Owners of heritage homes in King are thanked at reception
By Bill Rea

King Township Heritage Committee chairperson Elaine Robertson indicated what the signs placed on buildings of historical or heritage interest look like.

There are some 95 homes in King bearing heritage plaques, and members of the Township of King Heritage Committee wish there were more.

There was a reception at King Township Museum last Wednesday night to recognize the owners of these homes and to try and spread the word about the program.

Committee member Jean Kell, who helped organize the evening, said it was the first time they had tried to carry out such recognition of these people who are helping to preserve the heritage of the area.

"We're very proud of you for having that happen," she told the gathering. "I hope a lot of you have some happy ghost in your house."

Kell also lamented that there are some old houses in the area which get torn down, and that points to the importance of people preserving them.

"You are part of the heritage of King now yourself," she declared.

Councillor Jane Underhill, who brought greetings on behalf of the Township, declared she has always been a proponent of preserving heritage in the community, including the natural heritage. She said there are many old buildings in the area that should not be swept aside in the interest of progress.

Committee chairperson Elaine Robertson said the purpose of the evening was to celebrate those who live in and appreciate the heritage properties, as well as to provide an opportunity to network and highlight a process that many people don't understand.

There are a number of myths that Robertson wanted to put to rest. She cited an article written by Robert Hulley, president of the Brampton branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, in which he attacked some of the myths.

He asserted it's not true that a heritage designation reduces the value of a house. He cited the findings of a University of Waterloo professor, who found that some 74 per cent of designated buildings equaled or bettered the average property value trends in their area. He also concluded that designated properties tend to resist downturns in the market.

To people who would argue it's cheaper to demolish an old house and replace it, rather than to restore it, Hulley's article referred to an architectural science professor from Ryerson, who said it's not cheaper as far as the environment is concerned, because the building materials from the old house end up in garbage dumps.

There is also a myth that modern home-building technology is superior to what was used in the past. The article stressed that houses built years ago were designed to last a long time. Robertson said that's not the case with a lot of homes built these days. "A good wind would take some of these houses away," she remarked.

She added there really needs to be an effort to fight these myths and take pride in the fact that people are preserving the past. "It's a beautiful commentary on the history of our area," she said.

Describing the plaque program, Robertson observed they are of a standard size (18 by nine inches), and they can be easily corrected in the event of mistakes.

The purpose, she explained, is to recognize the importance of the these buildings of historical or heritage interest. She added this program is separate from the more formal procedures under the Ontario Heritage Act, such as designation.

The plaques contain the name and occupation of the original owners of the building, and the year of construction. As well, committee members confer with the building owner regarding where the sign should be placed, and Township staff are assigned to actually fasten it to the house.

Robertson added there is no cost to the building owner to have these plaques installed, and the plaques remain the property of the Township. Homeowners are asked to contact the municipality if the plaque is showing signs of wear, or if they want it removed.

Councillor Cleve Mortelliti was among those at the reception who has such a plaque on his home. His family moved to their Keele Street home in 2003, looking first for something in one of the subdivisions, "and then we saw this place."

He added they were taken with the character of the house and the "old wood and creaky floors."

Mortelliti said the house used to be a church manse. He did some research on the building and learned the construction practices have changed some over the years. The foundation is made of stone 18 inches thick, and walls are composed of 12-inch masonry. He has seen a title deed for the property dating to 1887, although the house itself is only about 60 years old. He said the original house was struck by lightning and burned, but the original foundation is still in place.

Some of these old houses can reveal interesting details. Kell described how she and her husband obtained their house, and recalled finding some newspapers, from 1892, which had been used as insulation. They contained stories about such topical issues as Quebec separatism and the possibility of a free trade agreement with the United States.

Robertson said her house used to be a United Church manse in Kettleby. That means it was the scene for a lot of weddings, and she has been approached by many people who have told her they were married in her living room.