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Architectural Conservancy of Ontario – Port Hope Branch Newsletter – February 2015

President's Report

Respectfully submitted, Charles Wickett

Happy New Year! Here we are having just entered 2015 and com-ing to the end of our Fiftieth year. When we reflect

on all that has been accomplished in those fifty years, we all have good reason to be proud. In 2014 alone, we have seen:

• highly successful fundraisers – The Antiques and Artifacts Auction and Port Hope House Tour;

• our financial assistance in major restoration initiatives at 146 Walton St. early in the year, and more recently at 99 Walton St.

• educational (and entertaining) endeavours such as our recently introduced “Evenings” lecture series; popu-lating the University of Waterloo’s Building Stories website with 77 Port Hope properties; and the produc-tion by Phillip Carter of our 50th anniversary book, A Reason to Celebrate.

• And celebrate we did: at our last AGM with a tribute to our dear friend the late Peter Stokes; with a wonderful Old Time picnic held under the trees in Memorial Park on a sunny August Sunday; and finally, at our festive Christmas Party generously hosted by Daphne and Ian Angus at their lovely home, Batterwood.

Thank you to all of our Members, Volunteers and our Executive who have worked so tirelessly, and with such great enthusiasm, towards making it such a successful year! It will be a tough one to top but, looking forward to the fol-lowing events of 2015, something tells me we will:

• Our AGM on February 26th when our guest speaker will be Geoff Cape – founding CEO of Evergreen, including the Evergreen Brickworks in Toronto;

• Fundraising (and fun) events such as the Antiques and Artifacts Auction on 26th April, followed by the Bus Tour (this year to Amherst Island) on 29th April; the return of the Biennial Garden Tour on July 11th, and finally the House Tour—our 50th—this year an exceptional 2-Day Event on the weekend of the 3rd – 4th October.

From conversations with Committee Chairs and mem-bers it’s clear they each have an amazing line up!

• Our downtown initiative—whereby we financially as-sist building-owners in the preservation and restoration of our wonderful built heritage—continues. Work is al-ready approved and underway for 28/32 Walton Street, and some other building owners are now in discussion with members of our Downtown Task Force to see if there are opportunities for them and their buildings.

• and of course, we’ll celebrate – with our annual Sum-mer Picnic and our Christmas Party.

We’ve had great successes and we have many more coming – and that’s all because of YOU. Thank you and I hope to see you on the 26th at our Annual General Meeting.

Don’t Miss theANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Thursday, February 26th, at 7pm for 7:30Sculthorpe Room at the Capitol Theatre

Be sure to attend and meet fellow members new and old, over a glass of wine and nibbles. Then find out what we’ve done in the past year and what’s ahead

for our lively branch – which just keeps on growing. Who are our new Executive and Directors? And who, out of many deserving candidates, will be this year’s winner of the Marion Garland Award for the best local contribution to architectural conservancy or restoration? Will there, in fact, be more than one? The AGM also provides a great opportunity to update your membership (without which you can’t vote) , so if you haven’t yet done so, here’s your chance. We’ve had some great speakers at our AGMs along the way, but definitely don’t miss this one—Geoff Cape, founding CEO of Evergreen, which includes the Evergreen Brick Works—familiar to all in Toronto’s Don Valley.

Geoff Cape has been the founding CEO of Evergreen since 1991. Day to day, he is focused on the development and acceleration of good ideas that advance Evergreen’s mission. With a background in real estate development, sustainability and urbanization trends globally, he helps to evolve Evergreen programs to offer leadership solutions for cities and citizens.

Selected in 1999 as one of Canada’s “Top 40 Under 40” by The Globe and Mail Report on

Business magazine, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in recognition of “Canadians who have made outstanding and exemplary contributions to their communities or to Canada as a whole”. He is the recipient of many other distinguished awards. He has been a regular participant and speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and is on the Future of Urban Development Advisory Board and the Technology Pioneers Selection Committee for the World Economic Forum. He lives in the Annex neighbourhood in Toronto with his wife Valerie and three boys Toma, Ben and Sebastien, and cycles to work every day—even in blinding snow storms.

Contents:President's Report .............................................................1Annual General Meeting ..................................................1Downtown Task Force: More Money Well Spent ...........2Check It Out: www.BuildingStories.co ...........................3Antiques & Artifacts: Sun Apr 26 ....................................3Christmas Party Photos ....................................................4Heads Up! ‘Experience Ganaraska’................................5Bus Tour: Bath & Amherst Island, Wed Apr 29 .............6“Evening with the ACO & Friends”: Stone Alone .........7Richard Vincent Obituary ................................................7Ontario ACO/CHO Heritage Conf, Apr 3 – May 3 .........8

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ACO Matters February 2015

ACO Executive & Officers for 2014Executive Committee President ......................................Charles WickettVice President .............................Phil GoldsmithPast President ..............................Trish DoneySecretary .....................................Susan CarmichaelTreasurer .....................................Dennis HogarthDirectors Patsy Beeson Sebastian HannaPeggy Bennett Peter KedwellMatt Desbarbieux Jo Anne MathewCommittee Chairs Auction ........................................ Joan TookeBus Tour, Newsletter, Evenings ..Patsy BeesonGarden Tour ................................Mary Shaw-RimmingtonGovernance .................................Charles WickettHouse Tour ..................................Blaise Gaetz Anna GrayMedia .......................................... Jo Anne MathewMembership ................................Peggy BennettPier Group ...................................Phil GoldsmithProjects/Downtown Task Force ..Tom CruickshankProperty & HPH Rep. .................Ed PamenterScholarship ..................................Trish DoneySocial ...........................................Peter KedwellWebsite ........................................Sebastian Hanna

ACO Executive & Officers for 2015

Anyone wishing to sit on the Executive should apply to the Nominating Committee of Charles Wickett

(905.885.1921), Phil Goldsmith (905.885.9969), or Peter Kedwell.(905.885.6706). Sometimes positions become va-cant in our Committees too, so if interested in joining one, let the above know.

Downtown Task Force: More Money Well Spent

Over the last few issues of ACO Matters, our very own Downtown Task Force has kept you up to date on various restoration projects in the commercial

core, each funded in part by ACO coffers. The latest is a real coup: new windows for the former North American Hotel (28-32 Walton Street). At last, this downtown landmark is getting the attention it deserves. The build-ing, which now houses two shopfronts and several apartments, was built about 1850. It earns a special place among Port Hope’s historical treasures, not only because it is so old and largely intact, but because its façade commands a wonderful architec-tural presence at the head of Queen Street. After more than 165 years, its original windows had finally outlived their practical life: the muntins were brittle, the frames did little to keep the cold out and the sills were rotted. They couldn’t be repaired, but the next best thing is happening: new windows that are exact replicas of the old six-over-six sash are being built to modern standards of energy efficiency (by Neil Pope, whose shop is on Highway 28, just south of Bewdley). It will take a keen observer to tell they aren’t original. The project wouldn’t have been feasible without as-sistance from the ACO. Maybe someday when the budget permits the paint will be removed from the brick. But for now, hats off to new owners Natasha Dobrina and Ron Masil for taking on this worthy building. We look forward to seeing the results. Tom Cruickshank

The former North American Hotel is at last getting the attention it deserves.

Willowae, 7132 Campbell Road, Campbellcroft, ON L0A 1B0Ph: 905-797-2424 • Cell: 416-457-1205

moya@moyamcphaildesign.comwww.moyamcphaildesign.com

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Check It Out: www.BuildingStories.co

Building Stories is an online and mobile application of heritage assets across the country. Communities across Canada are encouraged to inventory buildings

and landmarks that have historical significance. Building Stories is helping expand the volunteer base of the conserva-tion movement. To become a member takes very little time and you can contribute to the site. There are podcasts under the Publicity tab on various buildings across the country; each one has a story to tell. The ACO, with help from the Archives, has now docu-mented 77 of Port Hope’s important buildings in the Down-town Heritage District as well as Augusta Street, Dorset Street West, King Street and a few on Baldwin Street. There is a picture of each building along with an architec-tural description and its historical information. Download the free app for your iphone, Blackberry or Android to take self-guided tours of historic buildings across Canada. The app will show you the closest historic buildings to your location. There are over 2800 properties identified on the website. Building Stories is a joint venture of the Heritage Resources Centre, Centre for Community Mapping and Computer Systems Group at the University of Waterloo. The ACO thanks the Archives for their many volunteer hours to document the Downtown Heritage District.

Susan Carmichael

Antiques & Artifacts: 11th Edition!Sunday April 26, 2015Town Park Recreation Centre, Port Hope

So many of you have responded to our request to declutter, downsize and donate that we now have trea-sures from approximately 75 households. Don’t be left

out. There is time to call Ed or Joan to donate to Antiques & Artifacts 2015. We have storage and can assist with pickup. An astonishing variety awaits bids and purchases on Sunday April 26th. A run through the alphabet reveals all this: Armoire, andirons, artifacts; Books, book cases, boxes; China cabinets, cradle, cutter; Dolls, doors, door knobs, dressers; English china, etchings; Fish, floor grates, flower stands; Games, Garden Folly, glass, gourds; Head and foot boards; Ink well, Inuit art; Jig-ging stick, jugs; Kettle; Lamp shades, linens, loom; Meccano, microscopes, mirrors, model trains; Napkins, needlepoint, newel post; Oak mantel, oriental screen; Paintings, poppers, Port Hope milk can; Quality fur-niture – some with Queen Anne legs, queen-size quilt; Railroad plates, rockers, rugs; Singer sewing machine, side chairs, sideboards, side plates; Toys, trivets, twig tables; Urns, umbrella stand; Vases, victrola, vintage clothing; Wardrobe, watercolours, whatnot, wicker, woodcut; Xmas cup and saucer; Yellow arborite table; Zim Art… and much more. Look for photos on the ACO Port Hope website, acoporthope.ca.

Antiques & Artifacts is meant to entertain as well as to entice. There is something for everyone: Tag Sale, R Us sales, Silent Auction, and this year’s surprise one-of-a-kind feature. The Live Auction begins at 1 pm. Our auctioneers, Les Brittan and Rob Rusland, are very knowledgeable and great fun. Refreshments are available. If you are unable to stay until the auction is completed, we happily accept absentee bids. Arrangements must be made for pickup by 5:30 pm that day. Remember, we do not charge either a buyer’s premium or HST. If you have donations, please contact Ed Pamenter at 905-885-2737, or Joan Tooke at 905-885-1116. Many thanks.

Joan Tooke for the Antiques & Artifacts Committee

Mandarins

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ACO Matters February 2015

Jo Mathew, Ruth Redelmeier & Peter McLaughlin

2014 Christmas Party

Mayor Bob Sanderson & Ian Angus

Caro Angus, Carmel Bouzanne, Chris Wallace

Ken Scott & Bill Harris

Diana Grandfield

Alice Teichert & Bobby Tamo

Ed Pamenter & Alistair Commins

Merlin Donald & Bernie Morin

Lee Caswell, Jan Hill, Terry Hill, Mr. & Mrs. Humphries, Phyllis Hay

Alan Butler, Sue Stokes & Jan Shaw

Bonnie & Ken Garrett, John Davidson

Judy Harris & Gunter Krieg

TrishDoney

Photos courtesy of Phil Goldsmith

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Heads Up! ‘Experience Ganaraska’

What an exciting concept – attract people to Nor-thumberland County by offering them a whole range of “I Always Wanted To ….” kinds of expe-

rience and have these experiences presented by many of our own neighbours using the county’s own resources. Some examples:

• Catch a fish at a trout farm, bring it to a local restau-rant and have the chef instruct you how to cook it, gourmet style.

• Learn survival skills at the hands of a master in the Ganaraska Forest

• Write a 10 minute play under the guidance of a the-atre director

The first Experience Ganaraska will be offered from July 11 – 19th, 2015. Help us to launch Experience Ganaraska by becoming a founding volunteer. No prior experience necessary. Enjoy the rewards of sharing your passion for Northumberland County’s cultural treasures. Contact Ken Morden at kmorden@oakknollstables.com or 905 797 3025.

Mayor Bob Sanderson & Ian Angus

Caro Angus, Carmel Bouzanne, Chris Wallace

Ron McArthur, Michael Young, Peter Gallen

Diana Grandfield

Alice Teichert & Bobby Tamo

Sheilagh Fletcher, Marie Melnick

Ed Pamenter & Alistair Commins

Moya McPhail & Ralph Walker

Peter Kedwell & Charles Wickett

Merlin Donald & Bernie Morin

“A real building is one on which the eye can light and stay lit.” ~ Ezra Pound

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ACO Matters February 2015

A dry stone or “Irish” wall on

Amherst Island

10th Annual ACO Bus Tour: Bath and Amherst IslandWednesday, April 29th

We’re off to Bath and Amherst Island for our 10th Bus Tour. Bath is one of Ontario’s oldest communities

founded in 1784 and settled by the Loyalist regiment, Jessup’s Loyal Rangers. After a tour round town by a knowledgeable guide we’ll visit a wonderful c.1816 U.S. Federal Period urban building, Ham House, rescued from extreme decay and threatened with demolition, which, for the last five years, has been the passion-ate love affair of a Kingston engi-neer, Ron Tasker, who has dedi-cated himself, his time, labour and money, to its restoration. This is the ultimate example of what ‘architectural conser-vancy’ is all about. No effort has been spared in Tasker’s pursuit of his re-production of the historic original. You will see it as it nears the end of its restoration to a working inn, expected to be this Spring. It will certainly take its place as a stellar attraction in a town distinguished for its 18th and 19th century architecture. Minutes from Bath is the ferry to Amherst Island. The ferry being too small to take anything larger than 35 feet, we’ll transfer to a special snub-nosed bus we’re renting which can fit on the ferry and take us round the island,.

Amherst is largely bypassed by the hurly burly of main-land life, moving to a pulse of its own. Islanders don’t seem to care much about mainland concerns for time, precision, profit-making, which can be a bit surprising but does have its charms! We’ll visit two handsome houses, one being the former home, The Cedars, of a distinguished painter, Daniel Fowler, see something of the island’s ancient stone walls and terrain, and enjoy a lunch prepared for us by the islanders. It’ll be tasty, with home-made breads and local cheese and the islanders’ renowned pies! The bus leaves (underline leaves!) Port Hope at 8am and Cobourg at 8:15am. There are steep stairs at Ham House and at one of the island houses. Please bear this in mind before booking. $85 for members. $95 for non-members. Make out cheques to ACO Port Hope ‘Amherst’. Mail or deliver to: 8 King St., Port Hope, L1A 2R4. Include your email, tel., address, the name of a contact person, and which ACO branch you belong to. Queries to 905-885-4416 or pbeeson@eagle.ca

Patsy Beeson, Honor Shepley, and Gail RaymentHam House

The Cedars

Headlands

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Patrick + Dee McGeeSales Representatives

We Specialize in“Unique” Properties

Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, Brokerage

905-800-0321mail@mcgees.ca www.mcgees.ca

Richard Charles VincentAugust 13, 1940 - September 3, 2014

Peacefully at the Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus. Son and only child of the late Irene (nee Allison) and the late Robert Vin-cent, of Kingston. Edu-cated at York University (B.A.), the University of Auckland, New Zealand (M.A. English), and the University of Toronto (Trinity College) (M.Div.). Served on the academic staff of George Brown College in Toronto for 31 years. He was for 18 years the beloved partner of the late William Lance Twin-ing (2006) and, since June 2009, the beloved husband of Dr. Michel Gaulin, of Ottawa. He leaves cousins in the Prince Edward County/Kingston area, in Penzance, Cornwall (U.K.), and in the U.S.A., as well as numerous friends all over the world. He was a long-time Rector’s Warden and Lay Reader at St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Port Hope, and served as Lay Reader at Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa, from the time of his arrival in Ot-tawa, in 2007, until his death. A Memorial Service took place at Christ Church Cathedral, 420 Sparks Street, Ottawa, at 4:30 p.m., on Sunday, September 14, 2014. A Service of Committal took place in Saint Mark’s Anglican Church, 51 King Street, Port Hope, Ont. on Saturday, October 18, 2014, at 2:00 p.m.

Published in The Ottawa Citizen on Sept. 6, 2014 ACO Port Hope: Richard was a long-time member of ACO Port Hope, serving on the Board/Executive first as Membership Secretary and then as Chair 2007-8. He continued to maintain his membership when he moved to Ottawa in 2008.

8th “Evening with the ACO & Friends”Stone Alone: A visual exploration of the least valued natural resource we have in Canada and a probe into the singular method of best creating a ‘sense of place’ with itwith John Shaw-RimmingtonWed, June 10, 7pm Port Hope Library

Port Hopers are all familiar with John Shaw-Rimmington’s dry stone work, an ancient art that has seen an amazing world-wide revival

over the last few decades. Instances of his work—or should we call it art?—are seen throughout this town and the Province, in fact all over Canada and interna-tionally, too. Projects of endless diversity take Shaw-Rimmington to California and B.C., NY State and Britain. In other words, he has become notable for his work in stone – as he puts it, the least valued natural resource we have in Canada. And yet stonework en-dows the spaces where it’s used with such characteris-tics as agelessness and permanence, serenity, charm, dignity, and even darkness and mystery. Shaw-Rimmington is also much in demand as a leader of groups to areas of stone construction significance all over the world, and also as a speaker, his talks enlivened by a considerable sense of humour and his huge enthusiasm for his subject. $20 members, $25 non-members, includes Wine and Refreshments. Make out cheque to ACO Port Hope ‘Stones’, and mail/deliver to 8 King St., Port Hope, L1A 2R4 (include name, email, and tel. no.).

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ACO Matters February 2015

ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVANCY OF ONTARIO PORT HOPE BRANCH

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORMPlease enroll me as a member of the Port Hope Branch of the Architectural Conser-vancy of Ontario. I have indicated below my/our applicable membership category.

Name(s): ___________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

Telephone: __________________________________________________

E-Mail: ____________________________________________________

Individual Member: $35 ___________

Household Membership: $40 ___________

Student: $12 ___________

Total Enclosed: ___________

House Tour Volunteer □ Receiving ACO Matters by email

□

Garden Tour Volunteer □ Antiques & Artifacts Volunteer □Web Site Design & Maintenance□ Publicity / Public Relations □Design & Mounting Displays / Outreach

□

Please fill out this form and mail it with your cheque to:

ACO–Port Hope Branch PO Box 563, Port Hope, Ont. L1A 3Z4

www.ACOPortHope.ca

905-396-731326 Bramley St N , Port Hope, ON L1A 1V3

www.etextimage.com patricia@etextimage.com

Patricia McCawGrAPHiC & WeB DeSiGN; WeBSite HOStiNG

MAJOR UPCOMING EVENTSANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Thurs Feb 26 (see p.1)ANTIQUES & ARTIFACTS AUCTION

Sun Apr 26 (see p.3)BUS TOUR TO AMHERST ISLAND & BATH

Wed Apr 29 (see p.6)ACO/CHO HERITAGE CONFERENCE

Apr 30 – May 3, Niagara-on-the-Lake (see below)EVENINGS: ‘STONE ALONE’

WITH JOHN SHAW-RIMMINGTONWed June 10 (see p.7)

GARDEN TOUR Sat July 11 (more info later)

ACO BARBECUE Thurs Aug 13 (more info later)

50th HOUSE TOUR, A UNIQUE 2-DAY EVENT Sat Oct 3 – Sun Oct 4 (more info later)

2015 Ontario ACO/CHO Heritage Conference April 30 – May 3 • Niagara-on-the-LakeInformation: VAL O’DONNELL 905-468-2058 or vodonnell32@gmail.comwww.2015heritageconference.com

“Ontario Heritage: An Enriching Experience”