BYLAW - Heritage Designation 57 Mosley St (Aurora Masonic Hall) - 20230523 - 6516-23The Corporation of the Town of Aurora
By-law Number 6516-23
Being a By-law to designate a property to be of cultural heritage value or
interest (57 Mosley Street 'lAurora Masonic Hall").
Whereas under subsection 29(1) of the Ontario HeritageAct, R.S.O. 19 €)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 'lTown") approved the recommendations contained in Report No. PDS22-042, to
designate the property municipally known as 57 Mosley Street, as described on the
attached Schedule 'IA" (the "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served on the Town, or a person who has served a notice of objection has withdrawn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 "A", 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 I'B".
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.
By-law Number 6516-23 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
57 Mosley Street, and being composed of PT LT 11 S/S Mosley St Pl 68 Aurora, PT LT
12 S/S Mosley St PL 68 Aurora, PT LT 13 S/S Mosley St PL 68 Aurora as in AU842
except B24492B, being all of PIN 03651-0089 (LT), including the primary building
thereon.
By-law Number 6516-23 Page 3 of 4
Schedule “B”
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
57 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 property is a unique and well preserved example of the Gothic Revival architectural
style. The building displays a high degree of design detail and craftmanship including
through the steeply pitched front gabled roof, brickwork, lancet shaped window
openings, polychromatic brick voussoirs, bargeboard with a quatrefoil design in the
gable peak, stone foundation, and wood brackets under the eaves. The property
possesses a highly unique and detailed design character while displaying significant
artistic merit as a rare and well-preserved example of the Gothic architectural style.
Historical and Associative Value:
The building was originally owned by the Methodist Episcopal Church, who were
responsible for the construction of the building circa 1877. The property was then sold
to the Masons in 1885. The Masonic Lodge has operated on the property for over a
century, as a key institutional and community hub. The property has direct associations
with the theme of Aurora’s growth and helps to yield a greater understanding of our
community and culture.
Contextual Value:
The property defines, maintains and supports the historic character the area and is
significantly important as a landmark for the intersection of Wells and Mosley Streets
directly adjacent to the historic Town Park. The steep gabled roof and detailed
craftmanship enhance the streetscape and the property is highly important in linking
with the early growth of the Town especially as a key institutional site and place of
community gathering. Key views and vistas of the property exist from the road and also
from the Town Park itself.
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:
Exterior Elements
• Overall single storey scale and massing with a steeply pitched gabled roof
• Brick construction with stone foundation
• Bargeboard in the gable peaks and wood brackets under the eaves on the east
and west elevations
• Polychromatic brick voussoirs
• Buttresses on the north and south elevations
By-law Number 6516-23 Page 4 of 4
• Lancet window openings and all other original window and door openings
• Brick chimney at the west elevation
• Gabled wood frame vestibule at the north elevation