BYLAW - Historic Designation Brooklands - 20080122 - 497607D"Brooklands"
The Sheppard Estate House & Grounds
(and associated buildings and features)
THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF AURORA
By-law Number 4976-07.0
BEING A BY-LAW to designate a certain Property as
being of Historical and/or Architectural Value or
Interest "Brooklands"-The Sheppard Estate House &
Grounds, 93 Industrial Parkway South
WHEREAS pursuant to Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S. 0. 1990, Chaptero.18,
the Council of a municipality is authorized to enact By-laws to designate a real property,
including all buildings and structures thereon, to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
AND WHEREAS the municipal council of the Corporation of the Town of Aurora has
cause to be served on the owners (and custodians) of the lands and premises at:
93 Industrial Parkway South
Aurora, ON
and up on the Ontario Heritage Trust (formerly the Ontario Heritage Foundation), notice
of intention to designate Brooklands: The Sheppard Estate & Grounds at 93 Industrial
Parkway South and a statement of the reasons for the proposed designation, and
further, has caused said notice of intention to be published in the Era Banner, being a
newspaper of general circulation in the municipality;
AND WHEREAS no notice of objection to the proposed designation has been served on
the municipality;
AND WHEREAS the reasons for designation are set out in Schedule "C" attached
hereto and form part of this By-law;
NOW THEREFORE THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION OF THE
TOWN OF AURORA ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
1. THAT the following real property, more particularly described in Schedules "A"
and "B" attached hereto and forming part of this By-law is hereby designated as
being of cultural heritage value or interest:
Brooklands: The Sheppard Estate & Grounds
93 Industrial Parkway South
Town of Aurora
The Regional Municipality of York
2. THAT the Town solicitor is hereby authorized to cause a copy of this By-law to be
registered against the property described in Schedules "A" and "B" attached
hereto at the Land Registry Office.
READ A FIRST AND SECOND TIME THIS 22N° DAY OF JANAURY, 2008.
READ A THIRD TIME AND FINALLY PASSED 22N° DAY OF JANUARY, 2008.
PHYLLIS M. MORRIS, MAYOR B. PANIZZA, TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF AURORA
l'J:iE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK
LOCATION: PT LT 79, CON 1 Whitchurch, Pt Lot 153,
PL 246, Designated as PTS 1, 2 & 3 65R227
and Part 1 65R2527, except PTS 1, 3, & 4,
65R2469
Town of Aurora, Regional Municipality of York
THIS IS SCHEDULE "A"
TO BY-LAW NO. 4976-07.0
PHYLLIS M. MORRIS, MAYOR
SUBJECT LANDS
SCHEDULE "A" TO BY-LAW NO. 4976-07.0
TOWN OF AURORA
THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK
/-,.~-.-,-,
cdCATION: PT L T 79, CON 1 Whitchurch, Pt Lot 153,
PL 246, Designated as PTS 1, 2 & 3 65R227
and Part 1 65R2527, except PTS 1, 3, & 4,
65R2469
Town of Aurora, Regional Municipality of York
• Estate Feature
1. Main House Charles H. Sheppard
2. The Two Storey Frame Garage
3. The Garden Shed
4. The Ice House/Root Store
5. The Sheppard Sugar Shack Shed
6. Main Estate Gate
7. Pefferlaw Log House
8. 1970s Sugar Shack
9. Farm Manager's Residence
1 0. Tennis Court
THIS IS SCHEDULE "B"
TO BY-LAW NO. 4976-07.D
PASSED THIS ;).).. DAY
OF .1ArJIAf1.4.'/ , 2008.
dD\-
BOB PANIZZA, CLERK
~
PHYLLIS M. MORRIS, MAYOR
-11. Avenue of Trees
· · ·•·· · 12. Driveway
13. Original Landscape
Plan (John E. Ramsdale)
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SCHEDULE "B" TO BY-LAW NO. 4976-07.0
BY-LAW 4976-07.0
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
By-law Number 4976-07.D
Page 4 of 9
Brooklands: The Sheppard Estate House & Grounds at 93 Industrial Parkway South
is recommended for designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act because
of its cultural heritage value or interest.
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value
Historical or Associative Value
"Brooklands" The Charles H. Sheppard House and Estate, located at 93 Industrial
Parkway South east has historical value as the home and estate of Charles Henry
Sheppard which was established in 1920/21 and lived in by the Sheppard family until
the 1970s. Charles Henry Sheppard is significant as a leading businessman in the
Georgian Bay Timber Trade and as a prominent member of the Aurora community,
serving as the Town Mayor in 1922. Since the 1970s, the property has been in
public ownership and has attained community significance as a conservation area
and park.
Architectural Value
"Brooklands" The Charles H. Sheppard House has architectural value an important
example English Arts and Crafts architecture from the early 20 1h Century, which was
designed by prominent Toronto architect Alvan Sherlock Mathers. The outbuildings
on the estate such as the garage, ice house, Sheppard sugar shack, frame shed,
and entry gate also have architectural value, as do the Pefferlaw log house and 1978
sugar shack, introduced to the site in the 1970s, which serve as rare reminders of
the early pioneer buildings and industries in Aurora. Historic landscape features
associated with the former estate residential use of the property, such as paths,
plantings and tennis court as implemented from the circa 1920s landscape plan for
the property as completed by John E. Ramsdale of the Horticulture Department,
University of Guelph are of value as elements of landscape architecture.
The interior of Brooklands is one of the most outstanding and intact architecturally
designed interiors of this period of home in Aurora if not the region. The house
features elements of the Arts and Crafts and Edwardian influences. Since the
building was an estate house, built for a wealthy individual and designed by a
prominent architect, the features at Brooklands are of a higher quality and more
innovative design than interiors of other houses of the period in Aurora.
Contextual Value
"Brooklands": The Sheppard House & Estate has contextual value as a significant
cultural heritage landscape and reminder of the estate of a prominent Ontario
businessman located on the edge of the historic old town of Aurora. The 2.2 acres
of deciduous woodland (including sugar bush) and fields, and elements relating to
the John R. Ramsdale landscape plan (including planting schemes, placement of
buildings, and gateposts) contribute to the site's significance.
Description of Heritage Attributes
The Description of Heritage Attributes includes the following heritage attributes and
applies to all elevations and the roof including all facades, entrances, windows,
chimneys, and trim, together with construction materials of wood, brick, stone, plaster
parging, metal and glazing, their related building techniques and landscape features:
Exterior Elements
Main House:
• Historic roofline
• Historic stucco exterior;
• Historic porches and sleeping porches;
• Historic exterior doors;
• Historic brick foundation exterior;
By-law Number 4976-07 .D
Page 5 of9
• Historic soffits and facia located beneath modern aluminium;
• Historic window openings;
• Historic metal roof vent;
• Historic wood windows;
• Historic wood window storms (only remaining in the main floor and second storey
sleeping porches, and small square windows in the main floor living room)
• Historic chimney
• Datestone on chimney
• Note: The inclusion of exterior elements in the designation does not preclude
normal maintenance undertaken with regard for the identified significant exterior
elements. Normal maintenance may include: painting, stucco repair, repair of
soffits, facia, re-shingling in the existing or historic materials, restoration of
exterior stairs, etc.
Interior Elements
Overall
• Historic floor plan;
• Historic trim;
• Historic doors;
• Historic windows;
• Historic built in cabinetry;
• Historic hardware;
• Historic staircase;
• Historic ceilings;
• Historic fireplaces;
• Historic fixtures;
• Note: The inclusion of interior elements in the designation does not preclude
normal maintenance undertaken with regard for the identified significant
interior elements. Normal maintenance may include: electrical, plumbing,
heating, and painting of interior plaster walls.
Entrance Hall/Stairway
• Wood front door;
• Secondary front door
• Hardwood door;
• Dark wood finish baseboard;
• Historic radiators;
• Paneled oak staircase with Arts and Crafts detailing
• Dark wood door surrounds;
• Dark wood window surrounds;
• Historic wood windows;
• Pocket doors into the living room
• Historic door hardware;
• Historic plaster walls and caved ceilings;
• Historic wood hand rails;
• Historic newel posts;
• Historic railings;
First Floor Living Room -Dining Room
• Hardwood floor
• Dark wood finish base board
By-law Number 4976-07 .D
Page 6 of9
• Dark wood finish pocket doors to living room (1) and dining room (2)
• Period radiators
• Brown brick fireplace with decorative dark wood mantle and tiled hearth;
• Built-in dark wood book cases flanking the fire with crystal handles
• Built-in dining room cabinets made of dark wood with leaded glass doors;
• Dark wood picture rail
• Historic door hardware
• Historic multi-paned glazed doors;
• Historic radiator cover;
• Historic wood windows with Historic wood window storms;
• Historic plaster walls and caved ceilings;
• Iron fireplace guard
• Note: The metal Arts and Crafts hanging lamp fixture (currently detached) is
also Historic and should be retained in the house;
First Floor Kitchen
• Historic wood built in kitchen cabinetry, honey coloured and hardware
(excluding modern counter and sink);
• Historic wood faced, built in ice box with Historic hardware;
• Historic wood baseboard (honey coloured)
• Historic window and door surround;
• Historic servants call box;
• Historic radiator;
• Historic wood ladder door and hardware;
• Historic dumb waiter
• Historic windows;
First Floor Sleeping Porch
• Historic wood sash multi-paned windows and Historic wood storms and
screens;
• Historic door;
• Historic wood panels and trim;
• Historic wood floor;
• Historic wood ceiling
Second Floor
• Hardwood floor
• Stair rail and pickets
• Wood base board
• Brown brick fireplace with decorative dark wood mantle;
• Historic door hardware;
• Historic doors;
• Historic multi-paned glazed doors;
• Historic radiator;
• Historic wood windows and surrounds;
• Historic plaster walls and caved ceilings (excepting the modern drop
replacement ceiling in back bedroom);
• Historic picture rail;
Second Floor Sleeping Porches
• Historic wood sash multi-paned windows and Historic wood storms and
screens;
• Historic door;
• Historic wood panels and trim;
• Historic wood floor;
• Historic wood ceiling
Third Floor
• Hardwood floor
• Stair rail and pickets
• Wood base board
By-law Number 4976-07 .D
Page 7 of9
• Brown brick fireplace with decorative dark wood mantle;
• Historic door hardware
• Historic doors;
• Historic radiator;
• Historic wood windows and surrounds;
• Historic and restored plaster walls and ceilings;
• Historic picture rail;
Basement
• Historic built-in root cellar;
• Staircase;
Other Elements of the Property worthy of Conservation
• The Two Storey Frame Garage:
· • Wood exterior;
• Historic windows;
• Historic garage doors;
• Historic roof shape;
• The Garden Shed
• Historic windows;
• Historic door;
• Historic wood exterior
• Historic roof shape;
• The Ice House/Root Store
• Historic form;
• Historic wood exterior
• Historic openings;
• Note: This building is in need of considerable repair, replacement with like
materials to facilitate repair is supported
• The Sheppard Sugar Shack Shed & Evaporator
• Historic door;
• Historic wood exterior
• Historic roof shape;
• Interior apparatus for maple syrup production, including evaporator, cast
iron pans, pulley system, brick base;
• Main Estate Gate
• Brick piers;
• Historic wood railing;
• Note: This feature is in need of considerable repair, replacement with like
materials to facilitate repair is supported.
• Pefferlaw Log House
• Placement in the Sheppard's Sugar Bush (Note: Although a historic
building, it is not Historic to this location)
• Historic log exterior;
• Historic openings;
• Historic shape;
• 1970s Sugar Shack & Historic shed
By-law Number 4976-07.0
Page 8 of 9
• Placement of this modern wood frame building in the context of the
Sheppard Estate & Grounds;
• Remaining features of historic portion of the Historic shed, including wood
frame and cladding underneath current wood exterior
• Farm Manager's Residence
• Historic 1 Y, storey form;
• Side gable roof;
• Bracketed entrance hood;
• Multi-pane upper sash windows;
• Historic Landscape Plan (John E. Ramsdalel
• Evidence of the Historic landscape plan as completed by John E.
Ramsdale of the Horticulture Department, University of Guelph, c.1922.
• Plantings
• Beds
• Tennis Court
• Pathways
• Driveway
• Note: The designation of the elements of the Historic landscape plan
does not preclude normal landscape management practices undertaken
at the sole discretion of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority,
nor does it preclude efforts to restore the Historic landscape plan as
designed by John E. Ramsdale, based on thorough research including
species of trees, pergolas, plantings, pathways, etc. nor does it preclude
the location of alternative energy devices beneath the tennis court subject
to restoration of the tennis court.
• Avenues of Trees
• The avenue of spruce trees along the north pathway from the site;
• Note: The designation of the avenue of trees does not preclude normal
forest management practices undertaken at the sole discretion of the Lake
Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
• Sugar Bush
• Mature trees influenced and utilized by human activity.
• Note: The designation of the bush does not preclude normal forest
management practices undertaken at the sole discretion of the Ontario
Heritage Trust and Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
Explanatory Note
Re: Heritage Designation By-law No. 4976.07.0
By-law Number 4976-07.0
Page 9 of9
By-law Number 4976.07.0 the following purpose and effect:
To designate the property at 93 Industrial Parkway South as a property of cultural
heritage value or interest pursuant to the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O,.
1990, Chapter 0.18, Part IV, Section 29.