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: 429 Botsford Street(Friends/Congregationalist Church, Magic Kingdom Learning Centre).429 Botsford Street is located on the north side of BotsfordStreet in the Town of Newmarket. The former place ofworship consists of a large one-storey with rear wing built in aGothic Revival architecture style and was constructed in the1896.
Legal Description: LOT 54, PLAN 81, EXCEPT PT 5 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
429 Botsford Street is a representative example of a formerplace of worship constructed in the Gothic Revivalarchitectural style. The simple and symmetrical design of thelarge one-storey building, with a one-storey rear wing,follows a rectangular plan building with a steeply pitchedfront gable roof, rhythmically placed side windows, and buffbrick envelope with brick belt course, which is typical ofGothic Revival structures. The vestibule includes the originallancet arch entryway opening and two segmentally archedwindow openings with decorative brick voussoirs which areadditional features associated with places of worship built ina Gothic Revival style.
Historical and Associative Value
429 Botsford Street has historical value for serving as aplace of worship within the Town of Newmarket foralmost 100 years. The site was originally home to aCongregationalist Church, which was housed in a framebuilding from 1843 until the declining congregation left circa1890s. The building purchased in 1895 by the Quakers foruse as a Meeting House after a split within the Society ofFriends. The frame building was destroyed by fire at the endof 1895. The Quakers rebuilt the brick Meeting House in1896 (the exact building at 429 Botsford Street), likely usinglocally manufactured bricks from Stickworks brickyard, andopened for service the same year. The church was built bylocal craftsmen Nelson May, W.R. Traviss, and E. Groom. TheQuaker congregation constructed a two-and-a-half storeybrick and concrete block residence at the rear of theproperty in 1907 for use as the church Manse. The Quakersused the facility for almost 100 years. The building was sold.
Contextual Value
429 Botsford Street is important in supporting the 19thcentury character of the historic Village of Newmarket.Several residential side streets, including Botsford 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 fromStickwood's brickyard, with modest setbacks and include arange of architectural styles from that time period. 429Botsford Street as a former place of worship represents therange of buildings and uses in the historic village andexhibits setback, massing, style, decorative details consistentwith a place of worship of that time period and supports thehistoric character of the area and the name of adjacent"Church Street".
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.