One of Bradford West Gwillimbury’s historic farmhouses is set to be recognized with heritage status.
Council approved the committee’s recommendation to proceed with designating the property at 1930 Line 12, also known as Keaney House, as a heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act, during the regular council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024.
The committee made the recommendation during their Jan. 25 meeting based on a cultural heritage evaluation report by Thomas Dysart, senior planner for the town, which assessed the property’s design/physical value, historical/associative value, and contextual value after the owners requested the designation.
According to the report, the 14.5-hectare Keaney House property is located on the north side of Line 12, west of Sideroad 20 in the former township of West Gwillimbury, and includes the original brick farmhouse from 1872 which features elements of Gothic Revival architecture including two-tone brick cladding, a steep gable goof with front gable and a symmetrical shape reinforced by the centre front door flanked by two windows.
The property also includes an agricultural building with a stone foundation and interior hand-hewn beams.
An “excellent example of an early 19th century Ontario farmstead,” the report explains the property is linked to its surroundings, physically, visually and historically, as the property is flanked by agricultural farms, with both properties also currently listed heritage properties as of 2023.
Additionally, the farm is linked to a number of historic West Gwillimbuy settler families, such as the Keaneys, who have contributed to the town’s development.
Council approved the recommendation without discussion.
This is just one of 92 potential heritage properties the town’s heritage committee is looking designate before Jan. 1, 2025.
