Intention to Designate 265 Mill Street South, Flamborough

Description of Property

The 2.0-hectare property municipally addressed as 265 Mill Street South is comprised of a two-storey stone dwelling constructed in 1846, historically known as Braebourne and the Cummer House. It is located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Mill Street South and Mountain Brow Road, in the former Township of East Flamborough, in the Village of Waterdown in the City of Hamilton.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The cultural heritage value of the property lies in its design value as a representative example of the residential Neoclassical architectural style, as demonstrated by the symmetrical front elevation, hip roof with projecting eaves, second storey Venetian window and central entrance with sidelights and wooden surround. The property also displays a high degree of artistry through the wooden surrounds with pilasters, paneling and carved brackets on the Venetian window and central entrance, and the interior staircase.

The historical value of the property lies in its association with several prominent industrialists and businesspeople, including mill-owner John Cummer (1797-1868) and his son Lockman (1827-1907); wealthy banker and politician Lieutenant-Governor Sir William Pearce Howland (1811-1907); Hamilton industrialist Robert Livingston Innes (1872-1935); and bus-line owner Francis Farwell (1894-1966).

Contextually, this property is important in defining the historic former industrial character of the surrounding area, known as Smokey Hollow. This mill-owner’s house acts as a physical reminder of the many mills and industries which once lined Grindstone Creek and Smokey Hollow. It is visually, historically, and physically linked to its surroundings, being on its original location overlooking Smokey Hollow and close to the location of the Waterdown Flouring Mill.

Key attributes that embody the physical value of the property as being a representative example of residential Neoclassical architecture and in demonstrating a high degree of artisanship, and the historical value for its association with John Cummer and other prominent former owners, include the:

• Front (south) and side (west) elevations and roofline of the two-storey 1846 stone building, including its:
  • Brick chimney;
  • Hip roof with projecting eaves and moulded cornice and brick chimney to the west;
  • Symmetrical three-bay front elevation;
  • Rough cut, rubble-stone walls;
  • Venetian window with wooden surround with pilasters and brackets supporting moulded cornice;
  • Six-over-six hung windows with working shutters;
  • Stone voussoirs and tooled stone lug sills on window and door openings;
  • Paneled wooden front door flanked by sidelights and wooden surround with wooden paneling, pilasters and brackets supporting moulded cornice; and,
  • Stone foundation.
• One-storey sunroom side wing to the west, including its:
  • Flat roof;
  • Six-over-nine hung wood windows; and,
  • Wooden shingle siding.
• Front (south) elevation of the stone first storey side wing to the east, including its six-over-six hung wood windows with stone voussoirs and lug sills.
• Interior features of the centre hallways to the first and second floor, including:
  • Wooden baseboards; and,
  • Central Quarter-sawn American white oak staircase.

The detached accessory structures and the modern covered driveway and glass-in addition are not considered to be heritage attributes.

Key attributes that embody the contextual value of the property as a defining feature of the historical character of Waterdown and the nearby Smokey Hollow include its:

• Location on raised topography at the top of Mill Street South overlooking Smokey Hollow; and,
• Deep setback from Mountain Brow Road with lawns sweeping down to public right-of-way.