Notice of Intention to Designate

The Corporation of the City of Richmond Hill

Re:       Notice of Intention to Designate
             11644 Leslie Street
             City of Richmond Hill ON L4E 3R4
             City File No.: D12-07275

Take notice that the Council of the Corporation of the City of Richmond Hill (“Council”) intends to designate the above noted property as a property of cultural heritage value or interest under part IV and pursuant to section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990,c.0.18.

And take notice that the Council of the Corporation of the City of Richmond Hill stated their intention to designate said property under the Ontario Heritage Act on October 23rd, 2024.

A statement explaining the cultural heritage value or interest of the property and a description of the heritage attributes of the property is set out below.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest:

The Horner House at 11644 Leslie Street, built circa the 1860s, has design and physical value as a representative example of the Gothic Revival Cottage style. The Horner House consists of a 1 ½ storey frame structure with a board and batten exterior and a rear addition. Architectural features that contribute to the Gothic Revival Cottage style include the building’s 1 ½ storey massing, frame construction, medium-sloped side gable roof with a steep-pitched front gable, the symmetrical three-bay composition of the front façade, and the lancet-arched transoms over the second storey doorway.

The Horner House at 11644 Leslie Street has historical and associative value for its associations with Jacob Horner and the Horner family. The Horners, who were of Pennsylvania German origin, were early settlers in Markham Township and were active members of their community, joining the first congregation of the Brethren in Christ in 1808. The Horner family were also longtime residents of the subject property – they lived and farmed on the lot from 1833 to 1921, ran a Cider Manufactory, and built the subject building in the 1860s. The Horner family is also associated with the Willow Grove Horner-Elliot House at 40 Frank Endean Road (circa 1840), the Horner Cemetery at 9950 Leslie Street (circa 1825), and the Jacob Horner House at 32 Love Court (previously 9940 Leslie Street, circa 1840).

The Horner House at 11644 Leslie Street has historical and associative value because it yields information that contributes to an understanding of Pennsylvania German settlers in Markham Township, who settled York County following the American Revolutionary War and who formed early agricultural communities in the Township. The subject property was the residence and farmland of the Horners, a family of the Brethren in Christ (Tunker) faith who came to Markham Township from Pennsylvania in 1806. The Horners were early settlers in the area who built the subject dwelling circa the 1860s and farmed the subject property from 1833 to 1921.

The Horner House at 11644 Leslie Street has contextual value as one of a number of 19^th and early 20^th century farmhouses that help define and maintain the historical agricultural character of northern Leslie Street.

The Horner House at 11644 Leslie Street has contextual value for its visual and historic links to the 19^th and early 20^th century rural landscape on northern Leslie Street north of Nineteenth Avenue. The Horner House was built on the subject property circa the 1860s and has been surrounded by agricultural and forested land since the time of its construction. As such, the subject property retains significant visual and historic link to its surroundings, including the large rural lots with deep setbacks to the north, south, east, and west of the property, and natural features, including the Rouge River tributary and Acavia Forest to the west.

Description of Heritage Attributes:

• The scale, form, and massing of the 1 ½ storey historical front (east) portion of the building, featuring a rectangular footprint;
• The medium-pitched side gable roof with a steep-pitched front gable;
• The frame construction;
• The symmetrical and balanced composition of the main (east) façade, with three bays at grade and one bay on the second storey;
• The window and door openings, including:
• The flat-headed window openings on the east and south facades;
• The flat-headed principal doorway located at grade on the main (east) façade;
• The round-headed doorway with paired lancet-arch transom lights and paneled door with round-arched lites on the second storey of the main (east) façade; and
  • The building’s scale, siting, and orientation on the west side of Leslie Street.

Note: The building’s rear (west) addition is not considered to possess significant heritage attributes.

Notice of Objection:

Any person who objects to the above noted Council’s intention to designate shall, within 30 days after the publication of this notice, serve on the Clerk of the City of Richmond Hill, a Notice of Objection setting out the reason for the objection and all relevant facts. The last day to submit the Notice of Objection is December 4th, 2024.

Service may be made digitally by email to clerks@richmondhill.ca or by delivery personally to the City Clerk or by Regular Mail at the following address:

Stephen M.A. Huycke, City Clerk
The City of Richmond Hill
225 East Beaver Creek Road
Richmond Hill ON  L4B 3P4

Obtaining Additional Information:

Additional information about heritage planning at the City of Richmond Hill may be obtained by contacting Heritage Planning City staff by e-mail at heritage@richmondhill.ca. Take note that a Notice of Objection may only be served to the Clerk of the City of Richmond Hill as stated above.

Dated this 4th day of November, 2024

Stephen M.A. Huycke, City Clerk
The Corporation of the City of Richmond Hill
225 East Beaver Creek Road
Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 3P4
E-mail: clerks@richmondhill.ca