Notice of Intention to Designate

The Corporation of the City of Richmond Hill

Re:       Notice of Intention to Designate
             42 Richmond Street
             City of Richmond Hill ON L4C 3X9
             City File No.: D12-07356

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 March 27, 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 c. 1875, the Clara Harrison Rental House at 42 Richmond Street is a representative example of modest late-19th-century vernacular cottage architecture in Richmond Hill showing Georgian stylistic influences. Architectural features expressing Georgian influences include the rectangular plan, side-gabled roof form, flat-headed window and door openings, and the symmetrical three-bay composition of the principal (north) elevation featuring a classical doorcase.

The Clara Harrison Rental House at 42 Richmond Street has historical value for its direct associations with both William and Clara Harrison. William Harrison bought a large parcel of land at the southeast corner of Richmond Street and Elizabeth Street North in 1879, and granted the property at 42 Richmond Street to his eldest daughter Clara in 1905. In 1909, William Harrison purchased a mill worker’s cottage in the Mill Pond area, and moved it from Trench Street to its present location at 42 Richmond Street, to serve as an income property for Clara. The subject property remained under the ownership of the Harrison family until 1919. William Harrison was Richmond Hill’s second Reeve, owner and operator of a significant saddle- and harness-making business, and one of the village’s first local historians. Clara, who remained unmarried until her death in 1942, operated a successful dressmaking business in the village from the 1880s to the 1910s. As local business leaders, property owners and speculators, and active citizens, William and Clara Harrison were significant members of the community who contributed to the development of Richmond Hill in the 19th century.

The Clara Harrison Rental House at 42 Richmond Street has contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining, and supporting the cohesive late-19th and early-20th century residential character of Richmond Street and Elizabeth Street North, and the historical character of Richmond Hill’s village core more broadly.

The Clara Harrison Rental House also has contextual value because it is physically, functionally, and historically linked to its surroundings within “Harrison’s Corner”, a cluster of buildings at the southeast corner of Richmond and Elizabeth Streets that were owned by the Harrison family in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Other surviving buildings that form part of “Harrison’s Corner” include the adjacent William Harrison Rental House at 32 Richmond Street (1881), as well as the William Harrison Speculative House at 17 Elizabeth Street North (1885).

Description of Heritage Attributes:

• The property’s modest late-19th-century vernacular cottage architecture with Georgian influence, which contributes to the historical residential character of Richmond Street and Elizabeth Street North, as well as the historical character of Richmond Hill’s Village Core more broadly;
• The scale, form and massing of the 1 ½-storey building with a rectangular plan and side-gabled roof;
• The flat-headed windows with wood surrounds on the north, east and west elevations;
• The symmetrical three-bay organization of the building’s front (north) elevation;
• The central classical doorcase on the building’s front (north) elevation;
• The house’s front (north) porch, with the hipped roof, tapered square columns, and square newel posts and balusters;
• The property’s scale, sitting, and orientation on the south side of Richmond Street, east of Elizabeth Street North, within an area formerly known as “Harrison’s Corner.”

Note: the house’s later cross-gabled rear (south) addition is not considered to possess 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 May 8, 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 8th day of April, 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