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: 185 Prospect Street (Doctor PlayterHouse) is located on the west side of Prospect Street in theTown of Newmarket. The two-storey Neoclassical buildingwas constructed between 1870 and 1873.
Legal Description: PT LT 1 E/S PROSPECT ST PL 22NEWMARKET AS IN R696153; 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
185 Prospect Street is a representative example of aresidence built in a Neoclassical architectural style. Thetwo-storey, three-bay, buff brick building follows arectangular plan with a symmetrically balanced box-likefacade and hip roof with wide overhanging eaves andrhythmically placed paired and carved wood brackets whichare representative of Neoclassical architecture. Therhythmically and symmetrically placed large rectangularwindows openings showcase the classically inspired flat archbrick voussoirs which are key characteristics associated withNeoclassical fenestration. The formal and centrally placedentrance features a rectangular door opening with flat archbrick voussoirs and side lights which is protected by aclassically inspired rounded arch portico with decorativearchitrave supported by paired wood columns which arerepresentative of Neoclassical design. The one-storey porchon the side elevation carries through the Neoclassical finishesexpressed in the detailing on the architrave and squarewood columns.
Historical and Associative Value
185 Prospect Street is directly associated with the historicVillage of Newmarket and Dr. Edward Playter, a localphysician, author, and public health reformer. The lotslines, layout, and built form of the historic village ofNewmarket was well established in the mid-19th century andevident in a well-established commercial core found alongMain Street and the large presence of residences locatedalong several side streets. Simultaneously, Prospect Street,located on the east side of the Holland River and part of acommunity known as Garbutt Hill, developed during the mid- 19th century. Garbutt Hill was the site of several importantbusinesses such as the Stickwood Brickyard, the pumpfactory, Thomas Gardiner's foundry, later occupied by theNewmarket Dairy, and the York County Hospital. By 1865, 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 the mid-19th century played asignificant role in the social and economic development andgrowth of the Village of Newmarket. It is likely that the brickused for the construction of 185 Prospect Street was fromStickwood'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.
185 Prospect Street was constructed between 1870 and1873 for physician Dr. Edward Playter. Dr. Playter wasdescended from a prominent UEL family and received hisDoctor of Medicine from the University of Toronto beforestarting his medical practice in York Township, where he alsoserved as the county coroner. In addition to his medicalpractice, Dr. Playter was the editor and author of a publichealth journal, the owner of the local Newmarket newspaperfrom 1873 until 1875, and a strong proponent forgovernment intervention in public health. After moving toToronto at some point after 1873, he served as the firstmedical health officer in the province for the Parkdaleneighbourhood and was influential in the establishment of thefirst provincial board of health, formed in 1882.
Contextual Value
185 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 along the side streets are comprised ofpredominantly one to two-and-a-half storey residences,primarily brick construction most using bricks from Stickwood'sbrickyard, with modest setbacks and include a range ofarchitectural styles from that time period. 185 ProspectStreet 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.