Heritage Evaluation Report

Transcription

1 457 Kingston Road West - Ajax, Ontario Heritage Evaluation Report Former Quaker Meeting House December, 2015

2 Contents 1. Introduction Section 29, OHA Ontario Regulation 9/ Brief Historic Overview: Town of Ajax, Pickering Village and Quaker Settlement Property Description and Evolution History of Major Interventions Since Building and Site Integrity Building Envelope Building Interiors Building Structure Site Statement of Cultural Heritage Value Description of Historic Place Heritage Value of the Historic Place Character-Defining Elements of the Quaker Meeting House (Heritage Attributes) Designation Recommendation...12 Appendices...13 A. Key Maps: As-Found Condition...13 B. Exterior Photographs:...16 C. Interior Photographs:...19 D. Windows and Doors Schedule Information:...25 E. Historic Images:...27 F. Quaker Meeting House Plaque Information...32 G. References/Bibliography:

3 1. Introduction The Town of Ajax retained MTBA Associates Inc., specialists in Architecture, Urbanism & Conservation, to prepare a Heritage Evaluation Report in accordance with Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA), for consideration by the Ajax Heritage Advisory Committee (HAC) and the Council. The mandate is limited to: Evaluate the cultural heritage value and interest of the selected properties based on the requirements of Ontario Regulation 9/06 and the guidelines provided in the Ontario Heritage Tool Kit Designating Heritage Properties ; Prepare a Heritage Evaluation Report that will provide historical, architectural and cultural information and evaluation of the property; Conduct site visits and undertake photographic documentation of the site inclusive of the building, and any significant landscape features; Evaluate any interior and exterior features that may be worthy of designation (where necessary or applicable); Make a recommendation on whether the property warrants protection through designation under Part IV of the OHA; Prepare a Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest and a list of the heritage attributes that are significant and worthy of designation for the property. The purpose of the evaluation is to provide Town Council with an impartial third-party professional evaluation of the subject property against Ontario Regulation 9/06, Criteria for Determining Cultural Heritage Value and Interest. The information resulting from this report may be used to prepare a designation by-law, which is forwarded to the Council for final approval. The methodology employed was to undertake a broad overview of the Town of Ajax, provide initial site review, carry out preliminary historical research (including reviewing existing records, maps and books making reference to the Quaker Meeting House and its construction), provide professional analysis and prepare a Heritage Evaluation Report for the Subject Property. The results include the Heritage Evaluation Report for the Pickering Doric Masonic Hall (former Quaker Meeting House, 457 Kingston Road West, Ajax, ON), which is recommended for designation under Part IV of the OHA (individual property designation). The subject property has been researched and a preliminary Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest has been provided herein Section 29, OHA As stated by the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA), non-designated properties listed on a municipal register of Cultural Heritage Properties may be candidates for heritage conservation and protection. Section 29 of the OHA enables municipalities to pass the required bylaws for protection/designation of individual real properties that have cultural heritage value or interest to the municipality. 3

4 The heritage designation is a protection tool mechanism with long-term implications for the alteration and demolition of a cultural heritage property 1 As a Provincial regulation requirement, any property being considered for designation under Section 29 of the OHA must comply with Ontario Regulation 9/06. This regulation calls for a much more thorough investigation, research and screening of the subject property Ontario Regulation 9/06 Regulation 9/06 can be considered as a test to evaluate and identify the cultural heritage value or interest of a property proposed for protection. The regulation states that in order to be designated, a property must meet one or more of the different criteria grouped in the following categories: 1. Design Value or Physical Value: i) Is a rare, unique, representative, or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method; ii) Displays a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit; or iii) Demonstrates a high degree of technical or scientific achievement. 2. Historical Value or Associative Value: i) Has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community; ii) Yields or has the potential to yield information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture; or iii) Demonstrates or reflects the work or ideas of an architect, artist, builder, designer or theorist who is significant to a community. 3. Contextual Value: i) Is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area; ii) Is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings; and iii) Is a landmark. 1 Ontario Heritage Tool Kit: Heritage Property Evaluation, A Guide to Listing, Researching and Evaluation Cultural Heritage Property in Ontario Communities

5 1.3. Brief Historic Overview: Town of Ajax, Pickering Village and Quaker Settlement The Town of Ajax was incorporated in 1955, but before WWII, the territory in which Ajax is located was part of the Township of Pickering. In 1941, the largest defence industry in North America (Defence Industries Limited or DIL) suppling the Allies was located in this area, where thousands of workers and their families settled, creating a close community. The name of Ajax was chosen by the DIL workers to honour a British battleship involved in the Battle of the River Plate (1939). In the 1970s, the small community of Pickering Village and other parts of Pickering Township were annexed from Pickering to Ajax, forming the Town's current boundaries. Pickering Township was first surveyed in 1791 by Augustus Jones, Deputy Provincial Land Surveyor. The site of the later Village of Pickering on Duffin's Creek was part of the forty-eight hundred-acre block in Pickering granted in 1793 to Major John Smith, an officer in the 5th Regiment during the Revolutionary War and later commanding officer at Detroit ( ) and Niagara ( ) 2. The foundation of the Village of Pickering goes back to 1801 when a settlement was developed in the area where Danforth Rd. crossed Duffin s Creek. In 1807, Mr. Timothy Rogers (Quaker Pioneer from Connecticut) purchased 800 acres of land to establish a permanent settlement. Rogers and the Quakers erected multiple mills and buildings in the area; in Rogers estimation this settlement would become the centre of the Quakers in Upper Canada. The Quaker Settlement and the Importance of the Quaker Meeting House Timothy Rogers was the first Quaker settler in the Pickering Village area, bringing with him 20 Quaker families. In the years after the death of his wife in 1812, Mr. Rogers donated two acres of land for the Quaker Meeting House and the Friends Cemetery (Rogers and his family are buried at this location on Mill Street). Rogers descendants went on to be successful entrepreneurs and prominent members of Canadian society (founding well-known Canadian institutions like Rogers Cable and Rogers Fuel Oil). The first Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends occurred in 1867, at the Pickering Quaker Meeting House where representatives from various parts of Canada, United States, England and Ireland prepared a document to the new government of the Dominion of Canada expressing their continued testimonies against war. The Quaker Meeting House was strategically located close to the Village of Pickering, the historic Friends Cemetery and Quaker College. In 1942, following a decline of the Quaker population in the region, the building was sold to the Lodge of the Freemasons, another important institution in the Pickering community. 2 The Ajax Historical Board. Ajax Published

6 Site N Figure 1 - Site location within context, Old Village of Pickering shown in dark purple (Source: Google Maps). Refer to Appendix E for historic maps. 2. Property Description and Evolution The Doric Pickering Masonic Hall, formerly known as the Society of Friends Meeting House or Quaker Meeting House is located at 457 Kingston Road West in Ajax, Ontario. The property is approximately 1.0 acre in size, with simple landscaping, grassed areas and a parking area consisting of a gravel-paved surface. The site extends from Kingston Road West (north) to a fenced private residence (south) and from the New Apostolic Church lands (west) to Mill Street (east). The building is located on the southwest portion of the site. The subject property s origin and historic evolution is closely related to the Friends Cemetery just across Mill Street. The building was originally constructed in 1867 to replace an earlier and smaller frame Meeting House. It consists of a rectangular two-storey brick structure with arched window and door openings. In 1908, a fire destroyed the original gable roof. The building was quickly repaired in 1909, when the roof form was replaced with the current Dutch hip roof configuration. The exterior walls consist of solid brick masonry (laid in cross pattern for strength with plaster finish inside) with limestone elements at window sills and wall base. (Appx. B - Figs. 1 to 4) The north elevation includes an entrance portico with classically inspired wood details (newer addition in 2009, replacing an earlier 1961 flat roof portico addition). The roofing consists of a Dutch hip roof with extended eaves, finished with asphalt shingles and siding at the gable ends (Appx. B - Figs. 1 & 3). The exterior windows and front entry door are typically original wood frame arch-topped units (Appx. B - Figs. 2 & 10), with some similar vinyl frame replacements. The gross floor area of the overall building is 4,000 sq. ft. 6

7 To better accommodate the Masonic services, several interior modifications were completed, especially in the Lodge Room. Amongst the most significant building alterations: second level balcony construction c.1953 (Appx. C - Figs. 22 & 24), as well as enclosing windows and emergency exit addition c.1971 (Appx. B & C - Figs. 4 & 32) History of Major Interventions Since 1952 The following summary list includes the most significant improvements, repairs and building modifications documented by the Doric Masonic Lodge records 3 : Exterior wood work was painted and some windows re-glazed; The balcony was constructed in the Lodge Room (Appx. C - Figs. 22 & 24); The building was connected to the municipal water system; A flat roof porch was constructed over the building entrance; Following numerous blackouts a new 100 ampere service was installed; New cupboards, sinks and counters were installed in the kitchen; Modifications to Lodge Room: New interior wood paneling to a height of 8, new carpet, enclosing windows, new wiring/fixtures and the installation of emergency exit; The Banquet Room was paneled & emergency door was added (Appx. C - Figs.33 & 39); Washrooms were installed & suspended ceiling was installed in the main hallway; A bat infestation was removed from the attic; new insulation was installed at the attic area; fans ware installed in the Lodge Room; two forced air gas furnaces were installed in the basement and the old furnace room was converted into a cloak room; The kitchen floors and walls were refinished; signboard was added at the front door area; Kitchen was renovated including new cupboards, countertops, ceiling & lighting; The Banquet Hall floor was sanded and the exterior windows painted; The Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee unveiled an historical plaque (east of the Lodge building) commemorating the historic significance of the building (see Appendix F for Historic Plaque s text transcription and photo); The Lodge Room was completely redecorated (Appx. C - Fig. 22); Front windows were repaired & restored (including some glazing replacements); The Banquet Hall was completely restored, including: dropped ceiling was removed, original tin ceiling was repaired and refurbished, the original windows were uncovered and refurbished, new fans/ lights were installed and the floor was refinished (Appx. C - Figs. 33, 34, 37, 40 & 41); New roofing of asphalt shingles was installed and the flat roof entry porch was replaced with a classically inspired gable roof porch (Appx. B - Figs. 1, 2 & 12); A new air conditioner system was installed along with two smart digital thermostats. 3 Radley, David. The Story of Doric Pickering Doric Lodge No. 424 G.R.C., Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and accepted Masons of Canada in the Province of Ontario. 7

8 The Quaker Meeting House - Timeline: Quakers first settled on this site when Timothy Rogers bought 800 acres at the Pickering Village Mr. Rogers s wife and 7 of his children die after a Cholera outbreak; they are buried at the Friends Cemetery just across the street from the Meeting House Mr. Rogers donates 7 acres of his lands for the Quaker Meeting House, including the Friends Cemetery Early log structure is replaced by a larger wood frame structure Mr. Rogers dies at the age of 78. His descendants went on to be successful entrepreneurs (Rogers Cable and Rogers Fuel Oil) The wood frame meeting house is replaced by the current unique brick building built by the Orthodox Society of Friends The brick meeting house is struck by lighting and extensively burned, taking a valuable library of 500 volumes and records The brick meeting house was re-built by the Quaker congregation, and the roof was altered from the original gable roof to the current Dutch hip configuration Last Quaker Yearly Meeting is held at the Meeting House Services at the Meeting House are discontinued and the building falls into disuse The Pickering Continuing Presbyterians use the building as a place of worship The Meeting House is purchased by the Masons Addition of flat-roof porch over the entrance The Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee unveiled an historical plaque Different upgrades and repairs are completed by the Masons, including: structural repairs, insulation installation, washrooms, new furnace, roofing, emergency exits, electrical systems upgrade, new front portico, etc. Images from top to bottom: Society of Friends Meeting House - c.1902 (Source: Pickering Business Directory, Pickering Public Library); The old Quaker Meeting House c.1960 (Source: Homesteads - Early Buildings and Families from Kingston to Toronto); and Doric Pickering Masonic Hall (Source: MTBA). 8

9 3. Building and Site Integrity The building is currently about 148 years old and it has been under the care of the Doric Masonic Lodge since The Masonic Lodge has completed numerous repairs/upgrades to the building structure and site, while continuously providing up-keep and general maintenance tasks. The following are summaries describing the current condition of the building s major components (for a more in-depth analysis and 5-year expected capital expenditure table, please refer to the 457 Kingston Road West - Building Condition Assessment by MTBA Associates Inc., et al., dated February 27, 2015) Building Envelope The overall condition of the building envelope is serviceable (good). General maintenance and repairs have been completed in recent years. The brick walls show evidence of some deteriorated mortar joints and cracked masonry units, as well as water staining and efflorescence at the northwest corner of the building. There is evidence of paint and surface deterioration at the wood windows and doors elements. A complete repair/rehabilitation process is recommended for the future. The roofing was recently replaced (2009) and remains in serviceable condition; however, the wood soffits are deteriorated and will require repair to prevent further degradation Building Interiors The overall condition of the building interiors is satisfactory (very good). The interior spaces have received general maintenance and renovation projects during recent years. An ongoing, standard maintenance program is recommended to preserve the interior finishes in good condition. The kitchen area is dated and deteriorated; a complete accessible kitchen retrofit is recommended for the future Building Structure The overall condition of the building structure is serviceable (good). Maintenance has been adequate, for the most part. The columns supporting the beams and floor joists were generally noted to be comprised of dry-stacked masonry, composite wood and a combination of thereof. Several deficiencies were noted with respect to the columns, including the apparent lack of proper footings. The Town has reported that the required short term repairs to the floor column members, concrete retaining walls (in the furnace room) and attic s structure were completed following the recommendations noted on 457 Kingston Road West - Building Condition Assessment by MTBA Associates Inc., et al., dated February 27, 2015 (Appx. C - Figs.52,53, 58 & 60) Site The grade level at the north and east areas slopes back towards the building foundation, increasing the risk of potential water infiltration. It is recommended to re-grade the applicable areas or install a perimeter drainage trench. The overall condition of the building site is serviceable (good). The property grounds receive satisfactory maintenance. 9

10 4. Statement of Cultural Heritage Value 4.1. Description of Historic Place The Quaker Meeting House (now Doric Pickering Masonic Lodge) is a 1867 two-storey congregational brick building located at 457 Kingston Road West (Ajax, ON), just east of Pickering Village and west of the historic Friends Cemetery across Mill Street. This historic place consists of the building and its approximately one-acre lot Heritage Value of the Historic Place The cultural heritage value of the Quaker Meeting House resides in its historical associations, its architecture, and in helping to define the historic character of the Pickering Village area. It is the only remaining purpose-built Quaker Meeting House in the former Pickering Township. The Quaker Meeting House is historically significant for its association with the settlement of local Quakers, its connection to Timothy Rogers and its long history of community use. The Meeting House was constructed by the Orthodox Society of Friends (also known as the Quakers), to replace an earlier frame Meeting House structure built on the same lands. The structure provides a physical representation of the Quakers legacy of pacifism, modesty and kindness in early Pickering Township and is associated with the first Yearly Meeting in Canada of the Society of Friends, Orthodox Branch, in The lands on which the building was constructed were donated by Mr. Timothy Rogers, who was a prominent figure in the early history of Pickering Village and one of the first Quaker settlers in the region. Before a Meeting House was constructed, the Quakers would meet at Mr. Rogers property in his log home. With the decline of the Quaker population in the region, the building was auctioned and purchased by the local Lodge of Freemasons in Many well-known residents of Pickering and nearby areas were among the founding members of the Doric Pickering Masonic Lodge No. 424 GRC. The Masons have been the responsible stewards of the property for over three generations and their presence is part of the property s long history of community use. The building is architecturally significant for its simple American Classic Revival features, its architectural symmetry and its atypical design when compared to other Ontario Quaker Meeting Houses. Its design provides a very tall volume of space, which differs from other meeting houses of the same period which are traditionally of a lower, single-storey frame construction. This unique design reflects the stature and resourcefulness of the Pickering Quaker community and has allowed for a greater variety of reuse options and adaptations over time, which has contributed to the longevity of the building. The detailed but unadorned common bond brickwork of the exterior walls, the simple free laid stone foundation, and the regular symmetrically-placed round headed window openings evoke the restraint, solidity and dignity of the Quaker way of life. The semicircular arched transom panel and front wood door provide a focal point around which the symmetry revolves. This formal hierarchy established the importance of the building s function. Other significant features include the simple yet well-crafted architectural detailing of the full arch, segmental arch and jack arch brick lintels and the remaining early window components. 10

11 Contextually, the building is significant for its association with, and location across from, the Friends Cemetery, which is also on land donated by Timothy Rogers. This cemetery is the final resting place of Mr. Rogers, his wife, and several of his children. The meeting house is located slightly outside of the Pickering Village Heritage Conservation District, nearby other sites of significance to the Quakers including the first Quaker schoolhouse and the original Pickering College (established by the Quaker community in 1878). The building is prominently located on a major road (Kingston Road) and its scale and materiality (red brick, limestone, wood) complement other significant historic buildings in the area Character-Defining Elements of the Quaker Meeting House (Heritage Attributes) Key exterior elements and attributes that express the heritage value of the Quaker Meeting House as one of the remaining examples of 19 th Century Quaker Meeting Houses in Canada: the pure simplicity of the form, rectangular footprint and symmetrical fenestration arrangement, reflecting the beliefs and character of the Quaker community; American Classic Revival stylistic references as evidenced in: o Well-balanced symmetrical North façade; o Arched door and window openings; o minimal external detailing; crafted but unadorned brick construction, most of which is thought to be original to 1867; the general fenestration pattern and the glass and wood frames of the following windows, which are original to the 1908 reconstruction (see appendix D for doors and windows schedule): o North elevation: all four large, round-arched wood sash windows with 9 x 9 light configurations; o East elevation: the two central wood sash windows with 8 x 8 light configurations and the upper storey round-arched wood sash window with 6 x 6 light configuration on the southern side of the building; and o South elevation: the two large, round-arched wood sash windows with 9 x 9 light configurations on the eastern side of the building; the original iron shutter hooks in place along the window openings; which are the only reminder of the existence of window shutters prior to the 1908 fire; the unique large solid wood front entry door and arched transom assembly. Key interior elements and attributes that express the heritage value of the Quaker Meeting House: interior components of the doors and windows described under the exterior elements above; the 1908 pressed decorative metal ceiling tiles and mouldings in the interior Lodge and Banquet rooms; the original chestnut benches given by the Pennsylvania Quakers as a contribution to the reconstruction, which still occupy the meeting room (now Lodge Room); the original or early 1¼ maple wood flooring in the Banquet Hall; the Doric Masonic decorative tile flooring (and chamber) in the Lodge Room. 11

12 5. Designation Recommendation The consultants are specialists in the field and provide a foundation for the community to ascertain its own priority heritage values and the character of the community that they wish to help preserve for future generations. In Section 4 of this report the Consultants have provided a Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest (SCHVI), which allows the reader to better understand the reasons to consider the Quaker Meeting House as a building with heritage significance to the community. It is important to note the designation recommendation is based upon exterior/interior observations and research of public documents/records (many of them were destroyed during the 1908 fire). Therefore, such things as further interior elements, degree of integrity and remaining original materials were not investigated and are not fully addressed under this document. The Subject Property is one of the most important and unique Quaker Meeting Houses of the region, as well as the only surviving Meeting House in the Town of Ajax and a reminder and physical presence of the Quaker heritage of early Pickering Township. The Subject Property is considered among the most significant heritage properties in the Municipality and should be designated under Part IV of the OHA. Criteria for Determining Cultural Heritage Value or Interest (Ontario Regulation 9/06) This checklist provides additional rationale for the designation recommendation by comparing the subject property against the Ontario Regulation 9/06 criteria to determining whether it is of cultural heritage value or interest (A property may be designated under Section 29 of the Act if it meets one or more of the following criteria): 1. Design Value or Physical Value: i) Is a rare, unique, representative, or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method; YES ii) Displays a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit; or NO iii) Demonstrates a high degree of technical or scientific achievement. NO 2. Historical Value or Associative Value: i) Has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community; ii) Yields or has the potential to yield information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture; or iii) Demonstrates or reflects the work or ideas of an architect, artist, builder, designer or theorist who is significant to a community. YES YES NO 3. Contextual Value: i) Is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area; YES ii) Is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings; and YES iii) Is a landmark. NO 12

13 Appendices A. Key Maps: As-Found Condition Site Key Plan # Photo location/viewpoint 13

14 Crawlspace Plan BANQUET # Photo location/viewpoint 18 First Floor Plan 11 14

15 Mezzanine Floor Plan 10 # Photo location/viewpoint 15

16 B. Exterior Photographs: Note: See Appendix A for photo location/viewpoint key maps Fig. 1 - Front (north) facade Fig. 2 - Rear (south) facade Fig. 3 - East side facade Fig. 4 - West side façade with enclosed windows and emergency exit Fig. 5 - North front of property on Kingston Road West Fig. 6 - West side grounds Fig. 7 - East side grounds Fig. 8 - NW corner 16

17 Fig. 9 - Front signage Fig Typical wood arched window Fig Original shutter clasp. Shutters have been removed from the building Fig portico Fig West masonry repairs needed Fig Front entry plaque Fig Well-crafted 2009 entry portico. Not stylistically correct but sympathetic 17

18 Fig Grand original front entry Fig Original wood door with a range of hardware. Fig South infilled window due to Lodge Room modifications in 1971 Fig West wall repairs required Fig Typical Jack arch for square openings Fig Typical eaves detail 18

19 C. Interior Photographs: Note: See Appendix A for photo location/viewpoint key maps Fig Overall view of Lodge Room Fig Lodge Room, showing 1971 wood paneling Fig Lodge Room from SE corner Fig Lodge Room view from balcony Fig Lodge Room view from balcony Fig c1953 balcony at Lodge Room Fig c1909 original pressed tin ceiling at Lodge Room 19

20 Fig Wood paneling detailing Fig time capsule at Lodge Room: this capsule is to be opened in 2067 to commemorate 200 th birthday of Canada and the construction of the Meeting House in Fig Door hardware detailing Fig Covered window at Lodge Room s balcony Fig Overall view of Banquet Room Fig Pressed tin ceiling and light fixtures at Banquet Room Fig Mezzanine space above kitchen Fig Attic access hatch above kitchen s mezzanine 20

21 Fig Detail showing 1909 pressed tin ceiling at Banquet Room Fig Lath and plaster assembly at interior walls Fig Detail showing wood window above 1972 emergency exit at Banquet Room Fig c1909 Arched wood window Fig Wood window detail Fig Hardwood floor at Banquet Room Fig Kitchen 21

22 Fig Kitchen Fig Banquet Room from main hallway Fig Main Hallway Fig Washroom Fig Lodge Room s hallway Fig Painted wood window at Lodge Room s hallway 22

23 Fig Overall view of attic (built c1909), before stabilization repairs Fig View of attic at rebuilt gable end (built c1909), before stabilization repairs Fig Detail showing attic structure after stabilization repairs (source: Ryan Cole) Fig Detail showing attic structure after stabilization repairs in 2015 by the Town (source: Ryan Cole) Fig Floor structure at crawlspace, original stone foundation in background Fig Detail showing heavy wood beams at crawl space 23

24 Fig Access stairs to crawlspace/basement. Fig Detail showing floor structure Fig Detail showing floor structure after stabilization repairs (source: Ryan Cole) Fig Cracked retention wall repairs at Mechanical Room Fig Detail showing concrete retention walls at mechanical room after stabilization repairs in 2015 by the Town (source: Ryan Cole) 24

25 West Elvation South Elevation East Elevation North Elevation 457 Kingston Road West - Ajax, Ontario HERITAGE EVALUATION REPORT D. Windows and Doors Schedule Information: N1 N2 N3 N4 D1 E1 E2 E3 E4 E5 D2 S1 S2 S3 S4 W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 D3 25

26 Opening # Description Character Defining Element N large round arched wood sash window, 9 x 9 configuration with sash pulleys YES N large round arched wood sash window, 9 x 9 configuration with sash pulleys YES N large round arched wood sash window, 9 x 9 configuration with sash pulleys YES N large round arched wood sash window, 9 x 9 configuration with sash pulleys YES E round arched wood sash window, 6 x 6 configuration with sash pulleys YES E round arched wood sash window, 8 x 8 configuration with sash pulleys YES E3 Replacement round arched vinyl fixed window (6 x 6) NO E segmental arch wood sash window, 8 x 8 configuration with sash pulleys YES E5 Replacement segmental arch vinyl fixed window (6 x 6) NO S1 Window has been removed and the opening bricked-in/covered N/A S2 Window has been removed and the opening bricked-in/covered N/A S large round arched wood sash window, 9 x 9 configuration with sash pulleys YES S large round arched wood sash window, 9 x 9 configuration with sash pulleys YES W1 Window has been covered or removed N/A W2 Window has been covered or removed N/A W3 Window has been removed and the opening bricked-in N/A W4 Window has been removed and the opening bricked-in N/A W5 Window has been removed and the opening bricked-in N/A D1 Unique large solid wood door with arched transom assembly YES D solid wood emergency exit door, including panic hardware NO D solid wood emergency exit door, including panic hardware NO 26

27 E. Historic Images: Figure 1 - Pickering Township map c.1870, showing subject property in red circle (Source: digital.library.mcgill.ca/countyatlas/searchmapframes.php). 27

28 Figure 2 - Map of the south part of Central Ontario 1877, showing subject property in red circle (Source: Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Ontario). 28

29 Figure 3 - Map of the Township of Pickering 1967, showing subject property in red circle (Source: Pickering Township Historical Society, Centennial Souvenir). 29

30 Figure 4 - Quakers outside Meeting House (Source: Pickering Public Library, year unknown) Figure 5 - Meeting House auction sale notice, 1988 (Source: Pickering Public Library). Note: the Authors found no record of this sale being consummated. It is known to have sold in 1942 to the local Doric Masonic Lodge. 30

31 Figure 6 - Excerpt from The History of Pickering Village and Its Locality. Related text reads: the first influx of settlers into the Township of Pickering was occurred early in 18 (?). A group of Quaker settlers was brought from the United States to settle in Pickering Chiefly south and east of Duffins Creek. The man who arranged this was Timothy Rogers. He received from the government a grant of several hundred acres of land near the village and gave the land on which the old Friends Meeting House still stands (though it is now owned by the Masons.). 31

32 F. Quaker Meeting House Plaque Information Quaker Meeting House Plaque, 1992 In 1812, Timothy Rogers ( ), a Quaker settler, envisioned the Village of Duffin s Creek (now Pickering Village) as the centre for Quaker Yearly Meetings in Canada. Quaker Meetings were first held in his log home. Later, he donated 2 acres of his farm for a Meeting House and Burial Ground (located across Mill Street). The first Meeting House was built c1819 followed by a new 2 storey frame structure c The present red brick structure was built in at a cost of $6,000. This Meeting House was opened on June 28 th 1867 with the first session of the Canada Yearly Meeting (Orthodox) Quakers. Representatives gathered from various parts of Canada, United States, England and Ireland. In 1878 Pickering College was opened and managed by the Canada Yearly Meeting (Orthodox) Quakers as a co-educational institution. The college was situated across the road from the Meeting House on a hill. Unfortunately this institution was destroyed by fire in It was relocated to Newmarket. As the closely knit Quaker religious community was not dependent on professional clergy, Quakers were able to fully enjoy their faith in the pioneering era. Worship in the Society of Friends (Quakers) is based on silent expectant waiting, speaking only when moved by the spirit of God. In accordance with the Historic Quaker Peace Testimony, young Quakers participated in the Friends ambulance unit during and after the Second World War. The architecture of the building is not typical of other Ontario meeting houses which are traditionally of single storey frame construction. The Pickering Meeting House has been altered since it was built. This structure exhibits simple American Classical Revival features and architectural preciseness in its symmetry. The semi-circular arched front door provides a focal point and establishes the importance of the building function. A gable roof preceded the present hip roof, but it was destroyed by a fire after the building was struck by lightning in Early records of the Meeting House and Library were lost. The detailed but unadorned common bond brick work and the round headed window openings suggest the restraint, the solidity and the dignity of the Quaker way of life. This Meeting House and the Society of Friends (Quakers) Burial ground, where Timothy Rogers is buried, are reminders of our Quaker Heritage established early in the settlement of Pickering Township. This plaque was erected by the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee,

33 G. References/Bibliography: Radley, David. The Story of Doric Pickering Doric Lodge No. 424 G.R.C., Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and accepted Masons of Canada in the Province of Ontario. Nisbet, Robert. A Town Called Ajax. MTBA Associates Inc. 457 Kingston Road West - Building Condition Assessment. February, exp Services Inc. Building Condition Reserve Fund Study Kingston Road West, July, Sabean, John. Time Present and Time Past: a Pictorial History of Pickering Wood, William. Past years in Pickering Murison, Ross. The Village of Pickering McKay, William. The Pickering Story Pickering Woman's Institute. Tweedsmuir History - Pickering Woman s Institute Doric Lodge Pickering. The Story of Doric Lodge AF and AM G.R.C The Ajax Historical Board. Ajax Pickering Branch of Women s Institute. The History of Pickering Village and Its Locality. Murkar & Thexton. Pickering News, Christmas Number Ajax-Pickering News Advertiser. Millennium Souvenir Edition Corporation of Town of Ajax. Pickering Village Walking Tour Brochure Town of Ajax by the Lake. Doors Open Ajax, Docent Copy, Quaker Meeting House - Doric Masonic Hall. September, 2012 Town of Ajax by the Lake. Information Package Individual Heritage Property Designation. August, 2013 Province of Ontario. Ontario Heritage Tool Kit: Designating Heritage Properties, A Guide to Municipal Designation of Individual Properties under the Ontario Heritage Act. & Ontario Heritage Tool Kit: Heritage Property Evaluation, A Guide to Listing, Researching and Evaluation Cultural Heritage Property in Ontario Communities