How to save a house?

My latest public history project has been learning how to designate a historical home.

What is designation? It refers to the process of labelling a place or space historic and therefore worth conserving and protecting. This does not mean that it is untouchable. Once it is designated, a committee has to approve any changes to ensure that they do not interfere with the heritage qualities of the home.

A property or whole neighbourhood can be designated if it has cultural heritage interest or value. The Ontario Heritage Act has eight criterion, two of which need to be met in order for designation to occur.

Last week my colleagues and I attended a meeting with the Heritage Advisory Committee to save a property and home that we were each given. This week I wrote a report that captured all of my research over the past four months of why this house should be designated. It is safe to say that I have fallen in love with this 159 year old home.

2012 Oxford St W. London ON, Canada. Photo taken by Taylor Northwood, November 2024.

This home was built c.1865 in the Italiante style with Georgian influences. The property itself was purchased by the Kilbourne family in 1805 and has a fascinating history! It has only ever been owned by two families and is perched on top of a hill, rightfully looking down over all the new condominiums.

Who are the Kilbourne's?

In 1796, two brothers named Aaron (1773-1864), and Timothy Kilbourne I (1768-1864) came to

Canada from Litchfield, Connecticut. In 1805, Andrew Westbrook, the son of Anthony Westbrook sold a 200-acre plot of land to Timothy Kilbourne I, this 200 acres included the land that this house was built on. The Westbrook and Kilbourne families were among the first Europeans to settle and help build the township of Delaware in Middlesex County. Timothy Kilbourne's grandson, Harvey Kilbourne, built the home and Harvey's great-grandson, Samuel Kilbourne would be the last to own the home when he died in 1970. After 140 years, the Normile family purchased the land, and they continue to live in the home today...

How did I find this information?

If you've ever wanted to research a person or place in Ontario, you should head to ONland. But be warned, this website has operating hours worse than a bank, if you can believe it. These records may include names, mortgages, dates, wills, "buy and sells", and more. It is a great way to research your property, if you think it has an interesting history.

Abstract Parcel Register Book Plan 376, page 2.

Next you'll want to consult maps from the area that you're interested in learning about. You can even start with Google maps and work your way through aerial maps and historical maps.

This map is from "Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Middlesex" 1878.

The land that Timothy Kilbourne I purchased was a large rectangle-shaped property labelled Lot

D in concession Gore. Knowing the lot and concession number will enable you to find the property on any maps of the area.

Next you will want to contact local historians or source books written on the area. Most Canadian cities have a "From the Vault" type of book which features historical photos from your area. Thankfully, Elizabeth Moyer, a local London historian had a book dedicated to this area, and partially to this family.

Elizabeth Moyer’s Kilworth: The Woodhull Settlement goes into great detail about the extensive

Kilbourne family, including all of the properties they owned, and most of the local institutions

that they were active in creating and supporting. It also helped to lead me to other books on the family. A book written in 1856 by another Kilbourne called, The History and Antiquities of the Name and Family of Kilbourn, details how the family history dates back to 1336 A.D in Kilburn, England! What a revelation! This is significant to me because the Kilbourne family spent the last 200 years in London, ON. One of the criteria for designation is that the home or place in question was inhabited by someone of significance, this revelation makes the prospect of my home's designation more likely!

Let's talk house!

The two-storey yellow brick building has a symmetrical front façade with three bays (shown with the red line), buff brick exterior, river stone foundation, brick scalloping below the roofline (circled in blue), brick banding between the first and second storey (outlined in purple), segmental arch window openings, buff brick voussoirs and keystones (circled in green) it also has a low-pitched roof. The square shape and window cornices are signatures of Italianate architecture, but the symmetry and plain details are notable of Georgian architecture. Where did I learn all this fancy jargon, you ask? The book, Ontario Architecture: a Guide to Styles and Building Terms by John Blumenson. This is the book to read if you want to be able to impress others with your ability to identify any home's style in a jiff!

A Watercolour painting featured in Elizabeth Moyer's Woodhull Settlement, page 57.

If you're interested in the genealogy of your home, or passionate about saving your community's heritage homes from condo buildings, take a look at my designation project and learn what it takes!

Please also leave a comment if you're interested in learning more!

Built Heritage Designation for 2012 Oxford St W

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