Notice is Hereby Given that the Council of The Corporationof the Town of Newmarket intends to designate as a propertyof cultural heritage value and interest the following propertyin accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.O.18:
Property Description: 421 Queen Street (Denne House, JacobJohnson House) is located on the north side of Queen Street in the Townof Newmarket. The property contains a two-storey building constructedcirca 1878.
Legal Description: LOT 38 NORTH SIDE MILL (QUEEN)STREET, PLAN 222, NEWMARKET
Publication Date: Nov 1, 2024
Last Date for Objection: Dec 1, 2024Any notice of objection to this Notice of Intention to Designate,setting out the reason for objection and all relevant facts, mustbe served upon the Town Clerk within 30 days of the firstpublication of this notice.
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest:
Physical/ Design Value
421 Queen Street is a representative example of a buildingconstructed in the Italianate architectural style. The large,two-storey red brick building coursed in a stretcher bondfollows a rectangular plan and has a balanced andsymmetrical facade with two-storey central frontispiece whichare common features of Italianate design. The side gable roofwith intersecting front gable has wide overhanging eavesadorned with carved wood brackets while the gable peaksare ornamented with heavy and ornate bargeboard ofvarying motifs which add to the decorative aesthetic of thebuilding and are key characteristics of Italianate architecture.There are two, one-storey bay windows with hip roofs andrhythmically placed wood brackets that flank the centrallyplaced entryway that create a grandeur and balancedaesthetic common to Italianate style. The building hasrectangular window openings with flat arched brick voussoirsand a small upper storey balcony which is access by arectangular opening with flat arch voussoirs and French doors.The formal main entrance consists of a single ornate wooddoor adorned with wood carved panels topped by arectangular four pane transom and flanked by glass andwood panelled sidelights, which is further accentuated byclassically inspired engaged columns with acanthus stylebrackets. The entryway is protected by a one-storey openportico with wide overhanging eaves and heavy classicalelements such as circular columns with capitals sitting on pillarsand supporting a plain architrave which are in keeping withthe Italianate style.
Historical and Associative Value
421 Queen Street is associated with the historic Village ofNewmarket and local builder and businessman Jacob H.Johnson. The lots lines, layout, and built form of the historicVillage of Newmarket was well established in the mid-19thcentury as shown in the commercial core found along Main Street and the large presence of residences located alongseveral side streets. The development of commercial andresidential buildings in the mid-19th century played asignificant role in the social and economic development andgrowth of the Village of Newmarket. Many early merchantswith stores on Main Street lived in the nearby side streets,including planing mill owner and local builder Jacob HenryJohnson who was associated with 421 Queen Street.
421 Queen Street was built around 1878 by local builder andrespected businessman Jacob H. Johnson. Jacob Henry Johnsonwas born on May 21, 1837, in East Gwillimbury to SamuelJohnson (1808-1882) and Henrietta Groome (1818-1891).Jacob H. Johnson operated a steam factory and planing millat the corner of Mill (Queen) Street and Main Street inNewmarket. His factory produced goods such as windowsashes, doors, blinds, and other carved items such as stairbannisters. Johnson was also a local builder and wasresponsible for the construction of numerous houses, barns,commercial buildings and institutional buildings in Newmarket,Sharon, and Queensville. One of Jacob Johnson most notableresidences was that of Mr. Samuel Sykes (57 Main StreetSouth) in Newmarket, which at that time was considered one ofthe finest residences in the area. In 1881, Jacob Johnsonmoved to Huntsville, Ontario, and sold his business and housein Newmarket.
Contextual Value
421 Queen Street is important in supporting the late 19thand early 20th century character of the historic Village ofNewmarket. Several residential side streets, including QueenStreet, were established in the village core, near thecommercial Main Street. Located off or parallel to MainStreet, the buildings along the side streets are comprised ofpredominantly one to two-and-a-half storey residences,primarily brick construction with modest setbacks and include arange of architectural styles from that time period. 421 QueenStreet exhibits setback, massing, style, decorative detailsconsistent with the historic village character.
Additional information, including a full description of therationale for designation is available upon request fromUmar Mahmood, Planner, Committee of Adjustment andCultural Heritage, Planning Services at (905) 895-5193,extension 2458, or at umahmood@newmarket.ca duringregular business hours.