Oshawa proposes heritage status for historic farmhouse

Oshawa City Council has announced its intention to designate the property at 442 King Street East as a site of cultural heritage value or interest.

442 King Street East is located on the north side of King Street East, between Central Park Boulevard North and Lasalle Court. The property features a two-storey farmhouse built in the Georgian architectural style with Italianate influences. While the exact construction date is uncertain, historical records indicate that it existed by 1891 and may have been built as early as 1859.

The property has design value as a representative example of a Georgian-style farmhouse with Italianate influences. The red brick, two-storey building follows a box-like plan with a symmetrically balanced three-bay façade and a side gable roof with overhanging eaves, characteristic of Georgian architecture. Italianate features are evident in the dichromatic brickwork, ornate window treatments, and porch details. The segmental arch window and door openings include decorative buff brick hoodmoulds, while the façade displays a cross-like buff brick pattern near the roofline and a triangular pattern on the gable ends. The one-storey porch includes turned and carved woodwork, spindles, decorative brackets, gingerbread trim, and chamfered wood posts, reflecting Italianate design elements.

Early Settlers

The property is historically associated with several families, including the Dickies, Pooles, Rogers, and the Drew family. These families were early settlers who primarily worked in the agricultural sector. While the original owner is unclear, records suggest that the house was built for either John Dickie Junior, Robert and Elizabeth Poole, or Benjamin Rogers between 1859 and 1891. From 1909 to 1961, the property served as the residence of the Drew family, including Albert Victor Drew, who worked as a gardener for fifty years, and his son George Drew, who was employed as a mechanic. The Drew family owned multiple properties in the area.

The property contributes to the late 19th and early 20th-century streetscape along King Street East. It serves as a remnant of a 19th-century agricultural property that was later subdivided as Oshawa expanded in the early 20th century. The building is distinct in its setback and architectural style compared to its surroundings, marking it as an early farmhouse. The streetscape between Wilson Road and Oshawa Boulevard features residential buildings dating from the late 19th to early 20th century, including arts and crafts, iItalianate, and neo-classical architectural styles. The buildings in this area, typically one-and-a-half to three storeys tall, feature gable roofs, brick construction, and ornamented facades. This section of King Street East is near Oshawa’s historic downtown and serves as a residential extension of the commercial core.

Heritage Designation Criteria

Based on its cultural heritage value, the property meets the criteria for designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, in accordance with Ontario Regulation 569/22 subsection 1(2), specifically criteria 1, 4, and 7.

The following heritage attributes reflect the property’s design and physical value:

Two-storey Georgian farmhouse with Italianate influences
Box-like plan
Symmetrical three-bay façade
Side gable roof
Red brick construction with buff brick detailing
Decorative buff brick hoodmoulds around segmental arch windows and door openings
Decorative cross-like brick pattern near the roofline on the façade and triangular patterns on east and west elevations
Segmental arch door opening with a segmental arch transom
One-storey ornate porch with moulded architrave, chamfered wood posts, decorative brackets, gingerbread trim, and finials

The following heritage attributes reflect the property’s historical and associative value:

Two-storey Georgian farmhouse with Italianate influences
Massing, orientation, setback, and decorative details
Location on King Street East

The following heritage attributes reflect the property’s contextual value:

Two-storey Georgian farmhouse with Italianate influences
Massing, orientation, setback, and decorative details
Location on King Street East

The City of Oshawa intends to proceed with the designation process to recognize and protect the historical and architectural significance of 442 King Street East.