Osler house heritage review elevated in priority after McMaster announcement
The 175-year-old property at 30 South St. W. in Dundas has been elevated to a high priority on heritage planning staff's designation work plan after McMaster University's announcement it will sell the property.
The property was originally the home of William Miller, a Dundas lawyer who was named the first judge of Waterloo County in 1853. It was later a childhood home of Sir William Osler.
McMaster University purchased the property in January 2021 for $2,818,200.
A motion to amend staff direction originally passed by Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee on Nov. 21 was moved by Ward 13 city Coun. Alex Wilson, seconded by Ward 2 Coun. Cameron Kroetsch - city council's representative on the heritage committee - and passed by city council on Dec. 7.
The heritage designation review is now scheduled to be completed before December 2023.
Wilson noted heritage committee members removed a high priority emergency classification for the property's heritage review, with the understanding the property would be preserved by current owner McMaster University. That changed with McMaster's announcement on Friday, Dec. 2 it plans to sell the property.
Shannon Kyles of the of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario Hamilton Branch gave a presentation at the November heritage committee meeting on the property's architectural and historical significance.
She supported the original recommendation for a high priority emergency heritage designation review, but acknowledged at the time the property was in good hands with McMaster. Heritage Committee members agreed staff already had a long work plan and other local properties, including Dundas' oldest building at 2 Hatt St., were higher priorities.
In a letter to city council dated Dec. 5, Kyles requested 30 South St. W. be given a high priority for designation, now that its circumstances have changed.
The house is a significant property both stylistically and historically," Kyles stated in the letter. It is important in the context of its surroundings, and is an example of exquisite craftsmanship. Please make sure this property is preserved for future generations."
Kyles stated in the letter the home was meticulously restored" by former owners Gary Fincham and Sara Burnet-Smith, who operated Osler House Bed & Breakfast there.
According to a 1994 heritage survey of the property, the house was built in 1847 and its first owner was lawyer William Miller.
Miller practised law in Dundas between 1837 and 1853 when he was appointed the first Waterloo County judge. The county had just been formed. He served as a judge there for 35 years, until retiring in January 1888.
Miller is a member of the Waterloo Region Hall of Fame.
I believe he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for being the first judge in the county," said Stacy McLennan, collections curator for Region of Waterloo Museums and Archives. His bio does say he was community minded and was an elder at Knox's Presbyterian Church in Galt for 28 years, but I don't have any other information about him."
Dundas Museum and Archives archivist Kelsey Haas said T. Roy Woodhouse's family history research indicates Miller was a member of the Canadian Order of Odd Fellows.
According to a history of 30 South St. W. from the Dundas Museum and Archives, Miller likely incorporated an existing house on the property to give the basic design of the existing home. The Oslers lived in the house from 1859 to 1884. In 1885, W. H. Keagy purchased the property and it remained in that family until 1939.
McMaster University spokesperson Susan Emigh said Nov. 8 details of how 30 South St. W. will be sold have not been worked out yet.