BYLAW - Heritage Designation 16-18 Mosley St (Salvation Army Citadel) - 20230523 - 6503-23The Corporation of the Town of Aurora
By-law Number 6503-23
Being a By-law to designate a property to be of cultural heritage value or
interest (16-18 Mosley Street l'The Salvation Army Citadel").
Whereas under subsection 2 €)(1) of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1 9C)0, c. 0.18, as
amended, the council of a municipality may, by by-law, designate a property within the
municipality to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
And whereas on June 28, 2022, the Council of The Corporation of the Town of Aurora
(the IlTown") approved the recommendations contained in Report No. PDS22-042 to
designate the property municipally known as 16-1 8 Mosley Street, as described on the
attached Schedule I'A" (the l'Property") to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
And whereas the Town Clerk caused notice of the intention to designate the Property to
be served on the owner of the Property and the Ontario Heritage Trust and published in
a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality;
And whereas there were no objections to the proposed designation of the Property
served on the Town, or a person who has served a notice of objection has withdrawn
the objection;
And whereas the Council of the Town deems it necessary and expedient to enact a by-
law to designate the Property to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
Now therefore the Council of The Corporation of the Town of Aurora hereby enacts
as follows:
1.The Property, as described on the attached Schedule 'IA", be and is hereby
designated to be of cultural heritage value or interest.
2.A statement explaining the cultural heritage value or interest of the Property and
a description of the heritage attributes of the Property are set out on the attached
Schedule IIB".
3.The Town Clerk shall serve a copy of this by-law on the owner of the Property and
the Ontario Heritage Trust and publish notice of this by-law in a newspaper
having general circulation in the municipality.
4.A copy of this by-law shall be registered against the Property in the appropriate
land registry office.
Enacted by Town of Aurora Council this 23rd day of May, 2023.
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Michael de Rond, Town Clerk
By-law Number 6503-23 Page 2 of 4
Schedule “A”
Description of Property
All and singular those certain parcels or tracts of land and premises situate, lying and
being in the Town of Aurora, in the Regional Municipality of York, municipally known as
16-18 Mosley Street, and being composed of Lot 1 N/S Mosley St PL 68 Aurora, being all
of PIN 03651-0044 (LT), including the primary building thereon.
By-law Number 6503-23 Page 3 of 4
Schedule “B”
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
16-18 Mosley Street is of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest based on its design and
physical value, historical and associative value, and contextual value.
Design and Physical Value:
The chapel building on the property is 2.5 storeys and is representative of Gothic Revival
architecture with some Classical design influences. The building represents a high
degree of craftmanship and artistic merit specifically in relation to the brick pilasters,
lancet windows, mouldings, pediment roof and open gabled roof oculus. The building is
also a highly rare and unique example of the Gothic Revival style influenced by Classical
elements with construction occurring over 160 years ago. The 1.5 storey parsonage is
representative of an early Ontario cottage and represents skilled craftmanship in its
build form with a centred hall plan and gabled roofline. The integrity of both buildings
and contributions to the streetscape are of high value.
Historical and Associative Value:
The property was originally purchased by the Canadian Wesleyan Methodist New
Connexion Church in 1856. The land was purchased from John Mosley, one of the
original landowners and subdividers of historic Aurora (Machell’s Corners). Within the
same year of 1856 the chapel was constructed, and then the church parsonage was
built in 1888, the same year as the Town of Aurora’s incorporation. The property served
as a chapel and religious property for the Methodists from 1856 to 1885. In 1885, the
property was then purchased by the Salvation Army Church. The property and buildings
were used as part of the Aurora “Salvation Army Citadel” from 1885 to 1972, a span of
87 years. The naming of the building as Citadel was in keeping with Salvationist
convention to use military terminology for their operations and in this case the name of
their church building.
The property offers unique insight into the progression and evolution of the Methodist
Church and Salvation Army within the Town and has significance to the local
community by being a historically significant central hub for socio-religious activities.
Contextual Value:
The property defines, maintains and supports the historic character of the Aurora
downtown core and Town Park area. The existing chapel and cottage dwelling on site
were both functionally linked and supported the functions of the place of worship. The
property is also historically linked to its surroundings as the Wesleyan Methodist New
Connexion Church were a subset of the original Wesleyan Methodist Church located at
Yonge and Tyler Streets. The property is within a unique and significant streetscape
along Mosley Street and is considered a landmark due to its uniqueness and
orientation/proximity to Yonge Street.
Description of Heritage Attributes
The following provides a description of heritage attributes for the property which
contribute to the reasons for which the property is of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest.
Important to the preservation of the property are the original key attributes of the
building that express its value, which include:
By-law Number 6503-23 Page 4 of 4
Exterior Elements
Chapel
• Overall 2.5 storey massing of the chapel building composed of brick
• Decorative brickwork including brick pilasters
• Open gabled shallow pitched roofline with deep soffits and fascia including
Classical pediment like gable
• All original lancet window openings with spandrels and mouldings
• Oculus louvered window with quatrefoil design in gable on front façade
• Original rough stone foundation
Parsonage
• Overall 1.5 storey massing composed of wood framing
• Open gabled medium pitched roofline
• Symmetrical front façade with centre hall design
• Original window coverings and door openings