee recommend to council that $5,000.00 be drawn from the Strategic Initiatives Reserve to provide funding for plaster restoration work within the Auld Kirk church and that the BWG Historical Society be thanked for contributing to the remainder of the project. CARRIED.

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Announcements There were no announcements. Next Meeting Meeting Date - May 8th, 2017

Agenda items

Adjourn HC-2017-18 Usher/Milos That the meeting is hereby adjourned at 8:21 p.m. CARRIED.

Ron Orr, Chair

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St. John’s Church at Coulson’s Hill

Designation report

1 Page 9 of 45 Coulson’s Hill Church Designation Report BWG Heritage Committee

Table of Contents 1. Introduction 3

1.2 Property Location and Description 5

2. Background Research and Analysis 7 2.1 Design and Style 7 2.2 Site History 18 2.3 Context 28

3. Assessment of Value 29

4. Draft Statement of Cultural Heritage Value 31

5. Conclusion 33

6. Key Sources Consulted 34

7. Appendix Materials 35

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Coulson’s Hill Presbyterian Church

1. Introduction This report has been prepared for the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury with regards to the former St. John’s Presbyterian Church located at 2528 Line 11, Bradford and hereafter referred to as the Coulson’s Hill Presbyterian church. The church is included on the Municipal Registry of Heritage Properties as a listed property under the Ontario heritage act. The purpose of this report is to determine the cultural and heritage value of the property and to provide a recommendation as to elevating the property from being ‘listed’ on the Municipal Heritage Registry to being protected as a designated property under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. The assessment of the site is based on Criteria for determining Cultural Heritage Value or Interest Ontario Reg 9/06, under the Ontario Heritage Act. The criteria for determining heritage and cultural value is based on a) architecture or design, b) historic associations and c) how the site contributes to its surrounding context. Findings: The Coulson’s Hill church is found to have considerable cultural heritage value related to its architecture, rich historic associations and contextual value and which merits designation under the Ontario Heritage Act. In terms of architecture it represents an excellent example of vernacular church design by a local, know builder. The structure has 3 Page 11 of 45 Coulson’s Hill Church Designation Report BWG Heritage Committee undergone minimal alterations from its original design and maintains almost all of its original architectural attributes. The community has recognized the historic value of the site. The property is listed on the municipal Heritage registry under the Ontario Heritage Act. The church has significant historic associations with members of the community and served as a spiritual as well as social cornerstone for the hamlet of Coulson’s Hill as well as Bradford. The cemetery remains the resting place for many of the original settlers of Bradford West Gwillimbury. The original context of the church has remained virtually the same as it was since its inception in the 1850’s. The Presbyterian and Anglican churches with their respective cemeteries are a visible and familiar landmark atop Coulson’s Hill.

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1.2 Property Location and Description The building is a single storey vernacular brick church with surrounding cemetery located on the southeast corner of lot 15 on concession XI. The municipal address is 2528 Line 11, Bradford.

Figure 1. Simcoe Interactive map location of church, the property is approximately 56 x 70 meters in area, almost one acre

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Figure 2. Google Satellite image of church and cemetery

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2. Background Research and Analysis 2.1 Design and Style Massing The church is a rectangular housed within the door stiles and single storey building set rails. approximately from line 11. The church is oriented north to south with the entrance facing line 11. The church is built in the gothic revival style popular in this region during the 1860’s to about 1900. Front entrance The front features a square, protruding vestibule with a gable roof raised central double doors flanked by two lower side doors. The side doors are in the gothic arch style while the central main door is rectangular within a gothic arch opening the top apex of the Figure 3. Entrance arch in a simple, arch tracery pattern and containing etched glass. The doors are original, unusual and appear constructed of tongue in groove slats oriented at 45 degrees and 7 Page 15 of 45 Coulson’s Hill Church Designation Report BWG Heritage Committee

Red brick is used with a running bond pattern indicative of a veneer layer of units. Yellow brick is used in the construction to highlight numerous design features including, foot and head courses, window lintels and portions of the buttresses. The concrete steps leading to the front doors are of more modern construction. The remainder of the south entrance side features a simple very vertical gable with two symmetrical narrow, arched windows on either side of the Figure 4 Entrance detail central projecting entrance. There is a dedication plaque visible beneath the gable cornice.

Figure 5. Plaque detail

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Elevations The east and west elevations are identical and are composed of red brick with dichromatic yellow brick embellishments as seen on the window lintels, belt and roof course bricks and on the four buttresses. The church Figure 6. West elevation sides are symmetrical with respect to the placement of the buttresses and fenestrations.

Figure 7. East elevation

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The church has a full depth basement and the foundation is roughly coursed fieldstone and mortar. The basement level has three windows on each side elevation. The windows are set into the fieldstone foundation and a yellow brick belt course is found immediately above the foundation stone. The north elevation is simple with a single basement window and chimney. A false chimneystack was added to achieve symmetry.

Figure 8. Buttresses

Figure 10. North elevation

Figure 9. Basement window

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Windows The building windows all feature a gothic arch design with the arch approaching a lancet in proportion. The windows are original and have simple arched tracery made out of wood. The glass appears to have an etched design, however, the central upper pane on the east and west sides have panes of blue, red and green running from south to north. On the east and west sides of the church, the bottom two windows are single hung sash allowing them to open. The lug sills are made of wood. The side windows all have distinctive lintels composed of yellow soldier bricks topped Figure 11. Side window by a course of yellow header bricks. The lintels are in imitation of gothic stopped drip moulds. The two windows on the front elevation are identical in construction to those on the sides but lack the stopped detail on the lintel.

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There are seven openings on the basement level. All are partially set into the stone foundations but six have the lintels set into the brick course. The east and west basement windows are in line with the larger gothic arch main windows and have a simple gently arched lintel composed of a single soldier row of yellow brick. The windows appear of double hung sash construction Figure 12. Basement window allowing for the windows to open. The basement windows all have a simple wooden lug sill. The basement opening on the north side of the church has been boarded up and may have served as a window or possible an opening for coal or wood. It has a stone lintel as opposed to a brick one. The two front windows are identical to the side windows with the exception of a simple Figure 13. Front window yellow brick lintel without the stopped labels.

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The vestibule has a third kind of window, found only on the east elevation and composed of a simple lancet arch design.

Doors The front entrance is an arch design with the lower portion of the arch housing rectangular, unique, original, double wood doors. The doors are unusual for having stopped chamfers on the Figure 14. Entrance side window rails and stiles. In addition, the door panels are constructed of tongue in groove boards laid in a 45-degree angle pattern. The two additional doors on the entrance are arch shaped and constructed in an identical manner. These doors lead to storage areas on either side of the entrance.

Figure 15. Front entrance

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Figure 15. Front storage door Figure 17. Chamfer detail

Figure 16. Storage door detail Figure 18. Front door detail

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Roof There are two gable roofs presently on the church. The main roof has been replaced with a modern metal roof while the sheathing on the vestibule gable is cedar shakes of unknown age. The roofs feature simple exposed purlins with no cornice details.

Figure 19. Roof cornice

Figure 20. Cedar shakes

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Historic condition and alterations Replacement steps are of The church maintains almost all concrete. of its original heritage attributes, however, there have been several changes since its construction in 1889. The roof sheathing has been replaced over the main building and modern rain gutters have been installed. The two churches once shared a common wooden drive shed to house the horses in inclement Figure 21. Auld Kirk showing a drive shed weather. The drive sheds no longer exist. The property was once bounded by a simple wooden picket fence. This fronted the church and also separated the Presbyterian portion from the Anglican portion of the adjacent properties. The separating fence has been removed and an iron Figure 23. Wooden steps, Anglican fence erected in 1936. Church, Newton Robinson The original steps leading up to the entrance doors would originally have been wooden.

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Figure 24. Iron fence

Figure 25. Fence column

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2.2 Site History John Coulson (1792-1868) immigrated to from either County Antrim or County Tyrone, Ireland in 1820. He received the land grant for lot 15, concession XI in 1822. By all accounts Mr. Coulson was a religious and civic-minded individual and sold land for the Figure 26. Illustrated Historic Atlas of establishment of a school as well Ontario, J.H. Beers and Co., , as a Presbyterian and an 1877 Anglican church and cemeteries. Instrument # 26356 1 registered with the Registry Office indicates that in 1858, Mr. Coulson sold one half acre of land to the trustees of the Presbyterian Church for the sum of $50.00.

In 1860 a church building was constructed out of wood, facing Figure 27. Illustrated Atlas of the County the south and with sheds to the of Simcoe, H. Belden and Co. Toronto, east. The sheds joined those 1881 from the Anglican Church standing to the east of the

Presbyterian Church.

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The church and adjoining was decided to upgrade the cemetery were to complete a church. circuit of three separate churches; the Bradford Presbyterian, the second Presbyterian or Scots Settlement and lastly the newly established St. John’s church at Coulson’s hill. The congregation included members such as the Bell, Bowes, Coombs, Hunter, Jelly, McAfee, Moriarty, Neilly, Roberts, Steele, Figure 28. Anglican Church, Bradford. Stewart, Sturgeon and Formerly the Bradford Presbyterian Sutherland families. Church. The hamlet is situated on top of a drumlin and at this point in history was centered on the intersection of the formerly named Penetang Road and the 11th line. It included two churches, a school, a hotel, an Orange Lodge hall, a Figure 29. Scots Settlement Presbyterian shoemakers shop, a blacksmiths Church, 5th Line, Bradford. shop and a small collection of The tender was awarded to a houses contractor from nearby Newton The wood frame church featured Robinson named Mr. John gothic arched windows and Merrick. Quaker brothers John served the needs of the and Isaac Merrick and family congregation until 1889 when it operated grist and wood mills in 19 Page 27 of 45 Coulson’s Hill Church Designation Report BWG Heritage Committee

Newton Robinson beginning in 1843. By 1881 they owned and operated a large sawmill, gristmill and a sash and door factory and by 1890 they employed about 22 persons. The Merricks were active in the Anglican Church and were responsible for building several churches, schools and houses in Figure 30. Map of Coulson’s Hill, 1946 the community. They built the church located in Rich Hill, Tecumseh, the United Church in Newton Robinson and the Earl Rowe home. The United church in Newton Robinson is remarkable for the fact that while its design is on a grander scale than the Coulson’s Hill church, all of the design elements are virtually identical.

Figure 31. Rich Hill Church, Tecumseh

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Figure 32. Coulson’s hill church

Figure 34. Newton Robinson United Church.

Figure 33. Coulson’s Hill church Figure 35. Newton Robinson United Church.

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The frame of the church was raised and a full depth stone foundation was created for the main portion of the building. This created a basement that originally held three rooms. The vestibule of the building was elevated to match the Figure 36. Coulson’s Hill height of the main building. It was not supported by a stone foundation. Sadly, Mr. Matthew McAfee who was a local farmer living within sight of the church lost his life on Jun17th, 1889. The raised wooden structure slipped off of its supporting jacks and Figure 37. Newton Robinson Mr. McAfee was killed. In 1925, an important vote was taken at the church under the auspices of Reverend Lachlan MacLean. The issue at hand was the formation of the United church of Canada. This was a movement for the union of several protestant religions Figure 38. Interior of vestibule including the Methodist, Congregationalist and Presbyterian congregations. 22 Page 30 of 45 Coulson’s Hill Church Designation Report BWG Heritage Committee

The congregation at Coulson’s Hill declined the union by a vote of 57 to 6 and thus remained a Presbyterian church. Likewise, the congregation of the Second West Gwillimbury or Scots Settlement Church also declined union and remained a separate Presbyterian church. The First West Gwillimbury Presbyterian or Bond Head Presbyterian Church voted to join the local Methodist congregation and Figure 39. Rev. Lachlan MacLean together formed the new Bond Head United Church. In 1934 the last remnants of the decaying picket fences were removed and a new metal fence was proposed. Balmer Neilly made the financial contribution and the fence material was purchased from the Lundy Fence Company’s local agent R.J. McAfee, who also made a financial contribution. The fence was erected in 1936 with a plaque dedicating the structure Figure 40. Dedication plaque on fence to Mr. Neilly’s grandparents.

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From the 1890’s to the 1960’s the church served as spiritual hub for the community of Coulson’s Hill and the surrounding farms. It cannot be overstated the importance of religion and the church in the lives of the early settlers in West Gwillimbury. In an age before telephones and Figure 41. Bradford Witness, 1889 automobiles Sunday services Following its closure, the church were much anticipated not only building itself, specifically the for the spiritual aspects but also basement was used as a for the community to gather and mortuary for the storage of socialize. The church sponsored bodies waiting for spring burial. an annual fowl supper, served in the basement of the church that continued until 1940 when wartime rationing made it difficult to continue the tradition. In the mid 1960’s with membership declining it was decided to close the church and have the congregation join those of the Bradford Presbyterian Church. The name was transferred and the Bradford church became St. John’s Presbyterian Church. Figure 42. Mortuary sign 24 Page 32 of 45 Coulson’s Hill Church Designation Report BWG Heritage Committee

According to Mr. W. Robert The newly acquired land Sturgeon, a local church excepting where the sheds now historian, the original property stood were separated into lot was approximately ½ acre family plots in rows oriented and the cemetery plots were north to south and numbered 63 laid out in family plots of 16 x to 111, with the last plot at the 16 feet, laid out in seven rows extreme northwest corner of the running north to south and newly acquired property. numbered 1 to 57 in total. In 1936 the shed was removed In 1898, the trustees of the and new 16 x 18 foot family church who were Robert McAfee plots prepared beginning with Sr., Thomas Ritchie and Tannahill plot 112 in the south to plot 129 Sturgeon purchased an at the north. additional ½ acre of land west Some remaining available land of the church from John was turned into 16 x 8 foot O’Connell for $200.00. plots numbered from east to At this time disagreements over west as plots 130 to 135. the use of the drive sheds The cemetery features an shared between the unusual mausoleum on plot 27 Presbyterian and Anglican owned by the Sturgeon family congregations led to the and is a 12 ft square granite removal of the sheds from the and fieldstone structure. In 1857 east side of the church to the William James Sturgeon newly acquired land to the married Ms. Mary Tannahill southwest of the church. from Ireland. Prior to her death This allowed for the creation of in 1893 Mary had expressed a additional 16 square foot plots fear of interment before death, running east to west and a fear that was commonplace in numbered 58 to 62. the nineteenth century. Her sons 25 Page 33 of 45 Coulson’s Hill Church Designation Report BWG Heritage Committee to construct a structure that would allay her fears and the mausoleum built. In total 6 family caskets were interred within the building, however, all were removed in 1972 and interred in graves.

Figure 45. Mausoleum detail

Figure 43. South fieldstone side of mausoleum

Figure 44. East, granite side of mausoleum Figure 46. Example of early 19th century gravestone In 1941, Scott Neilly received his pilot’s wings and rank of Sergeant Pilot at the Service Training flying School at Camp Borden. He was assigned as an 26 Page 34 of 45 Coulson’s Hill Church Designation Report BWG Heritage Committee instructor to elementary training flying school in New Brunswick and sadly was killed in a training accident on May 28th, 1942. His remains were interred in family plot 21. Louis Neilly, suggested the planting of trees as a memorial to his son. The trees bordered the north and west of the church and have now matured into Figure 48. Sergeant Pilot Scott Neilly towering cedar trees.

Figure 47. Trees dedicated to Sergeant Pilot Scott Neilly

Figure 49. Historical development of plots

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2.3 Context cemetery, has remained the Church site same since its inception in 1858. The church is located approximately 15 ft from line 11 and is at the central, southern portion of its roughly 1 acre lot. The property is bordered on the north and west sides by mature cedar trees and on the south side by a historic figure 50. St. Paul’s Anglican Church metal fence. There is currently (right) and St. John’s Presbyterian Church no division between the (left) cemetery plots on the east side of the church and those of the Anglican Church. All traces of the former hamlet of Coulson’s Hill have been removed leaving only the Presbyterian and Anglican churches and their respective figure 51. Simcoe County GIS image cemeteries behind. The properties bordering the churches on the west side are modern homes as are those across line 11 to the south.

However, the immediate context of the church, at the centre of a

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3. Assessment of Value The property is listed on the Municipal Heritage Registry. The property is not part of a Heritage Conservation District. The property was evaluated by the Bradford West Gwillimbury Municipal Heritage Committee using the Criteria For Determining Cultural Heritage Value or Interest from Ontario Reg. 9/06, under the Ontario Heritage Act. The findings are summarized in the following table.

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Value (quoted from Reg. 9/06) Assessment: Coulson’s Hill Church 1. The property has design value or physical value The Coulson’s Hill Church is an excellent example because it, of a late nineteenth century vernacular place of worship in Bradford West Gwillimbury. i. is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or The main components and architectural attributes construction method, are predominately intact. ii. displays a high degree of craftsmanship or The interior has limited cultural value due to artistic merit or, alterations (as per conversation with Reverend Dan Scott). iii. demonstrates a high degree of technical or scientific achievement.

The property has historic value or associative The church has had a long and important value because it, spiritual as well as social association with the community and is recognized as having i. has direct associations with a theme, event, significant historic value. Previous ministers and belief, person, activity, organization or institution members of the congregation were important to that is significant to a community, the development of the community. ii. yields or has potential to yield, information that The surrounding cemetery is also of value as the contributes to an understanding of a community or gravesites, markers and monuments provide culture, or, important insight into the lives and beliefs of the iii. demonstrates or reflects the work or ideas of community. an architect, artist, builder, designer or theorist who is significant to the community.

The church is a prominent landmark of the area, The property has contextual value because it, clearly visible from both line 11 and highway i. is important in defining, maintaining or 11. The church is physically, visually and supporting the character of an area, historically linked to the area and especially to the surrounding cemetery. ii. is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings or, iii. is a landmark.

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4. Draft Statement of Cultural Heritage Value The Bradford West Gwillimbury Municipal Heritage Committee has prepared the following draft statement of Cultural Heritage Value and should the town elect to proceed with the designation process, staff and stakeholders should review this statement. Site Description The Coulson’s Hill Presbyterian Church is located at 2528 Line 11, Bradford and is a single story brick building in the gothic revival style build in 1889 and in active use until the 1960’s. It is now inactive. The property is included in the Municipal Heritage Registry. Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest The church has cultural heritage value due to its architectural style and design, its historic associations and its contextual value in contributing to its immediate context. The site is associated with the development of the hamlet of Coulson’s Hill as well as the development and ongoing evolution of Bradford from the church’s original inception in 1857 to the present. The church has significant architectural value, as an excellent example of vernacular church design by a well know local builder. The exterior maintains almost all of its original details. The cemetery is a good example of 19th and 20th century cemetery design and evolution. It is characterized by a naturalistic setting to comfort and attract the living, the creation of secure resting plots for the dead and the use of markers and monuments to perpetuate the memories of individuals of historic importance.

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The church has significant historical value as having served the spiritual and social needs of the community of Coulson’s Hill and Bradford including many well known early settler families important in the development of the community. The church contributes to its context as being the focal point of the surrounding cemetery sharing a prominent hilltop with the neighboring Anglican Church and cemetery. Description of Heritage Attributes  General form and massing including vestibule and main building with gable roofs  Materials including dichromatic brick with belt and cornice courses, lintels, stone foundation  The composition and features of the main, south entrance including vestibule with gothic arched doors, main entrance with double wooden doors within a gothic arch opening, arched windows with wooden tracery, frames and sills, etched glass and the historic plaque  The composition and features of the east and west elevations including gothic arched windows with wooden tracery and sills, etched and colored glass on the main level and arched basement windows on the foundation level, prominent buttresses with dichromatic brick  The setback of the building from line 11  The historic iron fence with stone columns and plaque  The cemetery stone monuments, markers and mausoleum  The trees to the west and north of the cemetery.

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5. Conclusion The former St. John’s Presbyterian Church at Coulson’s Hill is found to have significant cultural heritage value and merits designation under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Should designation proceed it is recommended that town staff and stakeholders review the draft Statement of Significance found in this report.

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6. Key Sources Consulted

Designating Heritage Properties A Guide to Municipal Designation of Individual Properties Under the Ontario heritage Act

Governor Simcoe Slept Here The Legacy of West Gwillimbury by The Bradford West Gwillimbury Local History Association

Hallowed Walls Church Architecture of Upper Canada by Marion MacRae and Anthony Adamson Clarke, Irwin and Company Limited, Toronto, Vancouver, 1975

Heritage Places of Worship A Guide to Conserving Heritage Places of Worship in Ontario Communities

Heritage Property Evaluation A Guide to Listing, Researching and Evaluating Cultural Heritage Properties in Ontario Communities

Illustrated Historic Atlas of the County of York, Township of West Gwillimbury and the town of Bradford in the County of Simcoe, Ontario. Mills and Co., Atlas

Illustrated Atlas of the County of Simcoe, 1881, H Belden and Co. Toronto

Musings From a Country Churchyard: St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Coulson’s Hill by W. Robert Sturgeon, May 2014

Our Stories, wwwourstoriesinnisfil.ca, Bradford West Gwillimbury Local History. WEGWHIST Collection

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7. Appendix Materials

Appendix 1.

The following is a list of the Presbyterian Ministers who served at the Bradford, Scots Settlement and St. John’s, Coulson’s Hill circuit.

Rev. Wm. McKee 1857-71 Rev. E. W. Panton 1876-82 Students 1882-88 Rev. J. Fraser Smith 1899-05 Rev. D. N. Morden 1905-07 Rev. C. H. Cook 1907-09 Rev. J. Burkholder 1909-12 Rev. Lachlan McLean 1913-25 Rev. M. E. Boudreau 1926-29 Rev. A. K. McLaren 1929-32 Rev. E. S. Clifton 1932-33 Rev. R. B. Stevenson 1933-35 Rev. Gordon Graham 1939-41 Rev. John McKenzie 1941-43 Students 1943-45 Rev. W. A. Hunter 1945-48 Rev J. McGillivray 1948-51 E. C. McLarnon 1951-54 Charles Jackson 1954-55 Rev. H. P. Maitland 1955-57 Students 1957-58 L. B. Williams 1958-62 35 Page 43 of 45 Coulson’s Hill Church Designation Report BWG Heritage Committee

Appendix 2. Images of older and unique burial markers

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