30: 1242 Bronte Road, The Woodlands

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1. Description of Property Municipal Address Name (if applicable) Legal Description Location of Property Ownership Access Current Use Existing Designation General Description Priority Level 30: 1242

1 1. Description of Property Municipal Address Name (if applicable) Legal Description Location of Property Ownership Access Current Use Existing Designation General Description Priority Level 30: 1242 Bronte Road, The Woodlands 1242 Bronte Road The Woodlands PT LT 31, CON 2 TRAF, SDS, PT 1 20R15001; OAKVILLE Located on the west side of Bronte Road north of the QEW, overlooking Bronte Creek. Private Access granted by owner. Site inspection completed September 8, (AB, CU, ES) Residential Listed on the Register of Properties of Cultural Heritage Value of Interest (NOT Designated). Description: The Woodlands- This property has potential cultural heritage value for its historic farmstead, including the c farmhouse once owned by James White Bronte Road comprises a small portion of the original 315-acre Woodlands farmstead. It includes the c.1865 home of James White and a variety of plantings around the building, including a number of mature trees planted by long-time owner, Dr. George Atkins. The original farmstead once included land on both sides of the present-day Bronte Road and on the west side of Bronte Creek. The Bronte White Oak Tree (designated under Part IV of the OHA, By-law ) was within the original farmstead. It is not within 1242 Bronte Road but is historically linked to the property. Medium Figure 1: 1242 Bronte Road. (AB, 2015) 30-1

2 Upper Middle Rd. W. Golf Course Footpaths Barn Pond Bronte Rd. House Historic Trees Stone Chimney Historic Oak Bronte Creek Br on te Rd Corporation of the Town of Oakville 1225 Trafalgar Rd Oakville, ON L6H 0H3. House Historic Trees Stone Chimney 1242 Bronte Road Cultural Heritage Landscape Inventory Map LEGEND Assessment Boundary Building CHL Study Area Historic Oak Heritage District Heritage Trail Parkland Park Trail Road Site Structures Vegetation Watercourse Bronte Creek Cemetery Drawing not to scale

3 2. Key Recommendations Priority = Medium Rationale for priority level: Potential for development of surrounding landscape. Recommendations for future action: Prepare a full evaluation report to confirm and update the heritage attributes of the property, including landscape elements; Consider designating the cultural heritage landscape of the property under Part IV of the OHA; Include the property in a study of rural farmsteads to consider their potential heritage value and protection; Alternately, consider initiating a Heritage Conservation District Study under Part V of the OHA, that includes 1242 Bronte Road, the Woodlands White Oak Tree and other heritage resources in the area. A Part V study may recommend implementation of a Heritage Conservation District Plan covering multiple properties, or a series of Part IV designations, or other policy measures. 3. Documentation and Inventory of Built Form List of Built Features: A two-storey, stucco-clad home in an elevated location, with a sweeping verandah along the front and side elevations, and a one-storey tail and c.1960s garage off the rear; A ruin, consisting of a fieldstone fireplace/hearth to the east of the house, from the 1920s tramp house built by Atkins for farmhands. The tramp house was demolished c.1980s. Flagstone pathways and steps along the east side of the house; Concrete steps leading to the front entrance of the house; A gravel laneway; Concrete commemorative plaques on several trees; and A fire pit and a summer outbuilding. 4. Documentation and Inventory of Natural Form List of Natural Features: Enormous Spruce, Cedar, Sugar Maple; Hickory, Mulberry, Norway Maple in the surrounding woods; Hosta, Flowering Raspberry; A creek in the woods behind the house; Newer Spruce & Pine planted by the current owner; The first Spruce, at the curve in the drive, was planted in the 1890's; Old Beautybush; Oak trees have died and been removed; A very old Holly behind the house (possibly planted by George Atkins); and Periwinkle in a front, naturalized area under the trees. 30-3

4 5. Design (Typology) X all that apply X X X Categories of Cultural Heritage Landscape Designed Landscape Organically Evolved Landscape Relict Landscape (Evolved Landscape) Continuing Landscape (Evolved Landscape) Associative Cultural Landscape Description clearly defined landscape designed and created intentionally by man. results from an initial social, economic, administrative, and/or religious imperative and has developed in its present form in response to its natural environment in which an evolutionary process came to an end at some time in the past. retains an active social role in contemporary society closely associated with the traditional way of life, and which the evolutionary process is still in progress. justifiable by virtue of the powerful religious, artistic, or cultural associations of the natural element rather than material cultural evidence, which may be insignificant or even absent. 6. Historical and Thematic Associations The Woodlands farmstead is located along the Twelve Mile Creek. 1 It is a fragment of a 315-acre farmstead purchased by James White in the 1840s. White s farm extended along both sides of present-day Bronte Road and on the opposite side of Bronte Creek (Twelve Mile Creek). In addition to owning a sawmill, White was a lumber merchant, gentleman farmer and livestock breeder. He is associated with the harvesting of the abundant quantities of pine and oak as land was being cleared for settlement and agriculture. Oak, milled locally and used by shipbuilders for masts or shipped out of Oakville as barrel staves, became one of the area s major exports in the mid-19 th century. One notable example of an Oak tree predating settlement is the Bronte White Oak. The tree, now designated under the OHA (By-law No ), is located to the east of 1242 Bronte Road and is estimated to date to the 1730s. White s timber and agricultural products helped establish the nearby hamlet of Merton. The Municipal Heritage Register provides a date of construction of c.1865 for the Woodlands house. However, a building is shown on Tremaine s 1858 map of the township in the same general location as the extant house. More investigation is warranted to determine if some of this earlier structure survives as the current house. The 1877 Walker & Miles map of Trafalgar Township South shows the Woodlands farm of James White on Lots 30, 31 and 32, Concession II, SDS, including the current house, a second building and several orchards. 2 White s orchards were known for their Extra Fancy Northern Spy apples. Following White s death, the property was transferred to his son-in-law, Paul Campbell, who is credited with developing the property into one of the area s best known orchards. 3 1 Ashe and Burnell (2007: 117) suggest that the name of the farm may reflect the use of the surrounding area for the cultivation of corn, squash, and other field crops by First Nations groups prior to the Iroquoian Wars. This seems implausible as First Nations did not refer to themselves as Woodlands people. 2 Walker & Miles, Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Halton, ONT., (Toronto: Walker & Miles, 1877). 3 Ashe and Burnell, 2007:

5 The Woodlands Stables, once located on the opposite side of Bronte Road, were used for White s livestock breeding business. A number of White s horses won the Queen s Plate, including Don Juan, the winner of the first Queen s Plate in The stables were destroyed by fire in The farmstead was sold to George Chew Atkins, of Maplewood, New Jersey, in His son, George Atkins, lived at the Woodlands from the age of two to 82 years. George Stuart Atkins ( ) was a farmer, a Canadian broadcaster, a CBC television and radio host, and the founder of Farm Radio International. During his early years of farming, he played a key role in the development of the Ontario Junior Farmers Association and the Halton Region Conservation Authority. For 25 years he was the farm commentator for CBC radio and television in Toronto. In the late 1970s he founded the Developing Countries Farm Radio Network ( Farm Radio International ) and managed it for 15 years. Because of his work in farm education, he became a Fellow of the Agricultural Institute of Canada and a member of the Order of Canada, and received an honourary doctorate from the University of Guelph. 5 Queen Anne decorative elements and portions of the front of the house may have been constructed c.1880s. The home underwent major renovations in the 1960s. 7. Contextual Associations The Woodlands is historically linked to the surrounding area. The property overlooks Bronte Creek (Twelve Mile Creek), a traditional transportation route for a number of First Nations groups including the Anishinabe and Iroquois. Agricultural fields which pre-date European Settlement were located in the vicinity. The Woodlands farmstead, which was established by James White in the 1840s, once comprised 315 acres of land, running along both sides of Bronte Road and on the opposite side of the creek. The homestead at 1242 Bronte Road is all that remains of this earlier farmstead. The Bronte White Oak, designated under the OHA (by-law ), is located to the east of 1242 Bronte Road, on land once included in James White s farm. 8. Evaluation (O. Reg 9/06) O.Reg.9/06 Criteria 1. The property has design value or physical value because it, 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. The property has historical value or associative value because it, Criteria Potentially Met (/N) N N Potential Justification The house is a much-modified example of a 19 th century farmhouse, and may be considered an early or representative example of a style or type. The farmhouse is alleged to date to c but may predate the 1858 Tremaine map of Trafalgar. Not shown. Not shown. 4 Ibid 5 University of Guelph Library, Oral history interview by B. Schneller,

6 O.Reg.9/06 Criteria 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. The property has contextual value because it, i. is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area, ii. is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings, or iii. is a landmark. Criteria Potentially Met (/N) N Potential Justification Associated with James White, a significant farmer, horse breeder and lumberman. Associated with Dr. George Atkins, a significant farm educator and broadcaster. Associated with the harvesting of oak and white pine in the mid-19 th century and the development of the fruit-growing industry. Associated with livestock breeding. Several Queen s Plate winners were bred on the farmstead, including the first, Don Juan. The area is known locally as the location for temporary and longer-term pre-contact occupation and is situated along an important transportation route. Areas of the property which have not been subject to recent and extensive below-grade disturbance have the potential for previously unrecorded archaeological resources. Not known. The Woodlands farmstead is important in defining the rural and forested character of the area. The property is historically linked to the surrounding properties, which once made up a much large (315 acre) farmstead; in particular the Bronte White Oak Tree. The Woodlands is included in a number of references of properties of historical and/or architectural significance to the area. 30-6

one-and-a-half-storey tail (possibly the original house) and a c.

7 9. Photographic Documentation Figure 3: Rear of 1242 Bronte Road, showing the two-storey portion of the house, a one-and-a-half-storey tail (possibly the original house) and a c.1960s garage. (AB, 2015) Figure 4: Fireplace from 1920s "Tramp House". (AB, 2015) 30-7

8 Figure 5: Commemorative plaque at base of tree. (AB, 2015) Figure 6: Bronte White Oak from Bronte Road near 1242 Bronte Road. (AB, 2015) 30-8

9 10. Analysis & Recommendations Potential Heritage Value: The Woodlands house may be considered an early or representative example of a style or type. The Woodlands property is associated with several local industries of the 19 th century: harvesting of oak and white pine, livestock breeding, and fruit growing. It is also associated with James White, a significant 19 th century lumberman, horse breeder and farmer, and with Dr. George Atkins, a significant 20 th century farm educator and broadcaster. The area is known locally as the location for temporary and longer-term, pre-contact occupation and is situated along an important transportation route. It has potential for previously unrecorded archaeological resources. The Woodlands farmstead is important in defining the rural and forested character of the area. It is historically linked to surrounding properties including the Twelve Mile Creek (Bronte Creek) and the Bronte White Oak Tree. It serves as a local landmark because of its historical and architectural significance. Actions: It is recommended that the property undergo a full cultural heritage landscape evaluation to identify its cultural heritage value and interest and map natural and built components that can be considered as heritage attributes. The evaluation report will support the statement of value and description of attributes for any Part IV designation of the property. The property is one of a number of former farmsteads listed on the Town Register of Properties of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest. It may be beneficial for the Town to look at these farmsteads as a group before making decisions about their heritage value and the appropriate means of protection. Alternately, the Town might want to consider initiating a Heritage Conservation District Study under Part V of the OHA. The study area might include 1242 Bronte Road, the Woodlands White Oak Tree, and other heritage resources in the immediate area. A Part V study might recommend implementation of a Heritage Conservation District Plan covering multiple properties, or a series of Part IV designations, or other policy measures outside of the OHA. A medium priority level is recommended for the following reasons: Potential for development of surrounding landscape. 11. Sources Amick Consultants, Stage 1 Archaeological Background Study, Merton Tertiary Plan: Part of Lots 26m 27, 28, 29, 30 & 31, Report prepared for the Town of Oakville December Ashe, David and Joyce Burnell, Oakville Street Names & Landmarks, (London, ON: Burnell Creighton Publishing, 2007). Town of Oakville, By-law , A by-law to designate the property on which the Bronte White Oak Tree is located as a property of historical, architectural and/or contextual significance

10 12. Appendix SCHEDULE B TO B-LAW (Bronte White Oak) STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Description of Property The Bronte White Oak Tree (Quercus alba) is located within the eastern portion of the expanded road allowance of Bronte Road (Regional Road 25) at 1179 Bronte Road. The tree is just north of the Queen Elizabeth Way and adjacent to the Halton Regional Building. The Bronte White Oak tree is estimated at over 250 years of age, and has the characteristic gnarled branches of a mature white oak. At present time, it is a healthy tree standing 19.5 meters above ground with a massive trunk nearly 1.5 meter in diameter and stout far-reaching limbs spreading approximately 25 meters. The tree stands in a median adjacent to the parking lot of Regional building, and is the dominant feature of the landscape. Statement of Cultural Heritage Value Design Value or Physical Value The Bronte White Oak Tree has cultural heritage value in its physical value as a fine representative example of a mature white oak tree. The broad spreading crown of this oak tree has round-lobed leaves that transform from a silvery pink in spring to glossy green in summer, and then deepen to a reddish brown in autumn where they remain deep into winter. Acorns are produced with periodic abundance and have been gathered to propagate its genetic stock. A native Carolinian species, white oak is common in southern Ontario and is widespread across the eastern United States. It grows on a wide range of soils and sites from dry forests and fields to moister woodlands. Throughout its range, the white oak provides food and cover for more than 180 different kinds of birds and mammals. This tree species is becoming a historic component of local forests. In the pen, the white oak tends to be stocky and wide spreading, like the Bronte Road tree, while in forests it is taller with a more compact crown. Typically, forest grown white oaks reach 24 to 30 m in height, and the trunk generally ranges from 91 to 122 cm in diameter. The Bronte White Oak Tree also has physical value as a rare example of a surviving old growth white oak tree. While the species of tree is common to southern Ontario, due to the history of intense logging in the province, old growth white oak trees of this stature are rare. If undisturbed, white oak trees can live 500 to 600 years; however, the lifespan of individual trees can be difficult to predict. The Bronte White Oak Tree is an old-growth tree which has survived despite the threat of logging and modern development, and has the potential to be a long-lived tree. Historical Value or Associative Value The Bronte White Oak Tree has cultural heritage value in its historic associations with the development of the hamlet of Merton, the village Bronte and the Town of Oakville. The Bronte White Oak Tree is estimated to date back to the 1730s, and therefore pre-dates historical European settlement in the Oakville area. The Bronte White Oak Tree is one of a very few presettlement white oak trees that remain in Oakville. Before European settlement, large white oaks dominated forests across eastern North America. However, early settlers recognized that the hard, heavy, tough oak wood was a valuable source of lumber. Numerous mills were built across Oakville, Bronte and Trafalgar Town ship in order to process timber. At that time, oak trees were so in abundance in this part of southern Ontario that the name Oakville was chosen for one of the area settlements whose founder, William Chisholm, was also named "White Oak" by the First Nations people

11 The Bronte White Oak Tree has historical value in its association with past owners of the land on which it stands. The tree was once located on Woodlands Orchards, an estate owned by James White who bought the land in the 1840s. James White was a sawmill owner, lumber merchant, gentleman farmer, and livestock breeder. He was a major developer of the timber resources of the Twelve Mile Creek valley, and was also the owner of the horse (Don Juan) who won the first Queen s Plate. The land later passed to White s son-in-law, Paul Campbell, who transformed the 315 acre farm into the best know n orchards in the area. In 1921, George Chew Atkins bought the property and moved his family from New Jersey. In the 1970s, the property was owned by his son, George Atkins, who was an important figure in Canadian broadcasting. He received a honourary degree from the University of Guelph, was named a Fellow of the Agricultural Institute of Canada in 1980, received the AIC International Recognition Award in 1993 and an Order of Canada in Atkins was responsible for the first efforts to preserve the Oak Tree when it was put at risk by road construction in the 1970s. He enlisted the assistance of Erik Jorgenson of the Shade Tree Research Laboratory of the University of Toronto, who identified the tree as one of few remaining old oak trees in Ontario. In 1972, Atkins signed an agreement with the Department of Transportation that ensured that every possible precaution will be taken to guard the safety of said Tree. The Bronte White Oak Tree also has cultural heritage value in through its special associations and relationship with the local community. Due to its age, size and location, the Bronte White Oak Tree has been recognized by the community as a highly valued natural heritage landmark for many years. In 2006, the Bronte White Oak Tree was preserved due to community efforts to divert a regional road around the tree and the preservation campaign gained national attention. The Woodlands Oak Tree Preservation Committee was successful in its attempt to protect the tree, and although a relatively recent event, in years to come this effort will likely be seen as an important moment for the community. The current property owners, the Region of Halton, have demonstrated a strong commitment to the tree s preservation on and to ensuring its ongoing biological health. Contextual Value The Bronte White Oak Tree has cultural heritage value in its contextual value as it has existed at this location for approximately 250 years, pre-dating the European settlement and development of the area. The Bronte White Oak Tree is a community landmark and is well known by its prominent location on Bronte Road. The tree is a physical reminder of the rural character of this area, which has only recently experienced intensive development. Description of Heritage Attributes Key attributes of the Bronte White Oak Tree which embody its physical, historical and contextual value as a rare remaining example of an old growth white oak tree and: -the crown, trunk, branches and root system of the Bronte White Oak tree Key attributes of the Bronte White Oak Tree which embody it as a natural heritage landmark in the town of Oakville: -the location of the Bronte White Oak Tree 30-11

3: 1470 Bronte Road, W.C. Inglehart Farm/Oakhurst

1. Description of Property 3: 1470 Bronte Road, W.C. Inglehart Farm/Oakhurst Municipal Address 1471 Bronte Road Name (if applicable) W.C. Inglehart Farm, Oakhurst Legal Description PT LTS 31, 32 & 33,