Council here has passed a motion of intent to designate the log cabin at 37 McNab St. in Elora as a heritage structure – though it is unclear whether this will be the building’s future home.
On Sept. 25, Centre Wellington council spent roughly an hour discussing the building and hearing presentations from residents Susan Thorning and Ian Rankine and property owner Allan Remley.
The recommendation of staff and the Heritage Centre Wellington committee was for designation of the property due to its cultural heritage value and/or interest pursuant to the Ontario Heritage Act.
Senior planner Mariana Iglesias presented a report to council in response to an Aug. 1 notice of intent to demolish the structure.
Iglesias noted the property was recently acquired with the intent of demolishing the existing structure and constructing a “passive” (ultra-low energy) house that is set further back from the road, in compliance with zoning regulations.
The property has been listed in the township’s municipal register of cultural heritage properties since December 2012.
With the notice of intent to demolish, council had 60 days to decide whether or not to start the heritage designation process.
“Designation is the only legal tool to halt demolition,” Iglesias said.
She recommended designation under the Heritage Act as the structure meets the criteria for determining cultural heritage value: design, historical and contextual values.
She called the cabin an early and rare example of a pre-Confederation log schoolhouse with exposed logs and keyed square-notched corners.
It was built in 1842 by the earliest settlers to the area and is one of the oldest remaining structures in Centre Wellington.
Initially used to educate the community’s young boys, it served the community at large, including students from Nichol and Woolwich Townships, as it was considered far superior to rural schools at that time.
The Grammar School was one of the first free grammar schools to be established in Upper Canada.
Crowding was a problem by the mid-1860s and in response the school board decided to build a new two storey, four-room public school in 1866 on the north side of the river. The log schoolhouse was closed that year.
Iglesias said heritage conservation is not about protecting every heritage structure from demolition, but protecting the best and most significant examples.
Councillor Kirk McElwain asked for clarification on the owner’s rights if the building is designated.
“Does it automatically become a heritage building?”
Iglesias said if there is a notice of motion to designate the structure as a heritage building, there is a 30-day appeal period to a heritage review board.
Iglesias noted designation does not mean activity can’t happen on the property – just that it would require council’s approval.
Councillor Stephen Kitras asked whether the designation applies to the property or the heritage building.
Iglesias said the designation is for the property and would appear on the deed.
Councillor Fred Morris said “this is almost like deja vu … how do we move to deciding once an for all whether heritage is important … or is this a pipe dream which cannot be achieved?”
Morris brought up council’s heritage designation of the Belwood schoolhouse earlier this year.
“That structure is just sitting empty and it is demolition by neglect. Is this going to be an exercise in futility to designate this property as a heritage site … and the owner does nothing?”
Iglesias said if the township had a property standards bylaw that spoke to heritage, there could be means to require owners to restore the heritage designated elements and the township could offer incentives for owners to restore properties.
Morris said “This is not just an old building, it is a symbol of our community’s early history.”
McElwain stated “While I agree it should be a designated building, I don’t think it needs to be a designated property …
“I can see it being a wonderful tourist attraction in the right scenario to make it a schoolroom of the 1840s … but you don’t do that on a person’s private property.”
He said Centre Wellington needs a property like Doon Heritage in Waterloo Region where buildings could be relocated, rather than forcing restoration on private individuals.
Susan Thorning
Thorning urged council to initiate the heritage designation of Elora’s first schoolhouse, stating “The historical pedigree of 37 McNab is beyond repute.”
She said “honouring the past through the designation of our built environment is an important strategy to maintain the character of our community …”
Thorning added voting for designation is not the end of the story “… it is just the beginning of the work.”
She said designation will give everyone a chance to look at the final destiny of the property – to consider options.
“The greatest good for the community needs to be valued,” she said.
Ian Rankine
Rankine stated “words and actions either support heritage conservation and the retention of a small-town atmosphere, or contribute to its destruction.”
He advocated the preservation of Elora’s heritage aspects and way of life and stated that including heritage values in planning “needs to be an imperative.”
He also recommended official designations for all heritage properties in the Elora Heritage Overlay outlined in the township’s comprehensive zoning bylaw.
Rankine maintained “progress should not morph into creative destruction.”
Allan Remley
Remley clarified he is not a rich developer from Toronto, but a Guelph resident and general contractor building three to four houses each year.
“I too would like to see the building preserved … it would be neat if it could be restored,” said Remley.
He added the building may not look bad from the outside, but the inside tells a different story.
The house has only one washroom, no kitchen and no heating system (a wood stove was removed at the time of sale). His engineer’s report states there are a lot of problems with the building as it currently stands.
As to the log cabin portion of the building, Remley said the roof is not original, the windows were replaced in the 1980s and the centre wall was removed and no longer exists. He added the south wall is badly disintegrated.
“To me, the question is what is the best way to preserve the heritage which is left: two walls which are also not in the best shape either.”
Remley suggested moving the building “to a site where it can be restored or remembered. I am willing to work with the community to see that happen.”
Additional discussion
All councillors were not convinced the building needed to be restored or preserved at its current location.
McElwain suggested, “It is much too valuable a building to leave it where there is no public access to it.”
He asked if staff could look into alternative locations for the building.
McElwain considered the Wellington County Museum the best location – “but they’ve said ‘no’ before.”
He noted a building taken down in Wilson’s Flats is now being restored as a heritage structure elsewhere.
“That is what we need to be doing … putting it somewhere where it can be appreciated – not hidden as part of somebody’s home.”
Councillor Don Fisher stressed the discussion is not about the ultimate use of the building, or its eventual location.
“Demolition is an irrevocable act,” Fisher said. “We are not deciding the fate of the building, we are saying we are not prepared to approve its demolition at this time.”
Council eventually passed a motion of intent for the heritage designation. That was followed by direction to staff to explore options to either keep the building on the site or relocate it.
