More history gets protected in Pickering
Jan 13, 2006
By Danielle Milley Staff Writer
PICKERING -- A Pickering heritage group moved recently to protect the birthplace of the NDP.
Heritage Pickering made a presentation at the Jan. 9 Pickering executive meeting asking committee members to endorse its recommendation to designate two properties on Whitevale Road as heritage properties.
"These homes are the extension of the Whitevale community as they were some time ago," said Pamela Fuselli, committee chairwoman.
The first home is the Willson House, located at 1505 Whitevale Rd. The one-and-a-half storey, brick-clad house was built in 1861 by Casper Willson. Willson family members have played a key role in Pickering's history. Descendents lived in the home until 2001, when it was bought by Ms. Fuselli and her family.
http://tinyurl.com/aoo9g "They are as eager as our committee to see the property designated," she said of Doug Willson and his wife, Margaret Phyllis Willson, who were in the audience.
Ms. Fuselli said the home retains many of its original architectural details.
The other home the committee wants designated is the Glen House, at 1690 Whitevale Rd. The home appears to pre-date 1840 and the barn on the property pre-dates the 1860s.
http://tinyurl.com/8hq2u "There are many wonderful attributes to this home built more than 120 years ago," Ms. Fuselli said.
But it's real historical significance comes from a meeting held there is 1932.
Andrew Glen, president of the Labour Party of Toronto, bought the home in 1923 and in June 1932 held a meeting of socialist groups there, with J.S. Woodsworth in attendance. A resolution was passed at that meeting asking Mr. Woodsworth to form a national socialist conference, which he did later that year out west when he formed the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, the precursor of the NDP.
The home is located in Seaton and is currently owned by the provincial government.
Councillors were supportive of the request.
"Heritage isn't something that comes around a second time," said Ward 1 Regional Councillor Maurice Brenner, adding if the properties don't get designated they'll become part of the sprawl when Seaton is developed.
Mayor Dave Ryan said he'd have reservations about designating the Glen House if it wasn't government owned.
"I would not be as comfortable if that second property wasn't owned by the Province but instead was privately owned," he said. "If this was a home in private ownership and the owner wasn't before us supporting the motion I'd have a problem supporting it."
Executive committee passed the recommendation to designate the properties, which will now go to council for final approval.
In Ms. Fuselli's presentation, she said Heritage Pickering would also like interim controls put in place on Whitevale Road extending from the current Heritage Conservation District boundary, to the east of the hamlet of Whitevale, to east of Brock Road. The committee said it needs the time and money to study the heritage value of the area.
That request is going to be considered at a future meeting.
http://www.durhamr...848p-3777901c.html
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