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: 458-460 Timothy Street (MargaretForsyth House). 458-460 Timothy Street is located on the southside of Timothy Street in the Town of Newmarket. The two- and-a-half-storey residence built in the Italianate architecturalstyle was constructed circa 1883.
Legal Description: PART LOTS 65 AND 71, PLAN 81,NEWMARKETPublication 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
458-460 Timothy Street is a representative example of theItalianate architectural style. The two-and-a-half storeybuilding follows a L-shaped plan with a cross gable roof andoverhanging eaves, brick construction, two-storey baywindows with decorative paired wood brackets, along theroofline, which are design elements associated with theItalianate style. Moreover, the asymmetrical facade withbalanced and symmetrical elements includes segmentallyarched window openings with brick voussoirs, two entrywayswith segmentally arched openings one of which features atransom, and open porch supported by wood post anddecorative wood brackets are additional features of theItalianate architectural style.
Historical and Associative Value
458-460 Timothy Street is directly associated with thehistoric Village of Newmarket and the Forsyth family. Thelots lines, 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. The development of the commercialcore and surrounding residential streetscapes in the mid-19thcentury played a significant role in the social and economicdevelopment and growth of the Village of Newmarket. Manyearly merchants with stores on Main Street lived in the nearbyside streets, including the Forsyth family who built andoperated an inn at the corner of Main Street and TimothyStreet.
James Forsyth purchased what is now the King George Hotelon the southwest corner of Timothy Street and Main Street in1848 and constructed a new inn in the Georgian style whichhe called "Forsyth House". The inn is still extant today with acivic address of 232 Main Street. James married Margaret Ross in 1850, who inherited his estate which included the landsassociated with the hotel and the subject property after hisdeath in 1858. Margaret continued to operate the hotel as theRailroad Hotel and would eventually lease it to otheroperators. The hotel was known by several names throughoutthe years, including the Pipher House, Proctor House, and theKing George Hotel. Margaret Forsyth had 458-460 TimothyStreet constructed as a duplex, adjacent to the hotel herhusband built, on lands she inherited for herself and herdaughter to live circa 1883. It is likely that the brick used forthe construction was from Stickwood's brickyard whichproduced both red and buff/yellow-coloured bricks duringthis time period. Local historians indicate that almost all of thebrick buildings built in Newmarket between 1860 until 1910were likely constructed with bricks that originated at theStickwood brickyard. The use of locally made bricks reflect theconcentrated development and prosperity of the historic core.458-460 Timothy Street stayed within the Forsyth familyownership until 1941.
Contextual Value
458-460 Timothy Street is important in supporting the19th century character of the historic Village ofNewmarket. Several residential side streets, includingTimothy Street, 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 most using bricks fromStickwood's brickyard, with modest setbacks and include arange of architectural styles from that time period. 458-460Timothy 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.