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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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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