Notice of Intention to Designate: 12862 Dixie Road

TAKE NOTICE that the Town of Caledon intends to designate 12862 Dixie Road as being of cultural heritage value or interest under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter O.18.

The property municipally known as 12862 Dixie Road is located on the west side of Dixie Road, south of the intersection of Old School Road and Dixie Road. The property contains a south-facing mid-19^th century brick farmhouse set atop a rise of land and accessed from an angled laneway. The portion of the property with cultural heritage value or interest is limited to the farmhouse.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The property at 12862 Dixie Road meets criterion 1 for its design and physical value. The design and physical value of the property at 12862 Dixie Road relates to its c.1860s late-Neoclassical style farmhouse, constructed of red brick with buff brick detailing. The dwelling includes a rectangular main section and a rear ‘summer kitchen’ wing, forming a T-shaped plan. Its Neoclassical design elements include: symmetrical fenestration pattern on the south, east, and west elevations of the main residence; denticulated cornice with returned eaves creating the impression of a classical pediment; frieze with a band of Greek cross motifs; and centred front entrance with rectangular sidelights and transom. The farmhouse design is elevated by the use of Flemish bond brickwork on the front (south) façade and buff brick for the frieze, quoining, and jack-arch voussoirs.

The property at 12862 Dixie Road meets criterion 2 for its design and physical value. The dwelling’s interior millwork displays an exceptionally high degree of craftsmanship. In particular, the two front rooms retain original high baseboards, door and window surrounds, moulded window panels, and built-in cupboards. The distinctive, wide fluted door mouldings feature a corner trefoil motif symbolic of the Neoclassical style. While representative of the period, the dwelling’s original millwork and built-in cupboards are of an increasingly rare quality.

The property at 12862 Dixie Road meets criterion 4 for its historical or associative value. The historical or associative value of the property is found in its association with the Thornton family, members of whom supported the development of the nearby crossroads hamlet of Mayfield in the mid-19^th century and served such community roles as postmaster and Justice of the Peace.

Description of Heritage Attributes

Heritage attributes that convey the property’s design value and physical value as a representative example of a vernacular farmhouse with Neoclassical influences:

One-and-a-half storey massing with cross-gable roof
T-shaped plan with one-storey brick ‘bump out’ on northwest façade of rear summer kitchen wing
Rubble stone foundation
Red brick construction with buff brick detailing, including:

frieze featuring a band of Greek Cross motifs
quoins
jack arch voussoirs

Flemish bond brick pattern on front (south) façade and common bond on all other façades
Brick water table
Projecting brick stringcourse between first and second storey on east and part of north façade of rectangular main section
Wood return eaves and soffits
Cornice with paired dentils
Symmetrical three-bay front (south) façade with centre entrance and flanking window openings
Front entrance with rectangular sidelights and transom
Symmetrical placement of original window openings, and

all extant six over six wood frame windows with wood surrounds
Wood casement windows with one-over one storm windows on the upper storey of the rear wing

All original wood lug sills
Placement of porches on the front (south) and side (east and west) façades, including:

Remnant chamfered posts on front façade
Wood ledger blocks of former wrap around porch on east façade

Heritage attributes that display the high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit of the property:

Interior millwork in two front rooms, including trim, baseboards, door mouldings, window panels and built-in cupboard

Attributes of the property that are not considered to be of cultural heritage value, or are otherwise not included in the Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest:

All other interior features
Modern elements of front porch
Enclosed side porches
Modern chimney on west façade of main dwelling
Brick and frame addition at rear of T-shaped dwelling
Shed/accessory building

Contact

Please contact Heritage staff at heritage@caledon.ca for further information regarding the cultural heritage value and heritage attributes of this property.

Right to Object

Any person may, within thirty days after publication of this notice, serve the Clerk notice of their objection to the proposed designation in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act, setting out the reason for the objection and all relevant facts.

By email:
Kevin Klingenberg
Town Clerk
kevin.klingenberg@caledon.ca

By mail, courier or personal delivery attention:
Kevin Klingenberg, Corporate Services/Town Clerk
6311 Old Church Road
Caledon ON L7C 1J6