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: 156 Church Street (Ernest E. GroomeHouse) is located on the west side of Church Street in theTown of Newmarket. The property contains a two-storeybuilding constructed in 1894.
Legal Description: LT 8 PL 31 NEWMARKET EXCEPT PT 15,65R224 TOWN OF 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
156 Church Street is a representative example of a buildingconstructed in the Italian Villa architectural style. The two- storey brick building follows an L-shaped plan with irregularmassing with multiple porches which are typical with ItalianVilla design. The complex roofline with prominent front gableand wide overhanging eaves and wood brackets. Thedistinguishing feature of the Italian Villa design on 156 ChurchStreet is the prominent two-storey ornate brick tower locatedat the corner of the L-shape plan which is topped bydecorative iron cresting on top of a mansard roof withornamental gable peaks which showcase woodwork, mouldfascia, and finials. The two-storey rectangular bay-windowcontains paired tall and narrow window openings with brickvoussoir and keystone on the upper level and largerectangular window with rectangular transom and haverecessed voussoirs with keystone and stone stills which arecharacteristics of Italian Villa architectural style. 156 ChurchStreet contains a large wrap around porch on the main levelwith enclosed sections with ornamented cornice, rhythmicallyplaced wood brackets, and dentils which flank an openportico area supported by wood post as well as enclosedporch on the second level with flat roof and rectangularribbon windows which are also characteristics of Italian Villaarchitectural style.
Historical and Associative Value
156 Church Street directly associated with the historicVillage of Newmarket. The lots lines, layout, and built formof the historic village of Newmarket was well established inthe mid-19th century and evident in a well-establishedcommercial core found along Main Street and the largepresence of residences located along several side streets.The development of the commercial core and surroundingresidential streetscapes in the mid-19th century played asignificant role in the social and economic development andgrowth of the Village of Newmarket. 156 Church Street wasbuilt in 1894 for general painter Ernest Groome and his family. It is likely that the brick used for the construction wasfrom Stickwood's brickyard which produced both red andbuff/yellow-coloured bricks during this time period. Localhistorians indicate that almost all of the-brick buildings builtin Newmarket between 1860 until 1910 were likelyconstructed with bricks that originated at the Stickwoodbrickyard. The use of locally made bricks reflect theconcentrated development and prosperity of the historiccore.
Contextual Value
156 Church Street is important in supporting the 19thcentury character of the historic Village of Newmarket.Several residential side streets, including Church Street, wereestablished in the village core, near the commercial MainStreet. Located off or parallel to Main Street, the buildingsalong the side streets are comprised of predominantly oneto 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. 156 Church Street exhibitssetback, massing, style, decorative details consistent with thehistoric 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.