1990-024 Medonte
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CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MEJX)NTE
BY-LAW NUMBER 1990-24
A BY-IAW of the Corporation of the Township of Medonte, to designate the lands
and buildings known municipally as the south-east comer of penetanguishene Road
and Mill Street in the Village of Hillsdale, in the County of Simcoe, and having
the legal description as set out in "Schedule A" hereto, as a property of
historical and architectural value and interest under The Ontario Heritage Act,
~ 1974, R.S.O. 1980, Ch. 337.
WHEREAS it has been proposed to the Council that the above described
property be so designated pursuant to The Ontario Heritage Act, 1974,
AND WHEREAS Notice of Intention to Designate has been given to the owner
and to The Ontario Heritage Foundation pursuant to the Act,
~ AND KM THEREFORE the Council of the Corporation of the Township of
Medonte, enacts as follows:
1 . The property described as the South-east comer of penetanguishene
Road and Mill Street, Hillsdale, and having the legal description set
out in "Schedule A" hereto, is designated as a property of historic
and architectural value and interest.
2. The information set out in "Schedule B" hereto are adopted as the
reasons for designation.
READ the First, Second and Third time and finally passed this 13th Day of
August 1 990.
THE CDRPORATION OF THE 'IDWNSHIP OF
MEJX)NTE
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THE CDRPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MEJX)NTE
SCHEDULE A - BY-LAW NUMBER 1990-24
ALL AND SINGULAR that certain parcel or tract of land premises, sit-
uate, lying and being in the Village of Hillsdale, in the Township
of Medonte, in the County of Simcoe, and being composed of part of
Lots 2 and 8, on Registered Plan No. 145 and Plan 261A, for the said
Village of Hillsdale, and which is more particularly described as
follows:
COMMENCING at the intersection of the easterly boundary of King's
Highway No. 93, with the Southerly bounda~y of Mill Street, in the
said Village of Hilldsale;
THENCE Easterly along the said Southerly boundary of Mill Street, a
distance of 140.0 feet to an iron bar;
TP..ENCE South 42 degrees, 30 minutes East, 221.10 feet to a point;
THENCE North 57 degrees, 43 minutes, 30 seconds West, 207.90 feet
to a point;
THENCE South 45 degrees, 28 minutes, 10 seconds West, 342.59 feet
to the Easterly boundary of King's Highway No. 93:
THENCE Northerly along the said Easterly boundary of King's High-
way No. 93, a distance of 295.0 feet to the point of commencement.
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THE CDRPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MEJX)NTE
SCHEDULE "B" BY-LAW NUMBER 1990-24
REASONS FOR DESIGNATION
The present O'Neil House Hotel building is believed to have
been built in 1882, on a tavern and half-way house stand dating
from about 1850.
The site of the building is historically important, bordering
on the Old penetanguishene Road, (deviation road) at approxi-
mately the midpoint between Barrie and Penetanguishene. The stand
was therefore an important stage coach stop and it was here that
the horses were changed. The present building is believed to be
the last remaining example of the hotels which were once numerous
on the Penetanguishene Road.
The structure is a frame building, probably with some timber
frame elements. It stands virtually in its original state, with
very little loss or alteration. The overall plan is a "T" lay-
out, but the easterly "Tail" was probably built at the same time
as the main section, or within a few years. The building is l~
stories, with a centre hall and stair which services the entire
building, and a small service stair in the rear. Some of the ex-
terior (apparently original) stucco or pebble-dash finish remains
with virtually all of the exterior door and windO\v trim, belt
coursing, soffits and facia. The dado which remains on the west
front is an addition of about 1910. The original porch is lost,
but is clearly shown in existing photographs.
Inside, the south portion of the main block is the mens be-
verage room (with a separate door to the street) with the tap
room behind. It retains the original blue painted, shoulder
height dado. In the north portion were two rooms (the partition
has been lost), one of which has a panalled dado, very unusual
in Simcoe County. Upstairs in the north part of the main block
is what appears to have been a ball room ( it was once used as
a billiards room). The rest of the building appears to have been
rooms for guests, but there must have been a winter kitchen as well.
Of particular importance is the survival of a great deal of
original paint finish in the interior.
Also of special interest are the unusual and perhaps unique
shape of the window frames and sash and the panel designs of the
front door.
The important characteristics and features worthy of desig-
nation and protection are:
. l. the original room layout and building perimeter plan;
2. the location, size and designs of the doors and windows;
3. the exterior stucco finish and the accompanying wood trim i
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4. the roofline and chimneys;
5. the location and elevation of the building with the
ground floor just above ground level;
6. the interior painted wood trim, mouldings, doors,
painted wooded floors, and dad os;
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the door latches, hinges, and builder's hardwa.re through-
out;
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the lathe and plaster interior finish;
the wooden window sash.
and