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THE NORTH WATERLOO REGION BRANCH ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVANCY OF ONTARIO NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011 volume 7, number 6 Kitchener, Waterloo & Townships of Wilmot, Woolwich & Wellesley Web Site – www.arconserv.ca Toronto ACO Office (toll free) 1-877-264-8937 ACORN In A Nutshell: ACO’s electronic Newsletter NWRB EMAIL ADDRESS [email protected]

EXECUTIVE R.Brian Dietrich, President & ACO Council Rep Patty Clarke, Secretary & Rep. to WRHF Tim Willcox, Vice-President Linda Kellar, Social Convenor John Arndt, Newsletter & Website Editor Kae Elgie, Treasurer Joyce Arndt, Membership Contact Gordon Nelson, member-at-large

YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND

THE 2011 SEASONAL CELEBRATION

A TIME OF FELLOWSHIP AND GOOD CHEER

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 26 2 PM TO 4 PM

At THE HISTORIC HERITAGE CHURCH ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST 23 Water Street North, Kitchener [Located at the corner of Water and Duke Streets]

Parking at Kitchener City Hall parking garage nearby with free parking on the streets

Join the North Waterloo Region Branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario and Greening Sacred Spaces for the ACO's annual Seasonal Celebration at St. John the Evangelist Church. Learn about St. John's environmental programs, how heritage faith communities are using environmental technologies to keep their buildings energy-efficient, and what faith communities need to do to keep their heritage buildings viable and green! St. John's and Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church will be presented with the 2011 Green Sacred Space Award at this event.

Please RSVP to 519-578-7624 or [email protected] or [email protected]

You are invited to bring a dessert or other contribution for the table A variety of beverages will be available .

BRING A FRIEND WITH YOU

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MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL TIME FOR 2012 Enclosed in this newsletter, or attached, if you receive it electronically, is the annual renewal form. Please fill out the renewal and return it to the membership contact. Receipts for 2012 membership fees will be issued after January 1, 2012, unless members request otherwise. Members will receive a charitable donation receipt for donations and for the membership fee.

A TRIP TO THE , ENGLAND, There is a very different attitude in England when it comes to by Paul R. King conservation. In the Cotswolds, there is respect for conservation Thanks is extended to Paul R. King and the CHOnews for allowing and a tolerance for significant restrictions. In Ontario, the cry the reproduction of this article which appeared in the CHOnews about property rights and the value placed on utilitarian October 2011. Paul R. King is the immediate past-president of development frequently trump conservation. In , we Community Heritage Ontario (CHO) and a Partner at Faskin saw Christ Church College, a beautiful 19th century stone Martineau Dumoulin LLP in Toronto. He and 17 heritage building reminiscent of Alma College in St. Thomas, Ontario. enthusiast including the editor, participated in what was called “A The difference is that the Oxford building is in full use; Alma Heritage Study Tour to the Cotswolds, England.” Photos by John Arndt. College was permitted to deteriorate until vandals burned it to the ground. Alma College was a victim of demolition by

neglect. From June 21 to 24, 2011, I had the pleasure of touring the

Cotswolds in England. Robert Shipley, Kayla Jonas, and Marg Rowell of the Heritage Resources Centre, University of Waterloo, organized this heritage tour. The main purpose was to showcase heritage aspects of the Cotswolds, in comparison with Ontario. We paid attention to successes (such as the bustling high streets with their markets and shops) and failures (such as the prevalence of vehicular traffic). We considered whether what is best about the Cotswolds can provide inspiration for Ontario. In addition to Robert Shipley’s commentary, we were guided by Mike Breakell, a retired municipal planning professor from Oxford Brookes University CHRIST CHURCH COLLEGE, OXFORD and a resident of Finstock in the Cotswolds . His knowledge and insight into the area was invaluable. Unlike many We saw the vibrant high street in Burford which can be educators, Mike was anything but boring, spicing up his contrasted with the high street in Brantford, recently commentary with humour and local stories. demolished by the municipality.

We tend to think that the heritage resources in England are centuries old; but, a surprising number of buildings date from the 19th century, just like southern Ontario. Sure, we saw the dating from the 1300s and the ancient Roman baths (in Bath), but much of what we saw dates from the last 150 years. Some buildings were reputedly very old (such as England’s oldest inn in Stow on the Wold dating from 947 A.D.) In fact, this building and others have been drastically altered over time and really date from a later period. This demonstrated that much is possible in Ontario, even though the heritage structures are rarely more than 200 years old.

WOODSTOCK

In Woodstock (over there, not here), we saw attention to detail with replacement stone roofs matching the adjacent old stone roofs. We saw infill projects such as council houses (low income housing) that were designed to blend in with existing architecture instead of being eyesores. Furthermore, there is a concern in the Cotswolds not only about buildings but about the surrounding rural landscape. As a result, there is a concerted effort to restrict sprawl by attempting to fit new development THE GREAT COXWELL BARN within the existing urban fabric. New development often involves the adaptive reuse of old buildings.

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The small Church of St. John the Baptist, Inglesham, , is no longer in use but is cared for by The Churches Conservation Trust. The Trust is the national charity protecting historic churches at risk. Parts of this church have remained substantially unaltered since the early 16th century and the essential arrangement of the interior fittings dates from Cromwell’s time. The uniqueness of this church was recognized by, and the inspiration for , poet, craftsman, socialist, and founder of the Society for the Protection of

ROLLRIGHT STONES Ancient buildings. The Trust has saved over 340 buildings In the City of Oxford, in addition to magnificent university which attract more than a million visitors a year. In Ontario, we buildings, there is Christ Church Meadow with grazing cattle. have to settle for the Ontario Heritage Trust Inventory of Places The continuing existence of this meadow is no accident. It is of Worship, which for future generations will provide a record off limits to any development.When we visited the Rollright of what has been lost. Nationally, we have nothing. Stones (Neolithic henge) near Oxford, we were treated to a view of the countryside stretching off into the distance. The low rolling hills in the Cotswolds are augmented by rivers The view is one of fields edged with hedgerows, grazing cattle, and canals, including the upper reaches of the Thames River. red poppies sprinkled in the fields, dappled light, a distant These waterways were once important for transport barges and village, and woodlands. This classic English landscape was water powered mills. They are now well used for recreational unmarred by hydro towers, wind turbines, solar panels, super purposes with river boats and barges. The manually operated highways, or highrise buildings. In this area of England, there locks and gates on the canals are very similar to those on the seems to be an appreciation for beauty and the importance of its Rideau Canal. Walking trails have been preserved throughout conservation. In Ontario, we seem to prefer progress with the the area. These ancient footpaths sometimes cross private associated proliferation of deadeningly monotonous shopping fields; but, through litigation, the courts have recognized the mallsand box stores, parking lots, highways, sprawling legitimacy and associated rights of ways. Today, it is possible ubiquitous subdivisions, and undistinguished to tour the Cotswolds on foot. The greater distances in Ontario glass/concrete/steel highrises. In the countryside, our old make this more difficult, although we have some terrific trails. are being replaced with plastic clad farm buildings. Sometimes This year, Ontario Heritage Trust started a Trails Open program it seems as though the prevailing motto in North America is similar to the Doors Open program. “Build it, if it’s ugly.”

In Whitney (known for its shuttered wool and blanket industry where Hudson’s Bay point blankets were made), we toured a new low rise, downtown shopping mall. It was very similar to North American shopping malls except built to fit into the streetscape. It featured sympathetic stone cladding and a pedestrian entryway off the high street that looked like a typical laneway. The parking lot was behind and not visible from the street.

In Chipping Campden, we saw an old mill adaptively reused as an artists’ retail outlet and studio. When we were there, silversmiths were at work. In the countryside, an entrepreneur GARDENS AT BLENHEIM PALACE had turned an old barn in Filkin into a woollen mill with a retail ship, restaurant, studios for craft workers, and a small museum. On our last day, we visited Blenheim Palace and grounds, a gift This is not unlike Alton Mill in Ontario. In Oxford, we saw the from Queen Anne to the first Duke of Marlborough on his old stone jail converted into a boutique Malmaison Hotel . victory in 1704 at the Battle of Blenheim. This 2000 acre Nothing like a good night’s sleep behind bars. spread is a fine example of the gauche excesses of the British nobility. The scale of this estate is reminiscent of Versailles in France.

There are a remarkable number of parallels between heritage issues in the Cotswolds and in southern Ontario. Some successes there are not transportable, but others are. There is no doubt that seeing the Cotswolds is thought provoking when considering Ontario’s future.

CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST INGLESHAM, WILTSHIRE

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Reflections on the UW Grad House, Here is an offer from EDIFACE MAGAZINE that few by Robert Shipley of us can turn down. Nena Wagner, the publisher, is offering our branch members a one year free Sometimes concerns over the retention and reuse of subscription to their new electronic magazine called existing buildings grow into tragedies that are PRESERVATION HOME . completely avoidable. So it is with the old farm house on the campus of the University of Waterloo known as If you are interested in receiving this magazine, email “The Grad House.” Originally the residence of the the publisher at [email protected]. Schweitzer family, the last people to till the soil here, the house now stands as the only reminder of what Please state in your email that you are a member of the preceded the grand new University that sprouted first North Waterloo Region Branch of ACO. You will then in the 1950s and has now blossomed into a leading be provided with a username and password to access educational institution. For almost 40 of the the magazine. University’s 60 years, however, the Grad House had a different function. It was here that students gathered with their professors to pour over lab results, debate A message from the editor of Preservation Home, Chris the great issues of the day and socialise. It was here Cooper, found on page 4 of the first issue Autumn 2011. that having successfully defended their theses grad students repaired with their friends and families to Well here it is! After more than a year and a half in the making, celebrate. It has become one of the few truly this is our premier issue of Preservation Home, a slight departure from our companion magazine Ediface Old Home. Preservation indigenous institutions of the University of Waterloo. Home will fill a void by focusing on the restoration and UW now rightfully aspires to become not only a maintenance issues facing owners/caretakers of older housing national but an internationally recognized seat of stock and built heritage sites in North America. learning. However, no university ever reached greatness while forgetting its past and its humble It is an opportunity for heritage and restoration professionals (and those just entering the field), to see what is available to them for beginnings. No university ever destroyed its way to best practice in their associated trade by joining our community prominence. If current rumours are correct the and spreading the word about themselves or their craft to our University of Waterloo intends to neglect the readership who are seeking professionals to aid them with their maintenance of the Grad House, allow it to restoration projects. deteriorate, destroy it and use the space to build yet The resources, links, and ability to provide more information another somewhat characterless structure. The notion about any given subjects are made easy in their new digital format. is that some new concrete space in modern block will Simply click on the electric link and the resources are there to read house a student club. But you can’t replace and expand on any subject or craftsman. atmosphere, tradition and warmth and once lost you Preservation home will also feature interesting designs and can’t replace memories. It might be that the sort of techniques from the past, and we will try to endeavor to reprint an disregard for tradition and destruction of meaning important book or excerpt from and influential book related to that the demolition of the Grad House would signal architecture and building in many of our publications each year. will stand in the way of UW noble aspiration. You It is important to look to our past for inspiration and ultimately these are the books that our current heritage housing stock sprang can’t have a future without a past. You can’t have a forth from. past without respect for its symbols and its home. I trust you will enjoy the following pages as I have enjoyed bringing them to you.

Cheers, Chris Cooper

A NOTE ABOUT GREENING SACRED SPACES The Greening Sacred Spaces Waterloo,Wellington Dufferin Network works with faith communities to improve our environment. Network members receive invitations to green events, information on new funding programs and access to free downloadable materials. Membership is free! Contact Jane Snyder jsnyder@faith- commongood.net to join the GSS network. UW GRAD HOUSE www.greeningsacredspaces.net/waterloo

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THE NORTH WATERLOO REGION BRANCH Rudy-Snyder House ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVANCY OF ONTARIO

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