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: 67 Prospect Street (Christopher BelfryHouse) is located on the east side of Prospect Street in theTown of Newmarket. The subject property consists of a two- storey Italianate building constructed between 1885 and1891.
Legal Description: PT LT 65 PL 125 NEWMARKET; PT LT 67 PL125 NEWMARKET AS IN R122428; 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
67 Prospect Street is a representative example of abuilding constructed in the Italianate architectural style. Thetwo-storey brick building with asymmetrical but balancedfacade follows an L-shaped plan with intersecting gable roofshowcasing a prominent front and side gables with wideeaves which are characteristics of Italianate architecture. Thesegmentally arched window openings with brick voussoirs andstone sills and the two bay windows adorned with anelaborate cornice finished with wood brackets are keyfeatures associated with Italianate residential buildings. Theone storey porch with large architrave decorated withrhythmically placed wood brackets supported by squarewood posts are additional elements associated with theItalianate style.
Historical and Associative Value
67 Prospect Street directly associated with the historicVillage of Newmarket and Christopher C. Belfry, aprosperous farmer who retired in Newmarket and servedon several municipal committees. 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.Garbutt Hill was the site of several important businesses suchas the Stickwood Brickyard, the pump factory, ThomasGardiner's foundry, later occupied by the Newmarket Dairy,and the York County Hospital. By 1865, several smallbridges and makeshift roads had been constructed across theHolland River and Timothy Street extending the road toGarbutt Hill (Prospect Street) was opened the same year.The development of the commercial core and surrounding residential streetscapes, including the community of GarbuttHill, in the mid-19th century played a significant role in thesocial and economic development and growth of the Villageof Newmarket. It is likely that the brick used in theconstruction of the residence was from the StickwoodBrickyard, which produced both red and buff/yellow- coloured bricks during this time period. Local historiansindicate that almost all of the brick buildings built inNewmarket between 1860 and 1910 were likelyconstructed with bricks that originated at the StickwoodBrickyard. The use of locally made bricks reflect theconcentrated development and prosperity of the historiccore.
67 Prospect Street was built by retired farmer ChristopherC. Belfry between 1885 and 1891 as a private familyresidence. Christopher Belfry was born in New York in 1817,and settled in East Gwillimbury, near Sharon, with his familyaround 1821. Belfry apprenticed as a carpenter andwheelwright, later working for Newmarket's first mayor andhis brother-in-law William Cane, but also operated a store inQueensville and farms in both Queensville and Sharon. Aftermoving to Newmarket in his later years, Christopher Belfryparticipated in local civic matter serving the community as aJustice of the Peace and a member of Newmarket's TownCouncil for 1884.
Contextual Value
67 Prospect Street is important in supporting the 19thcentury character of the historic Village of Newmarket.Several residential side streets, including Prospect Street,were established in the village core, near the commercialMain Street. Located off or parallel to Main Street, thebuildings on Prospect Street are comprised of predominantlyone to two-and-a-half storey residences, primarily brickconstruction most using bricks from Stickwood's brickyard,with modest setbacks and include a range of architecturalstyles from that time period. 67 Prospect Street exhibitssetback, massing, style, decorative details consistent with thehistoric character of the area.
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.