Notice of intention to designate - 323 Macdonald Road

On January 22, 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:

Cuthbertson House
323 Macdonald Road
Lot 8, Plan 121; Town of Oakville

Description of Property

The property at 323 Macdonald Road is located on the north side of Macdonald Road between Reynolds and Allan Streets in the Brantwood neighbourhood. The property contains a one-and-a-half storey red brick and wood shingle-clad Dutch Colonial Revival style house that was built in 1911, known as the Cuthbertson House.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Design and Physical Value

The Cuthbertson House has design and physical value as a representative example of a Dutch Colonial Revival style home. Colonial Revival architecture is a tangible link to North American’s colonial heritage. In the late 19th to early 20th centuries, in many communities that had started out as European colonies, an interest developed in their architectural past. This revival was described as a community’s romantic look back upon its colonial roots, and the result was architecture that reflected this nostalgia. The Dutch Colonial Revival style was an iteration that referenced the 18th century homes found in northeast America. The Cuthbertson House includes many architectural elements typical of the style including its cross-gambrel roof with long overhanging eaves; its use of natural building materials including its red brick and wood shingle cladding; its large, second storey shed dormer; and its random fenestration pattern.

Historical and Associative Value

The Cuthbertson House property has cultural heritage value for its direct associations with the theme of development of the early 20th century subdivision known as ‘Brantwood Annex’. Its presence contributes to the story of Oakville’s early 20th century residential development that was defined by large lots with well-designed Arts and Crafts era homes built by well-to-do families. The property also has cultural heritage value for its direct associations with Norma Ecclestone (nee Smith) and James Arthur Gairdner were long time Oakville residents who were actively involved in various community events and organizations, and who were recognized for their philanthropy, both locally and nationally. 

Contextual Value

The Cuthbertson House property has contextual value because it defines, maintains and supports the character of the Brantwood Annex neighbourhood. As a representative and early example of the Dutch Colonial Revival style of architecture, the Cuthbertson House’s presence and its design elements helps to define the original aesthetic of the early 20th century Brantwood Annex and maintain the character of the neighbourhood. The subject property is physically, functionally, visually, and historically linked to its surroundings and places the Brantwood Annex area’s origins in a specific timeframe, helping to tell the larger story of Oakville and its development in the 20th century. 

Description of Heritage Attributes

Key heritage attributes of the property at 323 Macdonald Road that exemplify its cultural heritage value as an early 1900s Dutch Colonial Revival style house, as they relate to the historic one-and-a-half-storey house, include:

• The massing and form of the building with cross-gambrel roof, including the second-storey gable dormer and bump-out on the front elevation, the front porch, and the first storey bay window on the east elevation;
• The open front porch with brick piers, double and triple sets of square columns, low wood railings with square pickets and slightly arched horizontal beams on the side of the porch;
• Red brick first storey cladding in a running bond pattern with brick voussoirs over doors and windows and header brick window sills; 
• Wood shingle cladding on upper storey;
• Remaining wood soffits, fascia and trimwork;
• Fenestration of the windows and doors on the west, south and east elevations;
• The presence of multi-paned windows in the Arts and Crafts style with wood trim; and
• Brick chimney.

Any objection to this designation must be filed no later than February 26, 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 January 25, 2024.