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: 61 Prospect Street (Vernon CaneHouse) is located on the east side of Prospect Street in theTown of Newmarket. The property consists of a two-storeyQueen Anne building constructed circa 1920.
Legal Description: PT LT 2 PL 89 WHITCHURCH; PT LT 65 PL125 NEWMARKET AS IN R661534; NEWMARKET
Publication Date: Nov 1, 2024
Any 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
61 Prospect Street is a representative example of abuilding constructed in the Queen Anne architectural style. The two-storey frame building follows an irregular plan andcomplex roofline with gable roof and intricate jerkinheadroof with overhanging eaves, gable dormers, ornate brickchimney, wide front gable with hip-capped return eaveswhich are characteristics associated with Queen Anne designs.The prominent two-storey hexagonal tower and one-storeyopen porch with upper storey balcony supported byfreestanding and engaged wood columns on masonry pierscreate the playful and asymmetrical composition associatedwith Queen Anne design. The building showcases a variety ofsizes of window including rhythmically placed rectangularopenings, one-storey canted bay window, paired windowsand square windows and the formal rectangular frontentrance opening flanked with wide sidelights and upperstorey arched porch door openings are also featuresassociated with the Queen Anne style.
Historical and Associative Value
61 Prospect Street is directly associated with the historicVillage of Newmarket and patriarch William Cane and hisgrandson Vernon 'Eugene' Cane. The lots lines, layout, andbuilt form of the historic village of Newmarket was wellestablished in the mid-19th century and evident in a well- established commercial core found along Main Street andthe large presence of residences located along several sidestreets. Simultaneously, Prospect Street, located on the eastside of the Holland River and part of a community known asGarbutt Hill, developed during the mid-19th century andcontinuing into the 20th century. Garbutt Hill was the site ofseveral important businesses such as the Stickwood Brickyard,the pump factory, Thomas Gardiner's foundry, later occupiedby the Newmarket Dairy, and the York County Hospital. By1865, several small bridges and makeshift roads had beenconstructed across the Holland River and Timothy Street extending the road to Garbutt Hill (Prospect Street) wasopened the same year. The development of the commercialcore and surrounding residential streetscapes, including thecommunity of Garbutt Hill, in throughout the mid-19th centuryand early 20th century played a significant role in the socialand economic development and growth of the Village ofNewmarket.
61 Prospect Street is associated with members of the Canefamily. William Cane purchased the subject land in 1874and was active in local economic and civic matters. Williamserved on the village council and was elected asNewmarket's first mayor when it reached town status in1881. At one time, William was one of the community'slargest employers as owner of the Cane and Sons factorywhich produced lumber for construction, along with otheruses. Verne Eugene Cane began his career working with hisfather, Joseph Eugene Cane, at the lumber factory, buteventually became an automobile buyer under thesupervision of his uncle, Ken Robertson before he opened hisown dealership. At the time of 61 Prospect Street'sconstruction in 1920, Vernon Eugene Cane was considered aprominent local businessman and owned an automobiledealership on Main Street across the river from his residence.The subject property remained in the Cane family ownershipuntil 1967.
Contextual Value
61 Prospect Street is important in supporting the 19thcentury and early 20th century character of the historicVillage of Newmarket. Several residential side streets,including Prospect Street, were established in the historicvillage core, near the commercial Main Street. Located off orparallel to Main Street, the buildings on Prospect Street, arecomprised of predominantly one to two-and-a-half storeyresidences, primarily brick construction most using bricks fromStickwood's brickyard, with modest setbacks and include arange of architectural styles from that time period. 61Prospect Street exhibits setback, massing, style, decorativedetails consistent 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.