NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DESIGNATE: 16 Wilbur Street North

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DESIGNATE UNDER THE ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT

IN THE MATTER OF THE ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT AND IN THE MATTER OF the lands in the Town of Halton Hills known municipally as 16 Wilbur Street North, Regional Municipality of Halton, legally described as “PT LT 48, BLK 6, PL 31, ALSO SHOWN ON PL 1098; PT LT 49, BLK 6, PL 31, ALSO SHOWN ON PL 1098, AS IN 846048; TOWN OF HALTON HILLS” and known as the Wilson-Moore House. 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town of Halton Hills intends to designate the property at 16 Wilbur Street North under Section 29(1), Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter O.18. 

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest: 

The Wilson-Moore House at 16 Wilbur Street North has physical and design value as a representative example of a late-nineteenth century Ontario Gothic Revival Cottage within the community of Acton in the Town of Halton Hills. The existing c.1874 building exhibits key features associated with this architectural style, including its one-and-a-half-storey massing, frame construction, central lancet arched window opening beneath the gable peak, two flatheaded window openings at the first storey, the steeply-pitched gable roof, central entrance flanked by sidelights and a transom, as well as the tall flatheaded window openings. Overall, the structure has retained much of its physical form since its original construction.

While its many owners have had various roles and positions in Acton, it has not been demonstrated that they have been identified as particularly significant within the community. 

The Wilson-Moore House was built by railway foreman George Wilson for his family; however, he lived there for only a brief time before moving to Allandale where he was tragically killed in a snowplow accident. 

For many years afterwards, the property was owned by Elizabeth Maud Moore who worked as a caretaker and housekeeper and had many tenants within her home during her ownership. Her former lodgers John and Helen Wood purchased the property from Moore in 1926, and she lived with them there for many years afterwards until her early 90s. John and Helen Wood were active community members in Acton. John Wood worked as a clerk for the Beardmore Company in Acton, while no external career is identified for Helen. In later years, the property was later used for both residential and commercial purposes by its owners and is currently used as a residential property. Due to this, no direct and significant historical or associative values have been identified.   

The Wilson-Moore House at 16 Wilbur Street North has contextual value as it is important in defining and maintaining the late-nineteenth century character of the surrounding area. The extant building is physically, visually, and historically linked to its surroundings on Wilbur Street North within the community of Acton. However, due to the modest design and massing, the building has not been identified as a landmark. 

The heritage attributes of the property at 16 Wilbur Street North that contribute to its physical and design value include: 

• The setback, location, and orientation of the existing late-nineteenth century residential building along Wilbur Street North in the community of Acton in the Town of Halton Hills; 

• The scale, form, and massing of the one-and-a-half storey Ontario Gothic Revival Cottage with gable roof; 

• The materials, including the frame construction and roughcast stucco cladding; 

• The front (northeast) elevation, including: 

• The side (southeast and northwest) elevations, including: 

The heritage attribute of the property at 16 Wilbur Street North that contributes to its historical and associative value includes: 

• The legibility of the existing building as a representative example of an Ontario Gothic Revival Cottage residential building along Wilbur Street North in the community of Acton in the Town of Halton Hills.  

The heritage attributes of the property at 16 Wilbur Street North that contribute to its contextual value include: 

• The legibility of the existing building as a representative example of an Ontario Gothic Revival Cottage residential building along Wilbur Street North in the community of Acton in the Town of Halton Hills.  

• The setback, location, and orientation of the existing late-nineteenth century residential building along Wilbur Street North in the community of Acton in the Town of Halton Hills; and, 

• The scale, form, and massing of the one-and-a-half storey Ontario Gothic Revival Cottage.

The front wooden porch, rear addition, rear elevation, rear accessory structure, and interiors have not been identified as heritage attributes as part of this report. 

Further information respecting the Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest and proposed designation of 16 Wilbur Street North (refer to Report PD-2026-069) is available by contacting Laura Loney, Manager of Heritage Planning for the Town of Halton Hills at 905-873-2600 x 2358 or by email at [email protected]

Any person may, by September 13, 2026 (within 30 days after the date of the publication of this notice) serve the Clerk ([email protected]) and Laura Loney notice of their objection to the proposed designation in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act, setting out the reason for the objection and all relevant facts.

Dated at the Town of Halton Hills this 14^th day of August 2026

Laura Loney, Manager of Heritage Planning, Planning and Development, The Corporation of the Town of Halton Hills, 1 Halton Hills Drive, Halton Hills, ON L7G 5G2.