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Take notice that the Council for The Corporation of the Town of Innisfil intends to designate 3523 25th Sideroad (Guest House) as a property of cultural heritage value or interest under Part IV, Section 29 of The Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.0.18, as amended.

Property description

The subject property is described as being Part of the North Part of Lot 26, Concession 12, Innisfil, being Part 1, Plan 51R-38446, Town of Innisfil, and is municipally known as 3523 25th Sideroad in the Town of Innisfil, County of Simcoe, in the Province of Ontario.

Statement of cultural heritage value or interest

The Guest House's cultural heritage value resides in its design, physical value, and historical associations. It is one of a few remaining stone houses in the Town of Innisfil, displaying a high degree of artisanship and unique building techniques. The Guest family farmed the property for 35 years, and the descendants of James and Susanna were influential in the development of the culture of the Innisfil we have today.

Design and physical value

The design and physical value of the Guest House, with its low-pitched gable roof, is representative of the Colonial Gothic pattern with a centre hall with stairs and rooms on either side. Built between 1868 and 1870, it features a cut stone façade with tuckpointing, the side and rear exterior of random granite stone, a soldier course above each window opening, return eaves, and brackets under the eaves. A unique feature of the house is that it was built into the edge of a sharp hill, allowing the basement to have a walk-in entrance, an unusual feature in the era it was constructed.

Historical value

The Guest House's historical value is associated with the Guest family. James and Susanna Guest farmed the property for 35 years, and many of their eleven children remained in Innisfil and married into the families of Innisfil’s earliest settlers, including the Wallace, Warnica, Greaves, and Soules families. These families were influential in the development of the culture of the Innisfil we have today.

Description of heritage attributes

The following heritage attributes contribute to the cultural heritage value of the property:

Exterior

Façade (west side)

  • Cut stone with mortar joints outlined in tone
  • Three bay – Centre doorway flanked by two windows with cut stone soldier course above each window and centre doorway
  • Small brackets under eaves

South Side

  • Basement: two small windows with cut stone soldier course above each; parged foundation partially exposed
  • Main level: two large windows with cut stone soldier course above each
  • Upper level: two windows with cut stone soldier course above each
  • Gable end, return eaves, end view brackets under eaves with small brackets
  • Main and upper level walls: random granite stone

North Side

  • Basement: built into the hill and not visible
  • Main level: two large windows with cut stone soldier course above each
  • Upper level: two windows with cut stone soldier course above each Gable end, return eaves, end view brackets under eaves with small brackets
  • Main and upper level walls: random granite stone

East side

  • Basement: the foundation is partially exposed, with the north half built into the steep hill. There is one large window and one doorway to allow access to the basement at ground level
  • Main level: obscured behind kitchen addition – visible as random granite stone along internal edge of addition
  • Upper level: two windows with cut stone soldier course, small brackets under eaves
  • Main and upper level walls: random granite stone

Interior

Main Level

  • Parlour (main level north side, front)
  • Fireplace mantel and surround
  • Window facing north: decorative panelling and trim
  • Window facing west: decorative panelling and trim
  • Closet on west wall: decorative panelling and trim
  • Baseboards

Central Hallway

  • Staircase in its entirety to the second floor: baseboards, banister, spindles and trim

Notice of objection

Any person may serve his or her notice of objection to the proposed designation to the Town Clerk within 30 days of the date of this notice, and no later than 4:30 p.m. on October 14, 2024. Objections should be directed to the Corporation of the Town of Innisfil, 2101 Innisfil Beach Road, Innisfil, ON L9S 1A1, Attention Ms. Patty Thoma, Town Clerk, or by e-mail: clerksoffice@innisfil.ca. A notice of objection must set out the reason(s) for the objection and all relevant facts.