Brampton Heritage Board Item L4 for February 19, 2013Haaggertlea
228 Elizabeeth Streett North
Febrruary 20113
PIN Number 141230081
Roll Number 10-03-0-030-06400-0000
Legal Description PLAN BR 4 LOTS 10,11 PLAN BR 4 PT LOTS 9,12
Ward Number 5
Property Name Haggertlea
Owner Concurrence No
Current Zoning Residential
Current Use(s) Residential
Construction Date 1870
Building
1. Current Situation
The property at 28 Elizabeth Street North is worthy of designation
under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural heritage
value or interest. The property meets the criteria for designation
prescribed by the Province of Ontario under the Ontario Heritage
Act, Regulation 9/06 for the categories of design/physical value,
historical/associative value, and contextual value.
This property is located in downtown Brampton. The house has been
altered, and it is currently divided into apartment units. Despite
the alterations, the heritage resource maintains much of its
original form and detailing and holds significant cultural heritage
value. There are currently no active planning applications for this
property.
2. Description of Property
The property known as Haggertlea at 28 Elizabeth Street North is a
prominent three- storey Second Empire Style House. It is located on
the east side of Elizabeth Street North at Nelson Street West. The
plan of the principle structure is a simple rectangular shape. The
painted buff brick structure has an asphalt mansard roof. The house
is located along a historic streetscape, surrounded by other late
19th and early 20th century residences to the north, south, and
west. The commercial strip of Main Street North is located directly
east of the house.
3. Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
Design/Physical Value:
The cultural heritage value of Haggertlea is related to its design
or physical value as a unique late 19th century Second Empire style
structure. The grand estate-like scale of the building and its rare
architectural style distinguish the house from the surrounding
neighbourhood. Although Second Empire architecture experienced a
period of popularity in Ontario between 1865 and 1880, the style
never matched the predominance of the Gothic Revival and Italianate
styles. The style borrowed elements from French empire architecture
in the early 19th century, popularized by Napolean III. The style
emerged when George E. Haussman was hired by Napoleon III to
redesign Paris. It is distinguished by a mansard roof, a formal and
symmetrical facade, decorative window hoods and sills, and iron
cresting. The goal of the style was to impress upon visitors the
feeling of grandeur and class. Accordingly, the Second Empire style
was primarily associated with the estates of wealthier families.
The mansard roof and dormers were also important features of all
Second Empire dwellings because they
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allowed more space in the house for servants. They enabled the
maximum use of interior attic space without adding additional
masonry.
Typical Ontario interpretations of Second Empire style incorporated
curved or straight mansard roods, projecting bay windows, and
hooded and circular dormers. More intricate details included eaves,
decorative brackets, hood moulding over dormer windows. Haggertlea
exhibits several architectural elements in the Second Empire style,
including a concave, Mansard roof, cornice brackets, decorative
window frames, voussoirs, and dormered windows. The surviving
details of the house illustrate the craftsmanship of the original
structure.
The Second Empire style fell out of fashion from the 1890s onward,
after several representative buildings suffered from fires that
started from the mansard roofs. As a result, many early example of
Second Empire style have had their roofs removed. Today, the few
surviving example of the style, such as Haggertlea, are celebrated
for their French-inspired elegance and charm.
Historical/Associative Value:
The cultural heritage value of Haggertlea is also related to its
historical value as it is associated with early Brampton resident
John Haggert. The historic mansion Haggertlea was built in around
1870 on Lot 11, Block 2, BR-4. According to Samuel Perry, his
father Jesse Perry was involved in the construction of a residence
for John Haggert, probably as a bricklayer. The residence with its
grounds is shown in the Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County
of Peel (1877).
A detailed biography of John Haggert’s life was featured in the
book “A Cyclopedia of Canadian Biography”. Published in 1886 by the
Rose Publishing Company in Toronto, the book is described as “a
collections of persons distinguished in professional and political
life; leaders in commerce and industry of Canada, and successful
pioneers.” His inclusion in the book is a testament to the fact
that John Haggert was a highly influential and important figure in
Brampton and beyond.
John Haggert was born in 1822 in Eldersley, Scotland, near Paisley.
His parents were Robert and Barbara (Loughead) Haggert. His father
owned and operated a mercantile and manufacturing business in
Paisely. The family came to Canada in 1842 and settled in Hamilton,
Ontario. Robert Haggart died shortly upon arrival after contracting
a severe cold.
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At the age of eighteen, John Haggert moved to New York with his
brother, Robert, where he apprenticed in the engineering business
at Dunham & Co. He soon joined his parents in Canada in 1842.
Haggert became an engineer on one of the St. Lawrence Steamers
before moving to Hamilton to work as an engineer. From Hamilton he
moved to Beamsville and in 1849 arrived in Brampton where he
manufactured agricultural implements with two brothers under the
name Haggert Brothers until January 1866. He operated the company
alone from 1866 to 1870 when he formed a partnership with his
brother-in-law Mr. Roderick Cochrane of Fingal, Elgin County. The
Census Return (1871) records John and Catherine Haggert and five
children as residents of Brampton. Haggert’s occupation is noted as
a founder.
In its early days, Haggert Brothers employed about ten men and used
horse power to move machinery. Within two years, steam had been
introduced and between the early 1850s to the late 1870s the
foundry expanded until it occupied a full square. The square
included the Haggert Block which faced Main Street North on the
south side of Nelson Street. The business products grew to include
steam engines, boilers, the Brampton triple harvester and
self-rake, the simple reaper, the beaver mower, the sulky and horse
rake, and the Credit Valley stove. Haggert Brothers products won
awards throughout Canada and in the United States. He bought the
St. Thomas Agricultural Works in February 1877.
Haggert Brothers employed 150 people by 1877 and with the St.
Thomas plant was one of the largest manufactories of agricultural
implements in Canada. Prizes were won regularly at Agricultural
Fairs throughout Eastern Canada and the Eastern United States. In
an article about horse seperaters, the Boston Journal of Commerce
called the one produced by Haggert "the most perfect machine for
threshing and cleaning grain". Haggerts shipped the first thresher
to Manitoba in 1871, at a cost of $350, an enormous sum in those
days. With the introduction of the furnace as a means of heating
homes and businesses, Haggert’s stoves became obsolete in the late
1800s. As the wheat business moved west so did Haggert’s market for
agricultural implements in Peel County. Brampton’s boom was over by
the end of the 1800s. Farms were sold and there was a shift to
mixed farming. The company went into liquidation in 1891.
The Haggert Brothers played an important role in the initial
development of Brampton in the mid-to-late 1800s. The Metropolitan
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, in recognition of the
Brampton’s first industrial enterprise, erected a historical plaque
in Cenotaph Park in 1958 to the Haggert Brothers. Additionally, to
commemorate the Haggert family in the development of the community,
a street was named in their honour. John Haggert’s enormous
contribution to Brampton’s industry and civic life is
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outlined the following passage from the 1877 Illustrated Historical
Atlas of the County of Peel:
John Haggert, thus far, has had a busy life, industry has been his
watchword and the success he has so far achieved adds still another
proof that it is not to the possessor of brilliant abilities who
achieves the greatest results, but rather to the man possessed of
ordinary talents who exercises what he does possess with the
greatest diligence. The rapid growth of the Town of Brampton is
largely indebted to the energy and perseverance of Mr. John
Haggert.
John Haggert’s most notable accomplishment beyond his business
ventures is his service as the first Mayor of Brampton from 1874 to
1877. He was honoured with the position after participating in the
civic life of Brampton as a member of the school board and village
council for a considerable period of time. He retired from the
position of Mayor in 1877 in order to attend to the demands of his
business. His estate remained with the Haggert family when Robert
Haggert inherited the property in 1888. Emily Haggert eventually
sold the property in 1944.
Contextual Value:
Haggertlea also exhibits contextual value as it maintains,
supports, and reflects the rich history of the Elizabeth Street
neighbourhood in downtown Brampton. Haggertlea is representative of
the industrial growth and subsequent building boom that took place
in Brampton in the late 1800s and an example of a handful of
“estate” houses with extensive landscaped grounds built in Brampton
in the mid 19th century. Haggert’s estate is contextually
associated with Kenneth Chisholm’s “Alderlea” and George Wright’s
“Castle”, both of which still exist today.
The contextual value of the property is also linked to its status
as a historical and architectural landmark in downtown Brampton.
Grand in both scale and stature than surrounding houses, Haggertlea
stands out among the late 19th and early 20th century houses along
Elizabeth Street North.
The house is also contextually linked to the Haggert Brothers
buildings at the corner of Main Street North and Nelson Street. The
buildings were home to the company’s offices and manufacturing
plant. Unfortunately, the primary factory building was lost to fire
in 1980. The only surviving structure from their business
enterprise is the Haggert Block at 63-71 Main Street North. The
Haggert Block was originally erected as part of the Haggert factory
operations. Historical references suggest that the upper storey of
this
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block once housed the offices of the factory and the ground floor
served as a retail outlet. John Haggert sold the building to the
Haggert Brothers Factory in 1881. It is located within close
proximity to John Haggert’s historical estate at 28 Elizabeth
Street North.
4. Description of Heritage Attributes
Unless otherwise indicated, the reason for designation apply
generally to all exterior elevations, facades, foundation, roof and
roof trim, all doors, windows, other structural openings and
associated trim, all architectural detailing, construction
materials of wood, stone, brick, plaster parging, metal and glazing
and related building techniques, fencing, all trees, shrubs,
hedgerows, other vegetation and the grounds and vistas
generally.
To ensure that the cultural heritage value of this property is
conserved, certain heritage attributes that contribute to its value
have been identified specifically and they include:
Original circa 1870s Second Empire architecture Concave Mansard
roof Irregular roof lines Three-storey buff brick construction
Ornate bracketed cornice Decorative flower-themed keystone
Segmentally arched brick voussoirs Original wood window frames
Arched dormers with curbed wood cornice Segmentally arched window
openings Sash windows Two storey bay window with brackets and
decorative spindles Dentils Dormers in a variety of shapes and
sizes Dripstone hood moulding Leaded glass windows Three storey
projecting bay on east side Remnants of tower are visible on east
façade Associated with Jessie Perry, a prominent Brampton builder/
stone mason Associated with John Haggert, notable businessman and
first mayor of Brampton Associated with Haggert Brothers
Agricultural Implements Considerable landmark status due to the
scale and style Rare style in Brampton
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Part of Brampton’s building boom in the 1860 to 1880s
5. Alteration History and Heritage Integrity
Alteration History
The following are the known alterations to the subject
property:
Removal upper tower Removal of detail on dormered windows Removal
of iron cresting Removal of veranda Removal of terraced lawns
Apartment conversion Addition of fire escape Painted brick Aluminum
siding Metal storm drains Contemporary windows Removal of slate
shingles on roof Removal of coach house
6. Archaeological Potential
7. Policy Framework
In the context of land use planning, the Provincial Policy
Statement (PPS) states that the wise use and management of
Ontario’s cultural heritage resources is a key provincial
interest.
The relevant policy statement in the PPS is Section 2.6.1, which
states that “significant built heritage resources and significant
cultural heritage landscapes shall be conserved”.
Section 2.6.1 is linked to Section 3 of the Ontario Planning Act
which stipulates that land use planning decisions by municipalities
“shall be consistent with” the Provincial Policy Statements.
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The policy is also integrated with the Ontario Heritage Act. This
piece of legislation grants municipalities powers to preserve
locally significant cultural heritage resources through heritage
designation. Decisions as to whether a property should be
designated heritage or not is based solely on its inherent cultural
heritage value or interest.
City Council prefers to designate heritage properties with the
support of property owners. However, Council will designate a
property proactively, without the concurrence of a property owner
as required. In this case, the current property owner is in support
of designating 8 Main St S.
The relevant Brampton Official Plan policies are as follows:
Section 4.9.1.3: All significant heritage resources shall be
designated as being of cultural heritage value or interest in
accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act to help ensure effective
protection and their continuing maintenance, conservation and
restoration.
Section 4.9.1.5: Priority will be given to designating all heritage
cemeteries and all Class A heritage resources in the Cultural
Heritage Resources Register under the Ontario Heritage Act.
Section 4.9.1.6: The City will give immediate consideration to the
designation of any heritage resource under the Ontario Heritage Act
if that resource is threatened with demolition, significant
alterations or other potentially adverse impacts.
These principles are also guided by recognized best practices in
the field of heritage conservation.
8. Resources
Charters, C.V. et al, Brampton’s 100th Anniversary as an
Incorporated Town, 1873-1973. Brampton: Town of Brampton,
1973.
Loverseed, Helga V. Brampton: An Illustrated History. Burlington:
Windsor, 1987.
Maclean Rose, George. A Cyclopedia of Canadian Biography. Toronto:
Rose Publishing Company, 1886.
Mikel, Robert. Ontario House Styles: The Distinctive Architecture
of the Province’s 18th and 19th Century Homes. Toronto: James
Lorimer and Company Ltd. 2004.
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Pope. J. H. Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Peel.
Toronto: Walker & Miles, 1877.
Tremaine, George R. Tremaine’s Map of the County of Peel, Canada
West. Toronto: C.R. & C. M. Tremaine, 1859.
Azzaro Hart, Student, York University
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28 Elizabeth St N (Haggertlea)
Figure 1: Map showing location of 28 Elizabeth St N on the
southwest corner of Elizabeth St N and Nelson Street West
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Haggertlea
Figure 2: Location of Haggertlea indicated on Bristow and
Fitzgerald’s 1857 Map of the Town of Brampton
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Figure 3: Original 1850 Plan (BR-2) for the Village of
Brampton
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Figure 4: Fire Insurance Map showing the Haggertea property
Figure 5: Sketch of Haggertlea as shown in Pope’s Illustrated
Historical Atlas of the County of Peel, 1877
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Figure 6: Archival image of Haggertlea with original tower and
terraced lawn that expanded east on Nelson Street West
Figure 7: Haggertlea circa 1910 (Richard L. Frost postcard
collection)
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Figure 8: John Haggert, owner of Haggertlea and first mayor of
Brampton
Figure 9: Postcard showing Main Street North looking south, with
the building used by Haggert Brothers Manufacturing Company on the
right; it was lost to fire in 1980 (Richard L. Frost Postcard
collection)
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Figure 10: Circa 1910 of building used by Haggert Brothers
Manufacturing Company (Richard L. Frost postcard collection)
Figure 11: Circa 1930s photograph of a building used by Haggert
Brothers Manufacturing Company
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Figure 12: Original Haggert Brothers portable engine, now owned by
the City of Brampton
Figure 13: Early advertisement for the Haggert Brothers portable
engine, a common agricultural implement produced by Haggert Bros
Manufacturing Company
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Figure 14 An archival image of a portable engine produced by the
Haggert Brothers
Figure 15: East elevation (former front façade) of 28 Elizabeth
Street North (2005)
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Figure 16: West elevation of 28 Elizabeth Street North (2012)
Figure 17: North elevation of 28 Elizabeth Street North
(2012)
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Figure 18: South elevation of 28 Elizabeth Street North
(2012)
Figure 19: Scrolled double brackets and dentil cornice under the
eaves (2012)
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Figure 21: Tower with arched windows, voussoirs, and sills
(2012)
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Figure 22: Mansard roof with asphalt shingles and dentils
(2012)
Figure 23: Keystones design with a flower motif (2005)
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Figure 24: Bay window with decorative brackets and rope moulding
(2005)
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Figure 26: Dormered window along mansard roof (2005)
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Figure 28: Unique combination of brick voussoirs (2011)
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Figure 30: Looking west (2005)
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Figure 31: A plaque commemorating John Haggert and The Haggert
Brothers Agricultural Works with the following text: “In 1849, John
Haggert, who was soon joined by his two brothers, began to
manufacture agricultural implements about 300 yards north of this
spot. As the small shop expanded, steam soon replaced horsepower.
Seeders, reapers and other implements were developed and a
threshing machine won medals in Canada and the United States, and
the “Practice with Science” award in Sydney, Australia. The works
continued to be an important industry in Brampton until 1891. John
Haggert was born in Scotland, migrated to the United States where
he served his engineer’s apprenticeship, then came to Canada. An
inventor, design and manufacturer, he was active in community life
and served as first mayor of Brampton 1874-1877.”
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