Notice of Intention to Designate

The Corporation of the City of Richmond Hill

Re:       Notice of Intention to Designate
            165 Richmond Street
            City of Richmond Hill ON L4C 3Y7
            City File No.: D12-07373

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 June 19, 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:

Dating to circa 1860, the James Freek House at 165 Richmond Street has design and physical value as a rare and unique example of mid-19th century residential architecture that combines elements of both the Georgian and Victorian architectural styles. Elements representative of the Georgian architectural tradition include the balanced form and composition of the historical front (south) portion of the house, the saltbox roof with gabled dormers, buff brick cladding, segmental-arched windows with brick voussoirs and stone sills, and classical doorcase. Elements representative of the Victorian architectural tradition include the bellcast veranda with treillage on the house’s front (south) elevation.

The James Freek House has historical value for its direct associations with James Freek and his family. James Freek, who was the owner of a brick manufacturing operation in Richmond Hill, a municipal fence viewer, and a farmer, built the subject dwelling around 1860 and lived there until he left Richmond Hill for Barrie in 1902. A family of local business leaders, employers, and active citizens, the Freeks were significant members of the community who contributed to the economic and physical development of Richmond Hill in the 19th century. The subject dwelling is constructed of buff bricks manufactured at the nearby Freek brickyard on Trench Street.

The James Freek House has contextual value because its scale, form, and unique mix of 19th-century Georgian and Victorian architectural styles are important in defining and maintaining the predominantly fine-grained 19th and early-20th century residential character of the surrounding streetscape on Richmond Street, and the historical character of Richmond Hill’s village core more broadly.

The James Freek House has further contextual value for being functionally and historically linked to its surroundings on the north side of Richmond Street, east of Trench Street. The Freek family were early brick manufacturers in Richmond Hill, and owned a brickyard at the northeast corner of Trench and Richmond Streets, in close proximity to the subject property. The brickyard operated from the early- to mid-19^th century and produced bricks used in construction throughout Richmond Hill. As the structure was built to house a major brick manufacturing family, its historical proximity to Richmond Hill’s former industrial areas gives context to the development of the village.

Description of Heritage Attributes:

• The scale, form and massing of the 1 ½-storey historical front (south) portion of the building, featuring a rectangular plan;
• The saltbox roof with two gabled dormers on the front (south) elevation;
• The building’s exterior materials, including:
  • The soft-mixed buff brick cladding in running bond with tooled pointing;
  • The three-course pink-brick water table above the foundation;
  • Buff-brick window voussoirs; and
  • Stone window sills;
• The segmental-arched window openings with brick voussoirs and stone sills;
• The balanced three-bay composition of the building’s front (south) elevation;
• The principal entrance on the house’s front (south) elevation, featuring:
  • The classical doorcase; and
  • The bellcast-roofed full-façade verandah on decorative trelliage supports;
• The house’s scale, siting, and orientation on the north side of Richmond Street, in close proximity to the Freek brickyard at Richmond and Trench Streets;
• The house’s Georgian and Victorian stylistic elements, which reflect the Freek’s construction and use of the property as their home from around 1860 to 1902;
• The house’s material palette and 19th-century architectural expression, which contribute to the historical character of Richmond Street and Richmond Hill’s Village Core more broadly;
• The brick of the historical front (south) portion of the house, manufactured at the nearby Freek brickyard.

Note: that the house’s later rear (north) additions are not considered to possess any 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 July 26, 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 26th day of June, 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