Downtown core

The heritage value of the Market Hall and Clock Tower resides in its importance as a market place and cultural facility to Peterborough for more than a century. It is an excellent example of the work of local architect John E. Belcher, and one of only a few 19th century Ontario market buildings still in existence.

It is a landmark and valued example of late 19th century commercial architecture. Mayor James Stevenson laid the cornerstone in the fall of 1889 and it officially opened in 1890. It was constructed by building contractor Thomas Rutherford. A farmer's market operated inside and outside the building for decades, until the advent of the modern supermarket curtailed business. Its importance to the community led to its restoration and re-purchase by the City in 2000.

The heritage value of St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church is as the oldest church in Peterborough, being in continuous use since 1834. It is among the earliest Anglican churches in British North America that were built in stone using a Gothic Revival design. Using stone from a local quarry, it is an excellent example of an early English Gothic Revival structure. Construction commenced in 1834, and the first service was held in the unfinished building in 1836. The first rector was the Reverend R. H. D’Olier, a native of Dublin, Ireland. Architect John W. Howard’s standard design for a small church was customized for Peterborough by Kingston architect, William Coverdale. The building underwent extensive renovations in 1852 and 1882 under the directions of Kivas Tully and John E. Belcher, respectively. Other noted architects such as William Blackwell, and the firm of Craig and Zeidler have done work on the church throughout the century.

The heritage value of Confederation Park resides it being the location of Peterborough's only burial ground between 1825 and 1851. This land was purchased in 1825 with a land grant from the Canada Company and was shared by the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church and Church of Scotland for burials. By the mid 1840's, the burying ground was running short of space, and in 1851 the cemetery was closed and many of the Protestant remains were moved to the new cemetery at Little Lake, or the Methodist cemetery, now known as Pioneer Park.

The heritage value of Confederation Park also lies in it use as a park space throughout the years. From 1875 to 1884 the area was used as an agricultural park. In 1884 the Town Council granted money to the Agricultural Society to set up decorative gardens for the new "Central Park" because the livestock barns were considered an eyesore. In 1975, to mark the Sesquicentennial anniversary of the Peter Robinson immigration, a large flowerbed was placed at the front entrance of the park, opposite City Hall.

The heritage value of Confederation Park is also embodied through the three memorials in the square. The first, a drinking fountain was erected in 1886 in memory of Captain Edward T. Brown, a grandson of Thomas Stewart, one of the original settlers of Douro Township, now part of Peterborough. Captain Brown was the only local militia member to die in the Northwest Rebellion in 1885. Constructed of Ohio sandstone, the memorial was designed by local and noted architect and engineer, John E. Belcher.

The second memorial is dedicated to Peterborough's fatalities of World War One. Designed by Walter Seymour Allward, the creator of the Vimy Ridge Memorial in France, the citizens of Peterborough erected this monument, which was unveiled in 1929. In 1978, bronze plaques were attached to the base of the Cenotaph, with the names of war dead from the Second World War and the Korean conflict added to the original World War One Honour Roll.

The third memorial was erected in 1967 by the ex-servicewomen’s branch 452 of the Royal Canadian Legion. The monument invites visitors to view the names of the Peterborough’s casualties of war in the Honour Roll in City Hall.

The house was built in 1857 for William Malcolm, a Scottish immigrant and machinist who owned a local iron foundry. The Malcolm House is especially interesting due to its architectural style and construction method. The adaptation of the Greek Revival style to such a small dwelling is rare in the Peterborough area. The gable front facade of the house extends into a pediment, which forms the roof of the verandah, and is supported by square columns; these features give the house its Classical appearance. The method of construction is stacked plank, which was used in Peterborough during its boom period of timber output in the 1850s and 1860s.

The heritage value of the Peterborough Family YMCA building resides in association with some of Canada's leading architects, which include local architect William Blackwell and his son Walter Blackwell. Built in 1895 and originally designed by William Blackwell, this substantial Victorian structure has Romanesque Revival features that are also captured in the 1930s addition designed by Walter Blackwell.

The Peterborough Family YMCA building's heritage value also resides in its contribution to the downtown streetscape. As well as being an imposing physical presence, it is an anchor building to an important Civic Square in Peterborough, which, in addition to other public buildings, includes the City Hall and the Armouries.

The Peterborough Family YMCA building is also important because of its association with the Young Men's Christian Association. Built with the funding of local benefactress, Charlotte Nicholls, it served as the home for this growing Association. A number of different facilities have been included in the building over the years, including dormitories, a bowling alley, billiard hall, gymnasium, and pools.

Built in 1873, George Street (Emmanuel) United Church is a Gothic Revival style building constructed of grey brick, which occupies a prominent site at the northern end of Peterborough's civic centre.

George Street (Emmanuel) United Church's heritage value lies in it being the only example in the City of Peterborough of the work of the noted Toronto architect Henry Langley and of this particular style of Gothic Revival architecture. Built in the form of the Latin cross, its high tower is visible from many vantage points within the City and on its outskirts from its prominent location in the north end of the downtown core.

The Morrow Building's heritage value resides in it being one of the City of Peterborough's last and most ornate commercial buildings in the French Second Empire style. Designed by John E. Belcher, one of early Peterborough's most prominent architects, it features a square mansard roof cut with dormers, high windows with elaborate surrounds and the cast iron details typical of this style.

Financed by Robert A. Morrow and built in 1878-1879, it was originally used as the local Post Office. The Post Office vacated the space in 1888, the building has been used for many different commercial purposes. Recently restored, the building is significant in the context of the historic downtown streetscape that anchors a corner lot in the downtown core.

The Fair-Bierk Building is a good example of mid-Victorian commercial architecture, and of the work of Buffalo, New York, architect John H. Selkirk. The building has been important to Peterborough's downtown since its construction in 1860. Architect John H. Selkirk designed many similar commercial and industrial structures. It was built as a store for grocers Thomas Bradburn and James Stevenson. Following Bradburn's retirement in 1890, Robert Fair operated a dry goods store in the building for over 40 years. It has also housed the Singer Sewing Machine Company, and the Thomas Bata Shoe store. In 1998, it was bought by the postmodern artist David Bierk for a gallery, studio, and shop.

Built circa 1870, and associated with John J. Lundy, mayor of Peterborough from 1879 to 1880, who built the Lundy Building along with the block of buildings that originally continued south around the corner of King Street.

The Lundy Building is valued for its architectural integrity and decorative elements. The mansard roof and decorative elements of the 1880s remain only on 285 and 285A George Street North. The unique cedar shingle pattern and ornate gable dormer window surround are distinguishing features of this building, along with the corbelled brickwork below the Mansard roof. The building is the last remaining section to retain the original detailing of the building block. The Lundy Building is representative of the 19th century commercial streetscape of downtown Peterborough, at a time when the area was the focal point of commercial activity in the City.

The Dixon-Stevenson Bradburn Building is a good example of a mid-Victorian commercial structure. The building contributes to a grouping of nineteenth century commercial structures which provide an excellent representation of Peterborough’s downtown core at a time when it served as the hub of commerce in the city. This structure was originally two separate buildings, the north portion belonging to the Stevenson-Bradburn building, and the south portion belonging to Margaret Dixon’s building. The buildings were connected by Grafton’s Men’s Store to create a large storefront around 1918.

Historically, the Dixon-Stevenson-Bradburn Building is linked to several of the largest landowners of nineteenth century Peterborough. The owners of 381 George Street North were James Stevenson, Peterborough’s 5th mayor and MP, and his business partner, Thomas Bradburn, who was the largest individual landowner in Peterborough at the time of his death. The title-holder of the other half of the building, Margaret Dixon, also owned a significant amount of land in the downtown core of Peterborough.

The Yelland building is historically significant in its connection to William Yelland, a local businessman and politician who built 464 George Street North for his blacksmith and carriage business. Yelland was heavily involved in local politics, serving as a councillor for 13 years before being elected as Peterborough's 15th mayor in 1896 and again in 1897. As Mayor, Yelland fashioned himself as a representative of the workingman, and his carriage shop was often used as a space for political discussion. Over the years, the building has served a variety of commercial purposes, and survived several fires.

Architecturally, it possesses simple Victorian features such as recessed brick panels, di-chromatic brickwork, and wood framed windows. There is also evidence of historic additions, seen through the three different distinct foundations. The Yelland Building has value in its representation of a utilitarian 19th century commercial building, and contribution to the heritage character of George Street. It is representative of a period in Peterborough's history when the downtown was the centre of commerce, industry and politics.

The Former Peterborough Post Office and Customs Building was called “the most modern post office in Canada” at the time of its construction, and the building is representative of contemporary innovation in both architecture and technology. Designed to replace the old Post Office at Hunter and Water Streets, construction began on the new building in 1952. The grand opening of the new Post Office on June 27, 1955, was attended by the Hon. Robert Winters, Minister of Public Works, and the Deputy Post Master General, W. J. Turnbull. It also has excellent historic value as a representative of both the changing faces of technology, and the increasing public demand for new technology. The new facility was provided with top of the line equipment, including a high tech sorting machine imported from Holland, the Transorma, which was the first of its kind in Canada, and capable of sorting 15,000 pieces of mail per hour. The federal building was also outfitted with state-of-the-art closed circuit TV cameras to monitor employees anywhere in the building. The addition of the “snorkel”, a drive-through mail slot, was another ‘first’ in Canada.

The Former Peterborough Post Office and Customs Building has significant architectural value as an excellent example of the Modern style. Constructed in the mid 1950s, the building was designed to make use of new construction techniques such as curtain walls in order to create long bands of horizontal windows that span the building’s exterior.

Built in 1867 by George A. Cox, the Pappas Building is a significant contributor to the 19th century fabric of the downtown streetscape. The building continues the facades of three-storey, 19th century structures looking north on George Street.

It is an excellent representation of a Victorian commercial building. The three storey solid brick building displays the original fenestration set in recessed masonry panels. Details such as the elaborate hood moulding surrounding the 2nd and 3rd storey windows are intrinsic to its heritage character.

The Pappas building been operating as a billiard hall since the late 1930's and is currently the home of Pappas Billiards (2005). One of the earliest occupants was Adam Hall's Stove and Wrought Iron business, which occupied 407 George Street North for over thirty years..

Within the context of the development of Peterborough's education system, Central School is extremely important. Built on the site of Peterborough's first log schoolhouse, Central School, or Union School as it was originally named, was built to replace both common and grammar schools in the area. Construction started in 1857, and the new school opened on January 3, 1860. The school soon exceeded its capacity of 400 students, and in 1871, a new school building was built to the west of the original structure to provide additional space. Another classroom addition was built in 1891 on the rear of the original building, as well as a new gymnasium in the mid 1890s. The 1860 and 1871 buildings are currently physically linked in yet another (modern) addition.

Central School remains important to the thousands of local students (and their families) who graduated over the years. Included among the alumni is the Right Honourable Lester B. Pearson, Prime Minister of Canada, and Nobel Peace Prize winner. Pearson, who lived in Peterborough while his father was the minister at George Street Methodist Church, graduated from Central School in 1908. Pearson returned to Peterborough for Central School's 100th Anniversary in 1960.

A dominant feature on the streetscape, Central School remains a good example of the Italianate style, despite past renovations. The projecting frontispiece (that was formerly a tower), wide overhanging eaves, and tall windows are hallmarks of the style, as is the low-hipped roof on the original building. The 1871 addition retains similar features to the original structure, but is not as emphatically Italianate in style.

168 Brock Street has good architectural and historical value. A well-preserved example of the French Second Empire style, the building retains its mansard roof and main entrance. Built circa 1870, the building is a good representative example of changing trends in local architecture. A number of commercial and luxurious residential buildings in Peterborough were built in the Second Empire style, and earlier buildings were sometimes updated with the ostentatious fittings of the day in order to remain stylistically current in the 1870s and 1880s. 168 Brock Street however is a good example of the French Second Empire style as it was interpreted for middle class residential housing. The building, in this context, is rare in the Peterborough area, where middle class housing is dominated by a more restrained Edwardian style characterized by hip or gable roofs.

The historical value of the building lies with its connections to Charles Perry, Mayor of Peterborough, and the first Peterborough MP for the new Canadian House of Commons in 1867. Charles Perry was the cousin of Aylesworth Bowen Perry, Commissioner of the North West Mounted Police during the Red River Rebellion. The Perry family owned the house until 1892, when Charles Perry’s widow sold it to the newly formed YWCA to use as housing for young women. The YWCA used the property as their headquarters for several years before they moved to larger accommodations on Simcoe Street.

In 1925, the second and third floors were transformed into the Brock Apartments. A variety of tenants and commercial occupants have passed through the building in the past 80 years.

Built in 1862 by James T. Henthorne, 414-416 George Street North has good historical and architectural value. It is part of a block that consisted of original wooden frame structures, which were eventually replaced by brick.

The building has architectural value as a well-preserved representative example of a nineteenth century commercial building. It continues the facades of 3 storey Victorian structures that dominate this section of the George Street streetscape, and retains historic architectural elements such as fenestration and cornice line.

Historically, the building was divided into commercial storefronts on the lower levels, with residential apartments on the second and third floors for many years. Both 414 and 416 George Street North have seen a variety of tenants and businesses pass through the premises. 414 George Street North was a confectionary shop for over 75 years, owned and operated by Harry Long from 1883 to 1906. In 1907 the business was taken over by Thomas Hooper, who ran an award winning confectionary and catering business until his death in 1961.

Built in the early 1880s by local developer David Henthorne, Clancy’s Hotel has excellent cultural heritage value.

Clancy’s Hotel has excellent historical value as one of the oldest operating public houses in Peterborough. Used as a tavern and saloon since its construction in 1883, the first proprietors of Clancy’s Hotel were John Sullivan and John Clancy. The name of the hotel/tavern was to change almost as often as the proprietors, from Clancy’s to the Peterborough House to the American Hotel/House, Brownie’s Tavern and back again. The proprietors have included: J. Head, Samuel Long, H. Blodgett, Frank and Eugene Sheedy, and Ray McGregor.

In more recent years, the Legendary Red Dog, one of three pubs currently operating in the building, has become a renowned entertainment venue. The pub has hosted such notable Canadian entertainers as Neil Young, Sarah McLachlan, The Tragically Hip, Jeff Healey, the Cowboy Junkies, Ronnie Hawkins and many others.

Clancy’s Hotel also retains good architectural value. Although changes have been made to the building over its 123-year lifespan, the building retains the characteristic Mansard roof, dormer windows, and original fenestration on the second storey. The one story later addition to the west of the building continues the belt course of the original structure.

Clancy’s Hotel has excellent contextual value. A landmark building on Hunter Street West due to its longstanding presence as a public house, Clancy’s Hotel fits in well with the surrounding late 19th and early 20th century streetscape, which has become recognized as Peterborough’s central entertainment district.

The Henry Newton Building at 432 George Street North has good cultural heritage value.

Built circa 1870, the Henry Newton Building has good historical value in its long history of commercial occupants. One of the building’s first recorded commercial occupants was Henry Newton’s Home Furnishings from the mid 1880s to 1895. From 1899 to 1908 a bicycle shop occupied the storefront. From 1910 to the mid 1950’s various shopkeepers sold dry goods and clothing, notably Louis Green from 1927 to 1938, with his widow Rae taking over in the 1940s. The building also has historical value in the residential accommodations on the second and third storeys, which were typically occupied by the owners of the store below. Rae Green continued to live above the store until the mid 1960’s, even after the store had changed ownership in 1955, when china and knick -knacks were sold until the 1980s.

The Henry Newton Building has good architectural value as a representative of a Victorian commercial building, which contributes to the 19th century streetscape of downtown Peterborough. The building also has excellent contextual value as a landmark building; it is the northern anchor of several continuous blocks of three storey buildings on George Street.

The W. J. Hall House has excellent cultural heritage value in its association with several prominent 19th century Peterborough citizens, as well as in its well-preserved architecture. It also has contextual significance, being one of three grandly scaled houses built in the same era and the same design in a row along Brock Street.

Built in the late 1870s, the house was constructed for William J. Hall, a property agent and evaluator. Hall died at the turn of the century, and his widow Martha continued to live in the house until 1904.

The house then became the home and office of Dr. John H. Eastwood, from 1905 to 1925, who likely used the one story addition at the rear of the house as his surgery. In the 1930s, the house was divided into apartments, and remains as such to date.

The W. J. Hall House is a vernacular interpretation of the Italianate style. It has the wide eaves, decorative brackets and projecting bays of typical of the style, as well as tall arched windows. The house retains many of its original architectural features, including the unique roofline with conical bell-cast rooftops over the projecting bays, as well as fenestration.

The W. J. Hall House also has strong contextual value in its relationship to the two similar late 19th century mansion-style buildings to the immediate west. These three properties, constructed within 5 years of each other, each in a variation of a common design, are a unique and valuable part of the 19th century streetscape.

The building at 396-400 George Street North has very good cultural heritage value in its historical associations with the Toronto-Dominion Bank, and significance as an anchor building on the southeast corner of George Street North and Hunter Street.

Built circa 1862 after the fire that swept down George Street in 1861, the building consists of 5 different storefronts (396 and 400 George, 143, 145, 147 Hunter), as well as offices and apartments on the second and third storeys. The building was occupied by a variety of commercial tenants for its first thirty years, including a clothier and watchmaker.

In 1891, the building’s most notable tenant, the Bank of Toronto, moved into the 400 George Street North storefront and remained there until 2000, merging in 1955 with Dominion Bank to create the Toronto Dominion Bank. During the bank’s 109 years at this location, the appearance of the building was dramatically altered to reflect the more popular architectural styles of the early 20th century.

The other storefronts and office spaces within the building continued to be occupied by various commercial and professional enterprises over the years. Medical and dental offices were located in the second and third storey offices between 1925 and 1967, alongside insurance companies and barristers. The architectural firm of Blackwell and Craig was also located in the building in 1949, and were the designers of some of Peterborough’s most notable structures. The firm, which is the longest continually running architectural firm in Canada, evolved into Craig, Zeidler and Strong in the 1960s; in 1962, the head offices of the firm moved to Toronto. The firm is now known as the Zeidler Partner Architects and has gone on to design such notable structures as the Toronto Eaton Centre and Ontario Place.

The Bank of Toronto Building has good architectural value, despite various changes made to the façade over the years. Originally a 4 storey building, the striking Second Empire details (including the mansard roof and corner tower) were removed in the 1920s. The remaining 3 storey building was pared down to a more somber Classical Revival style, with pilasters flanking the main entrance.

The Bank of Toronto Building has excellent contextual value as an anchor building to one of downtown Peterborough’s busiest intersections. The building continues the line of three storey facades running along both George and Hunter Streets.

419 George Street has excellent historical value as one of the early homes of the Peterborough Examiner, Peterborough’s longest running newspaper. The Examiner moved into the building between 1889 and 1893, when it was owned and operated by J. R. Stratton. Stratton went on to become the Liberal MPP for Peterborough (during his years running the paper), ensuring that its content was staunchly Liberal.

In the mid 1930s the Examiner moved to offices at 400 Water Street. However, the printing equipment that remained in the building was taken over by the Peterborough Printing Company and put to use for job printing, bookbinding and catalogue making. The company changed its name in the early 1960s to Maxwell Printers and Lithographers Ltd., and operated in the building until 1969. The building then sat vacant for several years.

The Old Examiner Building also has good architectural value as the most intact 19th century commercial building on the block. It retains its cast iron storefront and window surrounds, as well as elaborate cornice line. These elaborate Victorian elements reflected the prosperity of the commercial enterprise housed within.

The Old Examiner Building has excellent contextual value as a mid-block building that continues the pattern of 3-storey buildings on George Street. It dominates the streetscape with its heavy cornice line, cast iron storefront, and hood mouldings above the second and third storey windows.

361-365 George Street North has excellent cultural heritage value. A interesting contrast to the Victorian storefronts of downtown Peterborough, the Art Deco inspired façade of the Zellers-Turnbull building preserves the general rhythm of the downtown streetscape, with its three-storey façade and maintains sufficient volume to provide a visual anchor to the corner of the block.

The building has always been used as a department store, although when the original Victorian building was constructed in 1888, it was divided into two separate storefronts. The J. & C. Turnbull Company occupied 363-365 George, and Mr. J. Fairweather, a milliner, occupied 361 George until 1900 when Barrie Thomas Furrier moved in.

On August 28, 1913 the front half of the building collapsed while undergoing renovations, killing 6 people. Documented by the photographers of the Roy Studio, the ‘Turnbull Disaster’ is one of the most noteworthy tragedies of Peterborough’s history. Nothing was salvageable from the original building.

The Turnbull Company rebuilt on the site, and took over both storefronts. The building suffered damage again in 1923 when a fire broke out inside the building. Turnbull’s sold the building to Eaton’s soon afterward, and a Teco store (a division of the T. Eaton Co.) operated for several years in the late 1920s, at which time a fourth floor was added to the building.

In 1934, after sitting vacant for 2 years, a Zellers store opened in the building, and operating under various Zellers brand names until 2005. During the 70 years that Zellers occupied the building, the fourth storey was removed and the storefront updated in the 1950s.

The property at 140 Hunter Street West has good cultural value as having been a photography studio since 1856. Built by James T. Henthorn in 1856, it was the photography studio of Peter H. Green until 1896 when it was taken over by Robert Maitland Roy and renamed the Roy Studio. The Roy Studio was leased since its construction, and finally owned by Fred Roy in 1920.

Home to three generations of Roy Studio photographers, the Roy Studio was where the nationally significant photographic collection of over 300,000 glass plate and film negatives was originally produced, many of which were portraits photographed within the third-storey studio, and they documented life in Peterborough on many different levels. The collection holds excellent cultural significance in its documentation of life, people and architecture of Peterborough through the decades, and provides an excellent opportunity for the reconstruction of Peterborough’s social history. The majority of photographs are credited to Fred Roy (1881-1950), which document not only Peterborough, but also Canada and Europe, winning national and international awards for his work until the 1920s.

This property is significant as the birthplace of the entire collection and home to almost a century of the Roy family and studio. Miranda Hume continues the tradition of photography at 140 Hunter Street, which began in 1856 with Peter H. Green and continued from 1896 to 1992 with the Roy family.

The property at 410-412 George Street North has good cultural heritage value in its association with early Peterborough developer, James T. Henthorn who owned and developed all of the property that stands north of Hunter Street and East George Street from the time he purchased it in 1827 until he died in 1877. In 1860, Henthorn’s original properties along George Street (these included a bakery, stable and shed) were destroyed by fire. After recovering from this disastrous fire, the building that now stands at 410-412 George Street was built.1 The “Crystal Block” contains all of the buildings on the east side of George Street, from the intersection of Brock Street to Hunter Street. Some of the oldest buildings in the city are contained within this block.

The 1865-66 Peterborough City Directory names the R. Johnston + Son dry goods store as being located in the vicinity of this building. By 1888, Mr. W. W. Johnston was the owner and operator of a dry goods business at 410 George Street. Mr. W.W. Johnston and his family were residents of 410 George Street from approximately 1865 to 1897.

Starting in 1922, 412 George Street was referred to as “The Crystal Apartments”, for which the sign is still visible, the reason being that the building is located next to “Crystal Theatre” which was once located at 408 George Street North. 410-412 George Street North was once home to the Boston Café and Porter’s Meat Market. Photos of the building and its interior are part of the Roy Studio Collection at the Peterborough Museum & Archives.

Ronald Thom, Master Planning Architect, set up offices in Toronto and established a temporary field office at 412 George Street North from 1965 until 1968 while he was constructing Trent University. From this location his team of architects designed and built four buildings at Trent University, all of which have won international recognition and innumerable prizes and are among Canada’s foremost architectural masterpieces of Modernism. Thom’s Prairie style influences also appear in the design of the wooden door at 410-412 George Street North, which could possibly be one of his designs.

410-412 George Street North has good architectural value in its unique details such as decorative sash detailing on all cornice work, the central triangular adornment and original red brick façade from the 1902 reconstruction. The building also retains all three iron pilasters across its façade inscribed “W. Hamilton MFG. CO. Peterboro ON”, a business which existed in the late 1800-early 1900’s in Peterborough. The building also retains its original art deco style door with “Crystal Apartments inscribed in the upper transom of the north front door as a lasting legacy of its past.

The property at 413 George Street North has excellent cultural heritage value. Built in 1866-68, it was originally established by William Lech, an immigrant from Prussia (modern day Germany) and son of a Prussian soldier. The William Lech & Sons Furrier was operated as a successful family furrier business from the date of construction until 2008, over 140 years. The building was complete with refrigeration and processing rooms, dealing extensively with the fur trade, wholesale and retail, from raw to manufactured fur products. The black bear, the classic Lech symbol, which had taken many forms throughout the business’ long history, is pictured on a plaque within the building.

The building also has good architectural value as the only building in downtown Peterborough with ogee topped casement windows and wooden label surrounds. The Lech Building is a good example of a mid-block building on George Street. Its original front entrance and wooden door with decorative glass remain intact along with the mosaic–tiled floor with the bear emblem and ‘Lech’.

The Lech Building also has good contextual value, continuing the pattern of 3-storey buildings on George Street. It retains its original red brick façade and storefront. It is a landmark building with its unusual ogee-shaped window openings, ogee-topped casement windows and wooden label surrounds, restored to their original condition and historic colour.

The property at 425 George Street North has good cultural value in its association with Thomas Bradburn, a prominent figure in Peterborough’s early history and the largest individual landowner in Peterborough at the time of his death. The building is also significant for its long history of commercial occupants, having been occupied almost constantly since its construction.

The property itself was sold as one unit, and divided into smaller lots by William Chambers, for whom the rear side street is named. This three-storey brick building’s design is similar to other Bradburn buildings constructed during this period such as 379 George Street North, to the south.

425 George Street North operated primarily as a commercial building with residential space above the stores, usually for the owners of the commercial enterprise and their families, as was typical of the early period of its existence. One of the earliest occupants was a confectionery store at 425 George Street North ‘Leandre Potvin Confectionary’ owned and operated by Leandre Potvin for a period of approximately 30 years, who resided above the store for about twenty five years. Other occupants included Abraham Clegg Furniture and The Sons of England Club, along with residential dwellings on the upper floors for store owners and other citizens working in the area. The façade of the building usually contained two storefronts at any given time, being 425 and 427 George Street North. Adding ‘½’ to the address denoted apartments above.

The building at 64 Hunter Street West has good cultural and heritage value in its association with prominent early citizens of Peterborough. It is constructed on the site of the former British Wesleyan Methodist Church, later demolished. The land was later owned by Mr. Walter Sheridan. Sheridan was born in 1796 in the County Carlow, Ireland, and became an architect and the first clerk of the county of Peterborough in 1844. Sheridan Street, to the west of the property, was named after him. An earlier house was built on the site and was demolished before Mr. Walter Nesbitt purchased the land and built the present house in 1879.

Due to its proximity to St. John’s Anglican Church, 64 Hunter Street West was also home to Rev. Canon John C. Davidson (later Archdeacon of Peterborough) of the church before the rectory at St. John’s was constructed.

The building has good architectural and design value. 64 Hunter Street West was designed by noted Peterborough architect and City engineer John Belcher. Belcher designed some of Peterborough’s most prominent buildings; Market Hall, the Morrow Building and The Carnegie Library (now part of City Hall) are all credited to him. There are examples of similar homes designed by Belcher throughout the City, mostly in close proximity to the downtown core. All of these homes are in the Italianate style, which was very popular in Ontario during the 1870s. The homes were typically constructed for the upper middle class. The Peterborough Examiner of 1880 announced that the house was finished and was “Complete with bath, gas, etc. Builder Mr. John Alford. J. E. Belcher, Architect.” Although not the original, the front porch has been rebuilt to reflect the original features of the building. A back addition was also constructed in a sympathetic manner.

City Hall

Built in 1951, City Hall has excellent architectural value. It was designed by the architectural firm of Marani and Morris of Toronto and constructed with help from a bequest from the estate of W.G Morrow. A former mayor of Peterborough, Morrow instructed that money be set aside to build an official City building. Up until that time there had never been a building dedicated solely to the affairs of the municipality. Premier Leslie Frost laid the cornerstone December 1, 1950, and City Hall was opened in October of 1951 by Ottawa mayor Charlotte Whitton and the mayor of Peterborough, UK.

The building has been in use by the Corporation of the City of Peterborough since its opening. It has been the centre for many important community events and is an integral part of the civic centre of the City. At one time the building housed courts, the Justice of the Peace, the police department including the jail and the Board of Education.

Architecturally, City Hall is a late interpretation of the principles of the City Beautiful movement, which grew out of the European Beaux Arts style and borrowed from it a sense of order, harmony and dignity of design. The movement became popular after the Chicago World Exposition of 1892 and was explicitly linked to the beautification of a city in hope of inspiring the community to a moral and civic virtue. The building also offers a link between Confederation Square and Victoria Park.

The central portico of the City Hall building contains three door openings and simple concrete door surrounds, transoms and pediments. Above the main entranceway is a clock tower and octagonal belvedere tower topped by a gold dome and weathervane. The ground floor foyer at City Hall is adorned with a terrazzo mosaic floor map of Peterborough County, believed to be the only one of its kind in Canada.

The Carnegie Library

Built in 1910, the former Carnegie Library Building has excellent cultural and heritage value as one of only 125 Carnegie Libraries in Canada. Constructed using funds from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, Peterborough’s Carnegie Library was built during Peterborough’s prosperous years in the first decades of the new century, with a rapidly growing population of more than 16,000. Additional funding was donated to the City from the estate of Charlotte Nicholls, one of early Peterborough’s most prominent benefactors. The building represents a growing public awareness of the importance of libraries as educational institutions, and has value as a monument to public education and the increasing importance of literacy. The building also housed the Victoria Museum collection, which was the first museum collection in Peterborough. Now part of Peterborough City Hall, the Carnegie building continues to serve a civic purpose today.

The building style of the Carnegie building closely resembles other educational institutions built in Peterborough in the same period, such as the former Peterborough Normal School and the Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational Institute across Confederation Square. Local architect and City engineer, John E. Belcher, designed the structure in the Beaux Arts style, with an eclectic mix of Renaissance and Classical features.

The Canadian Pacific Railway Station at 175 George Street North has excellent cultural heritage value for its association with the early development of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and the importance of railroads in the growth of commerce in Peterborough. The CPR established the Ontario and Quebec Railway as a means to link urban centres in Ontario and Quebec with the less populated western provinces. A section was routed through Peterborough and leased to the CPR. Design of the station began in 1883, and Peterborough’s first railway station opened in 1884. It was constructed of buff brick in laid in Flemish Bond, a design which is somewhat rare in Peterborough. The structure was pointed with red mortar and had a slate roof (which has since been replaced with asphalt).

The CPR Station is the only remaining railway station in Peterborough, and according to a study conducted by the Ontario Ministry of Culture and Communications in 1989 it is the oldest CPR station still situated on its original site in Ontario. Until the CPR abandoned the station in 1990, it was the oldest surviving station in railway use in Canada. The station was one of four designed in 1883 by architect Thomas C. Sorby, one of the most prolific architects of the late 19th century. Sorby also designed stations in Toronto, Winnipeg and Quebec, along with several CPR hotels. Peterborough’s station was considered one of the most attractive on the rail line at the time of its construction, and became a prototype for many other stations throughout the country.

The addition was constructed in 1919 to accommodate the washrooms and interior station offices. It was designed by engineer J. R. Fairbairn who was born in Peterborough in 1873 and was Chief Engineer for CPR in Montreal at the time of the addition’s construction. J. R. Fairbairn was a prominent engineer in Canada and held the titles of President of the Engineering Institute of Canada and Vice-President of the American Railway Engineering Association during his career.

The original details which remain in the CPR Station contribute to its architectural significance. Its buff brick exterior, laid in Flemish bond pattern pointed with red mortar is a unique feature and is somewhat unusual in CPR station design. The brick, wooden window surrounds and wooden shingles have all been restored along with the main structure of the interior. The CPR Station also features stained glass transom windows throughout, most of which are replicas of the originals, although a few have survived and were restored.

Built circa 1870-75, 285 George Street North is valued for its architectural integrity and decorative elements. Constructed by John J. Lundy, 285 George Street North was once the northern end of a block of buildings that curved around the corner and continued west along King Street.

The mansard roof and decorative elements that were added in the 1880’s remain only on 285 and 285A George Street North. The unique cedar shingle pattern and ornate gable window surround are distinguishing features of this building, along with the corbelled brickwork below the Mansard roof. The building is significant not only in its unusual display of decorative architectural elements, but also because it is the last remaining section of a much larger block that extended south to the corner of King and George streets and continued west on King. It is also a good representative example of an early period in the development of the 19th century commercial streetscape of downtown Peterborough as more solid masonry structures took the place of earlier wood frame buildings.

The building also has historical value in its association with John J. Lundy, for whom the building was originally built. J. J. Lundy was born in Peterborough in 1834 and was Mayor of the town from 1880-1881 as well as a president of the Little Lake Cemetery Company.

406-408 George Street North has historical value as one of the earliest structures to be built on the block by James T. Henthorn, an early Peterborough developer. Henthorn owned and developed all of the property that stands north of Hunter Street on the East side of George Street from the time he purchased it in the 1830s until his death in 1877. In 1854, J. T Henthorn was appointed First Lieutenant of Peterborough’s first Fire Brigade. At the time he was also a member of Council. Ironically, J. T. Henthorn lost many of his original buildings to fire along George and Hunter Streets in the 1850s. In 1855, Council passed a by-law prohibiting any frame construction in the area east of Aylmer Street as a result of several disastrous downtown fires.

The building at 406-408 George Street North has retained its architectural integrity and is one of the oldest surviving commercial buildings in downtown Peterborough. It is flanked by late 19th and early 20th century buildings in an historic streetscape. This building is located in what was historically referred to as the “best business part of town”. It has been used for commercial purposes continuously since its construction in the 1850s and has been home to a theatre, a dry goods store, florist, dentist offices and various clubs, such as the Forresters Hall and Belmont Club. In the 1930s the Liquor Control Board of Ontario was an occupant. 406-408 George Street North historically contained six separate storefronts, with residential space above available to boarders, merchants or owners of the stores below.

430 Sheridan Street has cultural heritage value in its association with Walter Sheridan, the first owner of the land on which the house currently stands. Born in Ireland in 1796, Walter Sheridan moved to Peterborough in the early 1840s and became the town’s first Clerk in 1844. Also an architect, he purchased the land that now comprises Sheridan Street in 1847, and built a large estate on the land between 1847 and 1860. The Street was named Sheridan, and his home was once the only building on the street, then called Sheridan Terrace, and conveniently was built behind the County Courthouse, where he was Clerk from 1851-1870.

In 1884, Sheridan sold his land to Martha Sheridan, who then sold part of the property, where 430 Sheridan Street was constructed, to George Fitzgerald, partner of Fitzgerald & Stanger Carriage Works on Brock Street. Fitzgerald & Stanger was a prominent business in Peterborough and undertook work for companies such as D. Belleghem Furniture Dealer & Undertaker to refit and build funeral coaches. George Fitzgerald is listed as living at the address from 1884-1915.

The building’s simple architectural features are typical of the design of houses built for middle class business owners during this time period. All of the homes on this street would have been constructed during the latter part of the 19th century.

In May 1826, the Rev. Samuel Armour opened the first school in Peterborough. The Peterborough Government School was located on grounds to the west of the site on which Central Public School (now converted to apartments), would later be built. The Government School divided the students into two groups: common, for applied subjects and grammar, for academic subjects. Armour taught both groups in a single building heated with open fireplaces. Within a few years the population of school age children in the town had grown such that it was necessary to move the common students to separate space.

By 1854, the school trustees had leased a church to hold the growing number of common students. This arrangement proved unsatisfactory and in 1859, the Union School (later Central Public School), large enough for all grades, was built to the south of the original Government School on Murray Street facing Victoria Park. In 1871, legislative changes abolished the term grammar school as a reference to academic streaming and the Union School became the Peterborough Collegiate Institute (PCI). The school doubled in size with the construction of a second building to the west when, in 1876, the trustees began admitting girls.

By the turn-of-the-century overcrowding made it necessary for the collegiate to have its own building. The Town agreed to the sale of a section of Central Park (now Confederation Square) to the School Board at the same time that a section was being sold to the federal government for a new armoury. The school, designed by John E. Belcher picks up many of the design elements of the armoury building. On July 31, 1907, the cornerstone was laid and, with a budget of $61,000 the contractors Langford and Sheehy completed construction in time for classes to begin in September of 1908. In 1927, at a cost of nearly $300,000 a vocational school wing was added to the west of the original building, and PCI became Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational Institute (PCVS). The addition included a gymnasium, library and additional classroom space. In the 1970s, a cafeteria was created from a central light well in the interior of the building.

At the time that the school ceased operating as a collegiate and vocational institute in 2012, it was one of the longest continuously operating secondary schools in Ontario. Over the years a number of unique traditions grew within the school. These included having a photographic portrait of each principal installed above the balcony doors of the auditorium, at the end of their tenure. The school also contains a comprehensive collection of original Canadian art. A tradition arose in the 1940s of having the student council purchase pieces of art for the enjoyment of the students. Artists represented in the collection, now on permanent loan to the Art Gallery of Peterborough, include: Andre Bieler, A.J. Casson, Lawren Harris, Arthur Lismer, Manley MacDonald and Henri Masson.

In the course of its history the school has graduated nationally and internationally renowned artists, business leaders and politicians including Serena Ryder, Evelyn Hart, Sean Cullen, Jim Balsillie, Mr. Justice Michael Moldaver and Lester B. Pearson. Nearly 1000 students served on active duty during the two World Wars and 152 died in action. A limestone plaque, carved by noted sculptor Frances Loring, is inscribed with the names of 94 staff and students of the school who died during the Second World War. The plaque was commissioned in 1947 and is mounted next to the entrance to the main office.

415 George Street North has cultural heritage value or interest as a mid-Victorian commercial building in Peterborough’s downtown core. Constructed between 1866 and 1868, it is a representative example of the type of Italianate commercial architecture that was popular in the second half of the nineteenth century in towns and cities across Canada, including Peterborough. It is a well-executed example of this style of architecture and possesses design features unique in the Peterborough context, specifically its ogee-topped windows with decorative wooden hood moulds.

The building has historical significance as a commercial property in Peterborough’s downtown core and in its important associations with the city’s Chinese community. The building originally served as a continuation of Lech’s Furriers located at 413 George Street North. 415 George Street North was eventually sold and, in 1918, became the Paris Café, changing its name to Hi-Tops Restaurant in 1956. Open for 95 years in the same location, the restaurant was the longest operating Chinese restaurant in Peterborough before it closed in 2013. Throughout the restaurant’s tenure, it was run by the Hum family, one of the earliest Chinese families to move to Peterborough.

415 George Street North also has important contextual value as a continuation of the three-storey row of commercial buildings that characterizes Peterborough’s downtown core. Constructed in the same period and in the same style as the surrounding properties, it is an integral part of the city’s nineteenth-century streetscape. In particular, it is physically, visually and historically linked to its neighbour, 413 George Street North, as they were originally constructed as part of the same building. It is a landmark property in the downtown due to its distinctive architectural details and its longstanding role as a popular Chinese restaurant.

130 Simcoe Street is an excellent and unique example of mid-century modern commercial architecture. Constructed around 1960, it displays key elements of themed-century modern commercial style, including the aluminum and glass curtain wall and minimalist use of decoration. It displays a high degree of craftsmanship it in the gold mosaic frieze which extends around the south and east elevations of the building. The building was designed by German-born architect Eberhard Zeidler, Peterborough’s most prominent modernist architect in the 1950s and 1960s who designed a number of iconic modernist buildings throughout the city. The property has important contextual value as part of the downtown commercial streetscape and continues the rhythm and massing of the three-storey commercial block along Simcoe Street. It is a landmark building in downtown Peterborough because of its notable stylistic features and its prominent corner location.

The J. J. Turner Building at 140 King Street has cultural heritage value or interest as a landmark building on King Street between George and Water Streets in Peterborough’s downtown core. It maintains and supports the character of the southern part of the downtown commercial core. It is visually and historically linked to its surrounding context and its form, massing and stylistic elements are representative of late Victorian industrial architecture of the Chicago style.

140 King Street is one of the few surviving buildings of this type in the south end of Peterborough’s downtown, an area that once had a concentration of industrial structures and ready access to local and regional transportation infrastructure including the railway, Otonabee River and main arterial access roads for their extensive shipping needs.

The building also has historical connections to important figures and businesses in the history of Peterborough including J. J. Turner Sr. and Jr., the J. J. Turner & Sons Company and John E. Belcher, the architect of the building.

The building also has contextual value as a reminder of Peterborough’s manufacturing past, being historically, visually, functionally and physically linked to its setting. It is also significant as the only remaining manufacturing building on the block, symbolizing the passing of an era of the city’s industrial preeminence. The building is still widely recognized in the community as the “J. J. Turner Building”.