40: 40 cox drive, ennisclare 1. description of property - business/40... · 2020-02-06 ·...

Inventory Report: 40 Cox Drive, Ennisclare

40-1

40: 40 Cox Drive, Ennisclare

1. Description of Property Municipal Address 40 Cox Drive Name (if applicable) Ennisclare (Cox Estate) Legal Description PT LT 7, PL 1111 , AS IN 180367 ; S/T 129518,"ST & T/W 180367" ; OAKVILLE " ADDED AUG 14,

98 J. MENARD" Location of Property Located at the dead end of a cul-de-sac, overlooking Lake Ontario. Ownership Private Access Site visit completed September 10, 2015 (AB, ES, CU) Current Use Multi-unit residence Existing Designation Designated under Part IV of the OHA (By-law 1995-043) as a property of “historical,

architectural and contextual value and interest” for reasons set out in Schedule A to the by-law (attached here as Appendix A).

General Description 40 Cox Drive (Ennisclare) comprises a nine-unit apartment building and two flat-roofed garages, surrounded by landscaped gardens and grounds, and stuccoed garden walls. The building was built in 1910 as an estate house for insurance executive Herbert Cox, and subdivided into apartments after the death of Cox and his wife in the late 1940s. The garages were added in the 1950s.

Priority Level Low

Figure 1: 40 Cox Drive, Front elevation (AB 2015)

Cox Dr.

Residence

Pool

Steps

LakeOntario

Garages

Garages

Headstones

PrivateResidence

PrivateResidence

Cox Dr.

Residence

Pool

Steps

LakeOntario

Garages

Garages

LEGEND

40 Cox DriveCultural Heritage LandscapeInventory Map

Drawing not to scale

Corporation of theTown of Oakville1225 Trafalgar RdOakville, ONL6H 0H3

Watercourse

Site Structures

Vegetation

Assessment Boundary

Building

CHL Study Area

Heritage District

Heritage Trail

Parkland

Park Trail

Road

Cemetery


40-3

2. Key Recommendations Priority = Low

Rationale for priority level:

• No known vulnerabilities; • All existing built and natural cultural heritage resources may not have been identified or included in designation.

Recommendations for future action:

• Prepare a full evaluation report to confirm and update the heritage attributes of the property, including natural heritage elements;

• Amend the designation by-law under section 30.1 OHA to clarify and correct the statement of cultural heritage value or interest of the property and describe the heritage attributes in greater detail.

3. Documentation and Inventory of Built Form List of Built Features:

• Colonial Georgian style house clad in white stucco (built 1910 with addition between 1922 and 1930), subdivided into a nine-unit apartment building;

• Two flat-roofed garages, clad in white stucco (built c.1950s); • Stucco-clad garden walls; • Paved laneway and parking areas with low curbs; • A wide, low staircase leading to the front entrance, with a stone bearing the property’s name “Ennisclare”; • A formal entrance yard at the rear of the house with a cut-stone retaining wall; and • A cut-flagstone walk around the rear of the house.

4. Documentation and Inventory of Natural Form List of Natural Features:

• Mature Burning Bush at the road, underplanted with Periwinkle; • A row of mature Katsura trees along the north property line; • Yew, Cypress, Blue Spruce, Pine; • Blue Spruce row along the east property line; • Massive, mature, possibly naturalized Japanese Maples throughout the garden on the west side of house,

underplanted with Pachysandra; • Mature landscaping flows from this property into the property to the west, indicating that both were once one

property; • Sweet Woodruff underplanting; • Mature plantings mixed with new; • Foundation planting of Yew, Juniper, Austrian Pine; • A new stand of Pine at the east corner of the property, near the lake; • Hickory, Norway Maple, Silver Maple; • Lily of the Valley; • Around the formal entrance yard at the rear of the house, aPrivet hedge, with newer plantings within, and mature

Cypress along the lower wall at the drive;


40-4

• Ash, Beautybush, and huge Lilacs; • Clipped Yews in the formal entrance garden at the rear of the house; and • Naturalized Yews in a perimeter planting around the property’s edge.

5. Design (Typology) ‘X’ all that

apply Categories of Cultural Heritage Landscape

Description

X Designed Landscape “…clearly defined landscape designed and created intentionally by man.”

X Organically Evolved Landscape

“…results from an initial social, economic, administrative, and/or religious imperative and has developed in its present form in response to its natural environment”

Relict Landscape (Evolved Landscape)

“…in which an evolutionary process came to an end at some time in the past.”

X Continuing Landscape (Evolved Landscape)

“…retains an active social role in contemporary society closely associated with the traditional way of life, and which the evolutionary process is still in progress.”

Associative Cultural Landscape

“…justifiable by virtue of the powerful religious, artistic, or cultural associations of the natural element rather than material cultural evidence, which may be insignificant or even absent.”

6. Historical and Thematic Associations The large residence at 40 Cox Drive was constructed for Herbert Coplin Cox in 1910, as the estate house for his summer property, Ennisclare. The lakeshore estate was just one of many that were erected by prominent businessmen, primarily from Toronto and Hamilton, along the waterfront. The large number of these estates built in the first quarter of the 20th century led the area to become known locally as “Millionaire’s Row.”

When Cox purchased his 17-acre property in 1909, it was an apple orchard. Cox hired the architectural firm of Sproatt and Rolph to design the white stucco home in the colonial Georgian style. The surrounding estate was carefully landscaped and included gardens, substantial stables, a polo field, and an arena for the thoroughbred horses he raised; Ennisclare became known as a centre for horse riding in the Oakville area. During the Second World War, portions of the estate were set aside for fruit and vegetable growing. Cox also provided a number of farm workers with housing and transportation.

Following the deaths of Herbert Cox and his wife, Louise (née Bogart), in 1947 and 1948, respectively, the Estate was subdivided and sold. Components such as the two, circa 1950s, multi bay (four and six) garages reflect the change in the property from a single-family estate to a multi-unit apartment building.

Herbert Coplin Cox

Herbert Coplin Cox was born in Peterborough, Ontario in June 1873. His father, George Cox, was a prominent Canadian. He became the President of Canada Life Assurance Company in January 1900; having risen through the ranks, starting as an insurance agent in 1861. George Cox was one of the founders of the Evening Star Newspaper (1892), served as the Member of Parliament for West Toronto, and became a Senator in 1896.

Herbert Coplin Cox began a partnership with his father in 1894, under the firm name George A. and H.C. Cox, which managed the Eastern Ontario and Michigan branches of the Canada Life Assurance Company. In October 1912, Herbert Cox became


40-5

the President of the Imperial Life Assurance Company, but resigned in 1914 to accept the Presidency of the Canada Life Assurance Company. He held the position until 1928. In addition to his position at Canada Life, Herbert Cox was actively involved in a number of other business enterprises, including: the Presidencies of Imperial Guarantee and Accident Co., the Toronto Savings and Loan Company, and Provident Investment Ltd., Vice Presidency of Canada Loan and Saving Co., and Directorships of The Canadian Bank of Commerce, National Trust Company, Canadian General Electric, British American Assurance, Robert Simpson Co., Canada Cement, and the Western Assurance Company.1

7. Contextual Associations The former estate was subdivided and sold in 1949. Remnants of the estate found on nearby properties include, the stables (converted to residential use), water tower footings in the Cox Estate Cemetery, and vestiges of the rough-cast estate wall. These are now fragmented and difficult to read as an intact cultural heritage landscape given the construction of residential properties and infrastructure in the interposing parcels of land.

8. Evaluation (O. Reg 9/06)

O.Reg.9/06 Criteria Criteria

Potentially Met (Y/N)

Potential Justification

1. The property has design value or physical value because it,

i. is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material, or construction method,

Y

The property may be a representative example of a cultural heritage landscape type, namely the lakefront estates built by wealthy urbanites in the early 20th century.

ii. displays a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit, or

Y

Aspects of the landscaping and grounds may display a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit. The mature hedgerow of katsura and the stand of Japanese maple trees to the northwest of the house reflect the great care and expense undertaken in planning of the landscaping.

iii. demonstrates a high degree of technical or scientific achievement.

N Not shown.

2. The property has historical value or associative value because it,

i. has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community,

Y

The property is directly associated with Herbert Cox, who was significant locally and nationally.

The property is directly associated with the development of large estates along

1 By-law 1995-043: 1.


40-6

O.Reg.9/06 Criteria Criteria

Potentially Met (Y/N)

Potential Justification

Lake Ontario by wealthy urbanites in the early 20th century.

ii. yields, or has the potential to yield, information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture, or

Y

Because of their proximity to the lake, undisturbed portions of the property to the rear of the house have the potential to yield information pertaining to the property’s use as an orchard as well as pre-EuroCanadian use of the area.

iii. demonstrates or reflects the work or ideas of an architect, artist, builder, designer or theorist who is significant to a community.

Y The house was designed by the prominent Toronto firm of Sproatt and Rolph.

3. The property has contextual value because it,

i. is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area,

Y The property is one of several grand estates in “Millionaire’s Row” along Lakeshore Road.

ii. is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings, or

Y

The property is historically linked to its surroundings, as adjacent properties were once part of the Ennisclare estate and contain some of its structures.

iii. is a landmark. Y Ennisclare is named on past and current lists of prominent buildings in Oakville.


40-7

9. Photographic Documentation

Figure 3: Katsura hedgerow at entrance to property (AB 2015)

Figure 4: Ennisclare, western elevation (AB 2015)


40-8

Figure 5: Ennisclare stone on front steps (AB 2015)

10. Analysis & Recommendations Potential Heritage Value:

The property at 40 Cox Drive may serve as a representative example of a cultural heritage landscape type, namely the summer estates built by wealthy urbanites along Oakville’s Lake Ontario shoreline in the early 20th century. The cultural heritage landscape includes not only the former estate house but what remains of its elaborate grounds and plantings. As pects of the landscape may display a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit. For example, the mature hedgerow of katsura and the stand of Japanese maple trees to the northwest of the house reflect the great care and expense that was taken in planning the grounds.

The property is directly associated with insurance executive Herbert Cox, who was significant as a local figure and at the national level. It is also directly associated with a historical theme in the development of Oakville, namely the construction of large lakefront estates by wealthy urbanites from Toronto and Hamilton.

Because of its location by a body of water, the property has the potential to yield archaeological information.

The house was designed by the prominent Toronto firm of Sproatt and Rolph.

It is one of several grand lakefront estates along Lakeshore Road. It is historically linked to adjacent properties that were once part of the Ennisclare estate and contain some of its structures. It functions as a landmark, appearing on past and current lists of prominent buildings in Oakville.

Actions:

The property at 40 Cox Drive is designated under Part IV of the OHA (By-law 1995-043). The reasons for designation are extremely lengthy, and are attached as Appendix A. The existing by-law protects the property and includes many of the property’s key features in its description of historical, architectural and contextual value. However it could be improved to


40-9

conform with post-2005 requirements for designation by-laws by streamlining the description of heritage value and adding a list of the heritage attributes, including the many natural and landscape features that contribute to the property’s cultural heritage value or interest. A full evaluation of the property would provide the information necessary to write an appropriate statement of cultural heritage value in keeping with the current requirements of the OHA.

Given that the property is already protected by the existing by-law, these improvements are not urgent, but would clarify the heritage value of the property for permitting purposes. Section 30.1 OHA provides that municipal council may amend a designation by-law without going through the designation process again, if the purpose of the amendment is to clarify or correct the statement explaining the property’s cultural heritage value or interest or the description of the property’s heritage attributes.

A ‘low’ priority level is recommended for the following reasons:

• No known vulnerabilities; • All existing built and natural cultural heritage resources may not have been identified or included in designation.

11. Sources Ashe, David and Burnell, Joyce. Oakville Street Names & Landmarks (London, ON: Burnell Creighton Publishing, 2007)

Griffin, George A., Oakville: past and present, (Toronto: Griffin & Griffin, 1912)

Town of Oakville, "By-law 1994-20: A by-law to designate the Cox Pioneer Cemetery on Wedgewood Drive as a property of historical and contextual value and interest." 1994.

Town of Oakville, "By-law 1995-043: A by-law to designate 40 Cox Drive as a property of historical, architectural and contextual value and interest." 1995.

Waddington's Toronto, "Ennisclare, Oakville, Ontario," Oakville, Ontario: 1949.

12. Appendix A SCHEDULE "A" to By-law 1995-43

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Ennisclare was built in 1910 for Herbert Coplin Cox, President, and later Chairman of the Board of Canada Life Assurance Company, as the estate house for his large summer property on the shore of Lake Ontario, east of Oakville. It was designed by the renowned team of architects, Sproatt and Rolph.

Herbert Cox was born in Peterborough, Ontario in June, 1873. He was the son of George Cox, one of the most influential men in Canada at the turn of the century. George Cox began his career modestly as one of Canada's early telegraph operators. Stationed at Peterborough, he made Daguerreo-type portraits (early photographs) for people in his spare time. In 1861, at the age of 21, he joined the Canada Life Assurance Company as an agent, and soon built up the Peterborough agency until he was responsible for all of Ontario east of Toronto, accounting for nearly half of the company's total business in force. The company's new Michigan agency also came under his control. During this time, he transformed a faltering railroad into a profitable enterprise that was acquired by a leading railway company.

By January, 1900, when George Cox became President of Canada Life, he was considered one of the leading financiers in the country. He had served in Parliament as the Liberal Member for West Toronto, and in 1896, he became a Senator. In addition to his Canada Life duties, he was also President of the Bank of Commerce and several other companies, and held over 50 directorships. In 1892, he was one of the six original founders of the Evening Star newspaper, later to become the Toronto


40-10

Star. At the turn of the century, Senator Cox, Henry Pellatt of Casa Loma fame, and William Mackenzie, President of the Toronto Street Railway, formed a partnership and began acquiring monopolistic franchises in Mexican and South American cities for transit and power companies. In 1901, it was Sao Paola, in 1903, Rio de Janeiro, and eventually became a vast web of interlocking companies which merged in 1911 to form the company now called Brascan. Prompted by American coal miners' strikes which had disrupted their generators' fuel supply, Cox and his associates raised a huge pool of capital and proceeded to tap the hydroelectric potential of Niagara Falls.

Although he had many responsibilities, George Cox continued to regard himself first and foremost as a life insurance agent. After his appointment to the Senate, he was reputed to have sold a life insurance policy to every fellow Senator who qualified.

Herbert Cox was educated at Victoria College, University of Toronto. He began his business career with Canada Life Assurance in 1894 in partnership with his father under the firm name George A. and H.C. Cox, in the management of the Eastern Ontario and Michigan branches of the Canada Life Company. In July, 1899, he became the sole manager of the business upon his father's appointment to the Presidency of the company. In October, 1912, Herbert Cox was appointed to the Presidency of the Imperial Life Assurance Company.

Shortly before his death in 1914, George Cox retired from the Presidency of Canada Life. His successor was his eldest son, Edward, who became Vice-president. Unfortunately, Edward passed away only six months later, so Herbert Cox resigned his position at Imperial Life and assumed the helm as President of Canada Life Assurance Company. Cox held the Presidency for fourteen years, during which time he oversaw the continued expansion of the company. In 1928, he retired as President and was appointed Chairman of the Board.

Like his father, Herbert Cox was involved in a number of other enterprises in addition to his duties at Canada Life. These included the Presidencies of Imperial Guarantee and Accident Co., the Toronto Savings and Loan Company, and Provident Investment Ltd., Vice Presidency of Canada Loan and Saving Co., and Directorships of The Canadian Bank of Commerce, National Trust Company, Canadian General Electric, British American Assurance, Robert Simpson Co., Canada Cement, and the Western Assurance Company.

In his personal life, Herbert Cox lived an extravagant, but very private existence. In I895, he married Louise Bogart of Penn Yan in Upstate New York. They had homes around the world, from Southern California to England, but their principal residence was the Ennisclare Estate, east of Oakville. Herbert Cox purchased the property at Ennisclare in 1909. At the time it was an apple orchard, but the 17 acre property was soon handsomely landscaped in the style of a European estate. Upon the property, Cox commissioned the architectural firm of Sproatt and Rolph to design his spacious home near the lake in a style reminiscent of the early colonial mansions of the Southern United States.

Great stables, other buildings, and an arena stood near Lakeshore Road to accommodate his famous thoroughbred horses, some of the finest hunters and jumpers in North America. These animals, many of which were imported from Ireland and

elsewhere, were trained under the direction of an expert in horsemanship. Mr. "Hughie" Wilson won prizes for both his own and for the Ennisclare stables, far and wide. As a result of its excellent facilities, Ennisclare was the centre for horse riding events in the Oakville area during the first half of this century. From Mr. Cox's fine stable of horses was formed the famous Ennisclare Hunt, which had its beginnings in the years 1910-1912. An excellent pack was made up of fine breeds of dogs secured from other parts of Canada and from the United States. Not content with the local foxes, the Hunt brought in a better breed from Prince Edward Island. The hunt itself took place on Cox's large property north of Lakeshore Road. West of the stables on the Ennisclare property was a large polo field, internationally known as one of the finest. Polo became a very popular sport and many of the best teams played there. A number of Oakville riders owned their own mounts and enjoyed thoroughly both the polo and the Hunt. A reminder of Herbert Cox's great love of horses can be seen today on Ennisclare


40-11

Drive, once part of the estate property. Here, the road splits around an old tree, where underneath is said to be the remains of Herbert Cox’s favourite horse.

In 1924, the Cox's purchased an estate in England where they spent the winter months from this time on, returning to Oakville for their summers. While in England, Cox continued to pursue his interest in horses. He was joint master of the hunt with the Duke of Bedford. When the Second World War broke out in 1939, the Cox's remained in England, returning at its end in 1945.

The entire Cox property along Lakeshore Road was bordered by a rough-cast wall some six feet in height. A short section of this wall still remains on the north side of the road, as well as a longer one on the south. During the First World War, Mr. Cox set aside a large part of his land for growing fruits and vegetables in aid of the war effort. He provided living quarters and transportation for some dozen or so "farmerettes", and others who worked hard during the war years to help ensure sufficient food for Canada and for the Canadian troops. Mr. and Mrs. Cox also contributed to the war effort by hosting horse shows and garden parties, in aid of the Red Cross.

Mr. Cox and his wife died within a year of each other; he in 1947and she in 1948. When Herbert Cox died, the England estate was sold and Mrs. Cox came back to Oakville. After she died, Ennisclare was put up for sale. After the sale of Ennisclare, the surrounding property was subdivided and houses were built upon the once grand polo field and gardens. The estate house survived, however, and was converted into apartments.

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

Ennisclare is an excellent example of the grand estate houses that were constructed by the wealthy of Ontario up to the 1930's. The building is a white stucco clad structure, built in the colonial Georgian revival style and is reminiscent of the lavish mansions constructed by plantation owners in the Southern United States. Although the building has today been converted to apartments, its external appearance has changed little from the days when it was owned by Herbert C. Cox. Historic photographs reveal that Ennisclare was constructed in stages. A photograph taken in 1922 shows Ennisclare with a 9 bay facade, 4 dormers and 2 chimneys. Photographs taken in 1930 and 1947 present Ennisclare as virtually identical to how it appears today; however, since the 1922 photograph, a 6 bay addition has been added to the east in identical style, with a further 2 dormers and a third chimney. To the rear, Ennisclare was extended by a 2 storey, flat roofed addition with a Beaux Arts style, stone balustrade along the roof. This is also constructed in similar style to the original building with various sizes of double hung, multi-paned windows, framed by black shutters. The rear addition presents various beaux arts influences in the arched entranceways with oversize keystones and the diamond shaped stone motifs placed on several locations along the building. A stone staircase leads to the main entranceway at the north side of the building. This is framed by colonial style lanterns. A detailed iron and glass awning frames the east entrance. The south facing doorways were originally all occupied by French doors. Most of these remain, however, some have been converted to windows to accommodate the apartment use. These changes are in keeping with the original architecture of the building. The rear doors open directly upon a ground level terrace.

Although the original estate has largely been developed, the gardens immediately to the rear, south to the lakeshore are reminiscent of how they would have appeared at the time of Herbert C. Cox.

An additional feature of Ennisclare which contributes to the architectural significance of the building is that it was designed by Sproatt and Rolph, one of Ontario's most famous architectural firms. Sproatt and Rolph were responsible for the design of a number of Toronto's most significant buildings. Some of these buildings include: Bishop Strachan School, Hart House, the library and chapel at Victoria College, St. Andrew's College and the University of Toronto War Memorial. Some of their non-educational buildings include: The Canada Life Assurance Building on University Avenue, the Arts and Letters Club, the


40-12

Canada Permanent building, Ontario Hydro Building, and in partnership with Ross and McDonald Architects - Eaton's College Street and the Royal York Hotel, at one time the tallest building in the British Empire.

The architectural significance of Ennisclare has been recognized by feature articles in a number of publications including the Oakville Beaver and the Canadian Homes and Gardens September, 1930. For the May, 1949 auction of the estate, an illustrated catalogue was produced which gives a good visual description of Ennisclare at the end of its era as a country estate.

CONTEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE

Ennisclare is an excellent example of the great estates which once ran along the shore of Lake Ontario to the east and west of Oakville. Although most of the estate has been subdivided, the portion that remains gives a good indication of how Ennisclare house appeared during its heyday.

40: 40 cox drive, ennisclare 1. description of property - business/40... · 2020-02-06 ·...

Documents