NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DESIGNATE: 19 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 19 Wilbur Street North, Regional Municipality of Halton, legally described as “PT LT 50, BLK 7, PL 31, AS IN 478136 ALSO SHOWN ON PL 1098; HALTON HILLS” and known as the Cordiner-Arnold House. 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town of Halton Hills intends to designate the property at 19 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 Cordiner-Arnold House at 19 Wilbur Street North has physical and design value as a representative example of an Edwardian Foursquare building in the community of Acton within the Town of Halton Hills. The building features elements typical of this style, including the massing, hipped roof, smooth brick façade, front porch with semi-white painted wood half columns, American Foursquare layout, as well as the segmentally arched window openings with brick voussoirs and concrete sills. Similar to the adjacent residential buildings at 9 and 13 Wilbur Street North, the existing building reflects the transition from elaborate Victorian designs to more functional and modest styles within the existing neighbourhood during the early 20th century. 

The Cordiner-Arnold House at 19 Wilbur Street North has historical and associative value due to its historical associations with Stephen Cordiner, Beatty Graham Arnold, and John Henry Boulton. The subject property was purchased from the Lawson family by Stephen Cordiner, a local builder, painter, and contractor who worked extensively in the community. Cordiner constructed the extant building, along with adjacent homes at 9 and 13 Wilbur Street North in the same design and architectural style. Cordiner and his wife Emilia were also significantly involved in the local community; Amelia was a member of both the Ladies’ Aid and Women’s Missionary Society, and both were members of Knox Presbyterian Church in Acton. Cordiner also served as a member of Acton’s Town Council during the early-20^th century. 

The first resident of the Cordiner-Arnold House was Beatty Graham Arnold, the son of Herbert Thomas Arnold, a prominent local businessman and glove manufacturer who owned and operated the Excelsior Glove Works in Acton, as well as a mill in Glen Lawson and a glove factory in Georgetown. Beatty Arnold married Agnes Elizabeth Barber (b.1892) daughter of William Barber. Arnold also served during WWI and worked at the Storey Glove Co., Limited, holding the position of Vice-President at the time of his death. 

During his time in Acton, he was significantly involved with the community, serving as an Auditor for the Georgetown Motor Club, Hockey Club within the Georgetown G.W.V.A, Georgetown Baseball Club, a member of the Halton Rifles, Vice-President of the Acton Branch of the Canadian Legion, a Mason in the Halton Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons, No. 234 and later member of Walker Lodge, A.F. & A.M, Secretary of the Board of Managers for Knox Presbyterian Church, and a member of the first Board of Directors for the Acton YMCA. Arnold was also a member of Town Council and for a time the Chairman of Finance. Arnold was also a charter member of the Acton branch of the Canadian Legion in 1931. In 1936 he was chosen as Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission.

The subject property is also associated with John Henry Boulton, another prominent Acton resident. In addition to serving as a local Councillor for the Town of Acton, Boulton worked for the Canadian Wool Co. Ltd., served Vice-President of a local softball league, President of the Acton Branch of the Navy League, member of the Cricket Club, Executive on the Victory Loan Committee, and Chairman of the Group Committee for the local Acton Scout troop. Boulton’s wife, Annie Boulton, was also a member of the I.O.D.E and Scout Mothers’ Auxiliary while in Acton.

The Cordiner-Arnold House at 19 Wilbur Street North has contextual value as it is important in defining and maintaining the early-twentieth-century character along the northwest side of Wilbur Street. Built adjacent to two additional Edwardian residential buildings also constructed by Stephen Cordiner, the extant building is physically, visually, and historically linked to its surroundings. The Cordiner-Arnold House is relative in scale to the surrounding buildings and has not been identified as a landmark. 

The heritage attributes of the property at 19 Wilbur Street North that contribute to its physical and design value include: 

• The setback, location, and orientation of the existing early-20^th-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 two-and-a-half storey Edwardian building;

• The materials, including the red brick exterior, concrete sills, and stone foundation;

• The front (southwest) elevation, including:

• The side (southeast) elevation, including:

• The side (northwest) elevation, including:

The heritage attribute of the property at 19 Wilbur Street North that contributes to its historical and associative value includes: 

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

The heritage attributes of the property at 19 Wilbur Street North that contribute to its contextual value include: 

• The legibility of the existing building as a representative example of an Edwardian Foursquare 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 early-20^th-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 two-and-a-half storey Edwardian building.

Further information respecting the Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest and proposed designation of 19 Wilbur Street North (refer to Report PD-2026-070) 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.