Arnold Neufeldt-Fast November 17, 2012 Re: Demolition of Bartholomew Farmstead, Stouffville Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Council Agenda for

Tues, Nov. 20, 2012 Item: #7 Demolition Request of a Heritage Interest Dwelling at 4721 Stouffville Rd (P10). See also: Presentation to Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Council by Fred Robbins on behalf of the Heritage Advisory Committee: Heritage designation of pre-Confederation property 4721 Stouffville Road (and Power Point), Feb. 21, 2012.

Sent to MayorAndCouncil@townofws.com, March / Nov, 2012 -------------What value does an old building have? Arnold Neufeldt-Fast (reprinted in Stouffville Free Press, April 2012) The look and development of communities like Stouffville is often anchored by a few signature buildings. Arguably, the Bartholomew Farmstead at 4721 Stouffville Road (near McCowan), built in 1855, plays such a critical role for the western gateway into Stouffville. On February 21, local historian Fred Robbins made a recommendation to Town Council on behalf of the Towns Heritage Advisory Committee to designate the Bartholomew Farmstead a structure of cultural heritage value under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. Mr. Robbins reminded Council that only one of three criteria must be met to qualify for the provincial designation: the structure must be of significant historical, architectural or contextual value. The last criterion was substituted in the presentation with the term "cultural," and Mr. Robbins made an impassioned argument for each of these criteria. The motion to designate the farmstead was moved by Councillor Hargrave, but did not find a seconder, and thus did not come before the meeting for debate or designation. What value does an old building have? The structures contextual value was not addressed and may, however, be the most obvious and easiest entry point to appreciate its historical and architectural value as well. Section 29 of the Act states that a "property has contextual value because it, (i) is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area ... ." Stouffville residents need only drive by the new Shell Service Station at Stouffville Road and West Lawn Road to understand what this means. The unique large, white quoin cornerstones of the gas station stand in stark contrast to the surrounding ruddy red brick; the style mirrors exactly the brickwork of the Bartholomew Farmstead and a very few other buildings in town (e.g., see the Brownsberger Farmstead, now almost hidden behind the Automall on Millard Street). These older buildings define, maintain and support the character" of our town, and especially its new buildings.

Similarly, the design of the Regions new pumping station buildings on McCowan Road incorporate quoin cornerstonesbut all in ruddy red coloured brick; the pumping station is on the neighbouring property to the Bartholomew Farmstead. Contextuality in Sec. 29 includes a structure's "visual linkage" to its surroundingsand this is exactly what the Bartholomew Farmstead achieves. Urban theorist Jane Jacobs has argued convincingly that vital communities need many types of old buildings; in this case, the Bartholomew Farmstead inspired some of the best new building design in town. We see this principle at play with the new Stouffville Fire Hall as well. That design would be impossible without the architect's recollections of older Ontario fire halls--like Uxbridges, for example. In other words, even for those with growth and expansion on their minds, the old buildings with contextual significance are our towns best guarantee that the new will have both roots and wings. As a rule, Council should take the recommendations of its advisory committees very seriously. The last time the Heritage Advisory Committee made a strong recommendation to Council was in support of Ringwood's "Da Classic Scoop" building. The loss of that architecturally unique building (second criterion) was more than the loss of an old wooden structure; with its demise, the town lost its ability not only to tell it's own story, but also the country's (yes, Ringwood is deeply connected to Ludwig Wideman / William Lyon McKenzie, and to the 1837 uprising at Montgomery's Tavern in Toronto). That locality, with an historical plaque, could have helped us tell our children of the development and importance of representative democracy in Canada -and Ringwood's role in it (this would fulfill the first criterion of the Sec. 29) and inspire new buildings as well. The Bartholomew Farmstead also has a story tell. Its Georgian style was brought to Upper Canada by the United Empire Loyalists, and is characterized by simplicity, symmetry and solidity. As Ann MacRae has stated, the style is a physical expression of the cultural mental

climate of the first settlers of Upper Canada (A. MacRae, The Ancestral Room). Mr. Robbinss presentation provided the more specific, colourful details on the related founding families. It is disheartening that Councillor Hargrave's motion for the heritage designation of the Bartholomew Farmstead could not find the support of even one other Council member. The Heritage Advisory Commitees task is to remind Council of the crucial civic, cultural and economic role our older buildings (and First Nation sites) play. This role is especially important in a fast-growing municipality like ours, where important heritage assets are regularly pitted against so-called pragmatic needs. Yet these older buildingslike the Bartholomew Farmstead in particularare anchors, without which the character of our town can easily drift, without definition, maintenance or support. Take a look at the Bartholomew Farmstead again, and then drive around town. Let the Mayor and Council know that you support the Heritage Committees recommendation to designate the Bartholomew house a structure of cultural heritage value under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

---Arnold Neufeldt-Fast