Notice of intention to designate 137 Chisholm Street

On August 12, 2024, Oakville Town Council resolved to pass a Notice of Intention to Designate the following property under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.18, as amended, as a property of cultural heritage value and interest:

Crosbie House (north half)
137 Chisholm Street
Part Lot 5, Block 57, Plan 1, Part 1, 20R2672; Part Lot 6, Block 57, Plan 1, Part 1, 20R2672; Town of Oakville

Description of Property

The property at 137 Chisholm Street is located on the southeast corner of Chisholm Street and Rebecca Street west of downtown Oakville. 

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Design and Physical Value

The Crosbie House (north side) has design and physical value as a representative example of an early 20th century vernacular Oakville frame house built with influences from the Arts and Crafts movement. Built in 1913, the house contains many of its original features that are typical of this movement, which was focused on natural materials and craftsmanship. Heritage attributes of the home include: low massing with intersecting gable roof; front gable dormer with overhang; shingle cladding on the upper storey and horizontal cladding on the lower storey; wooden roof trim, fascia, and soffits; covered front porch; 9/1 wooden windows with wooden trim and sills 9/1; and two brick chimneys.

Historical and Associative Value

The Crosbie House (north side) is associated with the theme of late 19th and early 20th century industrial and residential development of the area west of Sixteen Mile Creek. Located west of the Oakville Harbour, this area was sometimes referred to historically as ‘West Harbour’, first developed in the mid to late 1800s. Houses were originally built to support the rise in industrial development along this side of the harbour, including the Tannery complex which was a significant employer in Oakville throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The property remains as one of the modest working-class houses built in the early 20th century and continues to contribute to the value of this historic neighbourhood.

Contextual Value

The Crosbie House (north side) is important in defining, supporting, and maintaining the character of the local residential neighbourhood. Most of the 19th and early 20th century homes in this area are modest in size and design and were built to house the local working class. The streetscape of the area consists of mature trees and moderate to small lots which contain medium to small sized houses, many of them from the early days of settlement in the town. The subject house is one of the older ones in the neighbourhood and its presence and prominent corner location adds to the historical character of the area. The property is physically, functionally, visually, and historically linked to its surroundings. It stands on its original location and retains the original portion of the house. As one of the earlier houses built in the block, its presence is a reminder of the residential and working-class history of the neighbourhood. 

Description of Heritage Attributes

Key attributes of the property at 137 Chisholm Street that exemplify its cultural heritage value as a vernacular house frame house built with influences from the Arts and Crafts movement, as they relate to the original one-and-a-half storey house, include:

• The low massing of the original one-and-a-half storey structure with intersecting gable roof with front gable dormer;
• Shingle cladding on the upper storey and horizontal cladding on the lower storey;
• Wooden roof trim, fascia, and soffits; 
• The presence of 9/1 wooden windows with wooden trim and sills throughout;
• Front brick chimney; and
• The presence of a front porch.

Any objection to this designation must be filed no later than September 13, 2024.  Objections must be directed to the Town Clerk at townclerk@oakville.ca or 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, Ontario L6H 0H3. The objection must include the reasons for the objection and all relevant facts.

Further information respecting this proposed designation is available from the Town of Oakville. Any inquiries may be directed to Carolyn Van Sligtenhorst, Supervisor of Heritage Conservation at 905-845-6601, ext.3875 (TTY 905-338-4200), or by email at carolyn.van@oakville.ca. 

Issued at the Town of Oakville on August 14, 2024.