Heritage Register

 RCP 1645 Lot 80 RP, 12R5789 Part 2, municipally known as 25 Walnut Street, Harrow Center, in the Township of Colchester South, within the Town of Essex, and the County of Essex. 

The Harrow British Methodist Episcopal Cemetery is found in Harrow Centre, within the Town of Essex. It is located immediately south of Sanford and Son Supermarket and attached parking space. It contains a series of tombstones set back from a wrought iron fence with an eastward facing gate and stone pillars. The site is currently inactive as a cemetery. 

Heritage attributes:  

Legal Description

PLAN 176 LOTS 202 & 204

General Description of Property

18 Gordon Avenue is located on the southern side of Gordon Avenue within Essex Centre. It is comprised of the former Essex Public Library: a brick building that was built in 1914 following a large donation from Scottish American Philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, to serve as the Essex Public Library.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that encompasses the entirety of the former Essex Public Library or Carnegie Library.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Design/Physical Value

The property has design value or physical value because it is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method.

18 Gordon Avenue retains significant design or physical value because it is an example of an early 20^th century public library building built by Andrew Carnegie in 1914 in the Town of Essex.

The building was built in 1914 after the community received a $6,000 donation from Scottish American Philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, on January 6^th, 1911. The Beaux Arts architectural style is characteristic to other public libraries built by Carnegie at the turn of the 20^th century. This is best seen in the style of the gables, window openings, building size and layout, and decorative voussoirs, alongside motifs depicting what the building’s initial purpose was.

Historical/Associative Value

The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

18 Gordon Avenue retains significant historical or associative value because it has direct associations with an organization and institution that is significant to the community. The Essex Public Library played a significant role in the educational development of Essex Centre throughout the 20^th century and into the 21^st century.

Efforts for the construction of a public library in Essex Centre were started in 1885, 29 years prior to the opening of the building in 1914, as members of the local community felt that there needed to be greater access to education in Essex Centre. Community members began lobbying for a permanent structure for the local library after a committee was formed to create a library in 1885. In 1908, the library became a free public institution aimed at increasing the education and literacy rate in Essex Centre.

On January 6^th, 1911, the community was gifted a $6,000 donation from Scottish American Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to construct a permanent structure for the public library. Carnegie began granting money to municipalities in the United States in the 1880’s to build a public library, as he believed in open access to free education for all and worked to improve literacy rates across the world. He built libraries around the world, including building 125 libraries in communities across Canada.

In the library’s first year of operation, 302 people used its services and over 5,150 books were borrowed. Throughout its years of operation, the number of books that were available for circulation was steadily increased and the Town’s literacy rate steadily improved. It ceased operations in 2005, and it now houses the Essex and Community Historical Research Center. 

The property has historical value or associative value because it demonstrates or reflects the work or ideas of an architect, artist, builder, designer or theorist who is significant to a community.

18 Gordon Avenue has historical or associative value because it demonstrates the work of prominent Windsor architect, James Carlisle Pennington or J. C. Pennington, who used the Beaux Arts architectural style, characteristic of most Carnegie buildings. Alongside designing this building, Pennington worked on designing hundreds of buildings throughout Windsor and Essex County for over 50 years, such as the former Harrow Municipal Building and the additions made to the Essex High School in the 1920s.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the design/physical value of 18 Gordon Avenue, includes:

• The mass, form, and style of the building,
• The brick cladding on all elevations,
• The fieldstone foundation,
• All existing window and doorway openings,
• The decorative voussoirs,
• The sign reading Public Library on the front facade,
• The existing Mansard roof line and peaks,
• The decorative gables,
• The decorative white brick pattern

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical/associative value of 18 Gordon Avenue, includes:

• The location of the building on the south side of Gordon Avenue,
• The sign reading Public Library on the front facade,

Legal Description

PLAN 176 PT LT 90 PT LT 283

General Description of Property

87 Station Street North is located on the southern side of Station Street within Essex Centre. It is comprised of the former Essex Railway Station: a large fieldstone building that was built in 1887, replacing the original wooden station with the stone structure.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that encompasses the entirety of the former Essex Railway Station.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Design/Physical Value

The property has design value or physical value because it displays a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit. 

87 Station Street retains significant design or physical value because it displays a high degree of craftsmanship. The building was constructed in 1887 to replace an earlier structure by the Michigan Central Railway and was the only station along the Canadian Southern Railway to be made out of stone. It has also survived two explosions since its construction and has been restored to its original condition.

Historical/Associative Value

The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

87 Station Street retains significant historical or associative value because it has direct associations with an organization and institution that is significant to the community. The Essex Railway Station played a significant role in the overall development of Essex and the settlement of the surrounding areas.

The railway first came to Essex in 1873, after train tracks were laid across the Talbot Trail and the creation of the Canadian Southern Railway line between Niagra Falls and Windsor. The Essex Station would serve as a central stop on this route and allowed the community to become a transportation hub in Essex County, spurred on by productive lumber and agricultural industries and the establishment of several key services.

In 1883, the Michigan Central Railway leased a portion of the railway from the Canadian Southern Railway, later constructing a branch line that connected Essex to Amherstburg. In 1887, the Michigan Central Railway built the large stone station to replace an earlier structure.

On April 10^th, 1907, the station was heavily damaged in an explosion caused by a box car that had been loaded with 5000 pounds of dynamite, less than 75 yards from the station. The explosion caused a ton of damage in the community, destroying several buildings and industries, such as the original Essex Methodist Church, the electricity plant, two lumber mills, and several commercial buildings and residential homes. Two rail workers were killed by the impact of this explosion; however, many more people were injured throughout the community. Despite being heavily damaged, the Essex Station remained standing and was repaired soon after.

The building served as the community’s train station until 1979, when the last passenger train passed through the community. The rail line would be continued to be used by freight trains, until the fall of 2012 when the rail ties and steel tracks were removed.

Contextual Value

The property has contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area.

49 Talbot Street South retains contextual value because it helps to define the character of the surrounding area through the materials used to construct the building to be unique to the station.

Alongside this, the building helps define and maintain the character of Station Street and the surrounding areas due to its size and history with the railway. The building helps to define the area around heritage park in Essex Center and serves as a main focal point within the community.

The property has contextual value because it is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings.

87 Station Street retains contextual value because it is physically, functionally, and historically linked to its surroundings. It is historically linked to its surroundings due to its use as the Essex Railway Station from its construction in 1887 until the railway tracks were removed in 2012. It now serves as a reminder for what helped establish Essex as the transportation hub of Essex County and helped develop Essex Centre from a small settlement area into a thriving community.

It is both physically and functionally linked to its surroundings as it serves as a reminder about the historic rail line that helped shape Essex Centre into the community it is today. Today, it serves as an important educational and communal space within the community that is aimed at ensuring the importance of the railway is remembered.

The property has contextual value because it is a landmark.

87 Station Street retains contextual value because it serves as a well-known marker within Essex Center due to both its size and longstanding history. It also serves as a defining feature of the community’s landscape, an important feature in maintaining the area’s character.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the design/physical value of 87 Station Street, includes:

• The mass, form, and style of the building,
• The fieldstone on all elevations,
• The stone bricks on the upper elevation,
• All existing window and doorway openings,
• The large arches at the northern side of the building,
• The existing roof lines and peaks,
• The decorative finial,
• The brick chimneys at the southern side of the building,
• The wooden gables on the northern facade,

 The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical/associative value of 87 Station Street, includes:

• The location of the building on the south side of Station Street at the eastern side of heritage park, along the former rail line

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 87 Station Street, includes:

• The location of the building on the south side of Station Street at the eastern side of heritage park, along the former rail line

Part of Lot 84, Concession One, Township of Colchester South, within the Town of Essex, in the County of Essex.

Part of Lot 41, Concession One, Designated as Part 3 on Plan12R14832; Town of Essex.  

Parts of Lots 92 and 93, Registered Plan 176, in the Town of Essex, Essex County, Ontario. Lot area is 0.27 acres, Lot frontage is 57 feet, Map Roll Number is 130-01100- Single detached residential dwelling. 

This building is located on Parts of Lots 92 and 93, Registered Plan 176, in Essex Center. Proven documents, including the 1870 Assessment Roll book, show that it was built in or before 1870. Documents have not been found to prove the building existed before this date. This clad building was used during the time of the building of the rail line, (Michigan Central at that time). In the 1888 deed, the new owner is referred to as a hotel keeper, and in a later document, there is reference this being a hotel building known as the Essex House. The words “Hot Tea and Coffee” are painted on the side of the house. 

Heritage Attributes: 

• Age of building proven using the 1870 Assessment Roll book 

Part of Lot 7, Concession Gore, Township of Colchester South, within the Town of Essex, in the County of Essex. 

Part of Lot 8, Concession Gore, Township of Colchester South, within the Town of Essex, in the County of Essex. 

Concession 1, Part of Lot 42, in the former Township of Colchester South, Essex County, Ontario. Lot Area-0.17 acres, Lot Frontage- 85.14 feet, Map Roll Number 620-17000- Cemetery. 

Legal Description

PLAN 18 PT LT 5

General Description of Property

190 Bagot Street is located at the northeast corner of Bagot and Sulivan Street, opposite the Christ Church Cemetery (0 Sullivan Street) in the Hamlet of Colchester, Town of Essex.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that includes the white frame Church built in 1876.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Historical/Associative Value

The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

190 Bagot Street retains historical value because it has direct associations with people and an organization that was significant to the development of the Colchester Community. The historical value of the Christ Church lies in the building's connection to the religious, educational, and communal development of Colchester and the church’s overall connection to William McCormick and Reverand Richard Pollard.

The congregation of the Christ Church has a direct association with Reverend Richard Pollard, chaplain of the garrison at Amherstburg and the first ordained clergyman of the Church of England in Essex County. Reverend Pollard would serve as minister to congregations in communities throughout Essex County and encouraged each area to build a school. In 1807, Reverand Pollard would begin walking from his home in Amherstburg to minister a small Anglican congregation in Colchester, establishing and developing a small religious community within the small community.

In 1820, William McCormick would build the first iteration of the Christ Church on the site of the Christ Church cemetery out of limestone from Pelee Island, to accommodate the growing congregation. William McCormick was the son of Alexander McCormick, the first postmaster of Colchester, a magistrate, an elected Member of Parliament for Upper Canada from 1812 to 1824 and is largely credited within developing Colchester and later, Pelee Island.

By the 1860s, the bank of Lake Erie was quickly eroding, which caused concern for the longevity of the Church and by the 1870s the building needed major repairs. In 1872, a deed was registered for the current property of the church, and it was determined by the congregation that it would be better to build a new church rather than repair the original. The current church would be built in 1876.

Contextual Value

The property has contextual value because it is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings.

190 Bagot Street retains contextual value because it is historically, functionally, and visually linked to its surroundings, specifically the Christ Church Cemetery, the rectory at 220 Bagot Street, the Colchester Schoolhouse, and Lake Erie. The Christ Church played a role in establishing and developing a religious community and education within the community of Colchester. It is connected to several influential settler families and was a fundamental community space for these early settlers, many of whom are buried in the Christ Church Cemetery. Alongside this, the Christ Church temporarily served as the community’s schoolhouse, after the original log schoolhouse was lost to erosion. It would serve as the schoolhouse until 1881, when the Colchester Schoolhouse was built.

The property has contextual value because it is a landmark

190 Bagot Street retains contextual value because it serves as a defining feature in the community of Colchester and as a waypoint within the community.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical/associative value of 190 Bagot Street includes:

• The mass, form, and style of the Church building,
• The white, wooden cladding in a clapboard siding style,
• The church tower with cross finial,
• The brick chimney,
• All existing window openings and the twelve (12) stained glass windows,
• All existing door openings,
• The building's roofline and peak.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 190 Bagot Street include:

• The location of the Church Building at the northeast corner of Bagot and Sullivan Street.

Legal Description

PLAN 18 LOTS 3&4 PT LOT 2 E/S BAGOT PT LOTS 2 TO 4 & W/S CLITHEROW

General Description of Property

 0 Sullivan Street is located on the southern side of Sullivan Street, opposite Christ Church (190 Bagot Street), at the intersection of Bagot Street and Sullivan Street, in the Hamlet of Colchester, in the Town of Essex.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

 The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that includes the cemetery and the 1957 Christ Church Memorial Chapel.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest Historical/Associative Value

 The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

The Christ Church Cemetery is the final resting place of Colchester’s earliest settlers and settler families with the earliest headstone dating back to the early 19th century. Alongside this, the Christ Church cemetery has direct associations with the Christ Church, having been the site of the original Christ Church built in 1820 and dedicated in 1821. Christ Church is a significant spiritual pillar for the Community of Colchester. The Christ Church cemetery includes a replica chapel of the original Church that was lost to erosion in the late 19th century. The replica was built in 1957 using limestone from the ruins of the original church. An engraved stone marks the location of the original church on the cemetery lands.

The property has historical value or associative value because it yields, or has the potential to yield, information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture

The Christ Church cemetery yields and has the potential to yield information that contributes to an understanding of the Colchester and Harrow communities. Interred at the cemetery are members of the area’s earliest families including, but not limited to, the Levergood, Brush, Pardo, Wright, and Adams families. This site is representative of the relationships that were present between the early settler families. It also has the potential to yield information about the types of burials and headstones that were common throughout the decades, and past members of the Christ Church congregation.

Contextual Value

 The property has contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area.

The Christ Church cemetery is located within the area of the Christ Church (Built in 1876) and the Colchester Schoolhouse (built in 1881). Together, these buildings and cultural landscapes comprise the location of the area’s earliest spiritual and educational institutions. The location of the Christ Church cemetery helps maintain and define the historical character of the area.

The property has contextual value because it is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings

The Christ Church cemetery retains its contextual value because it is historically, functionally, and visually linked to its surroundings, specifically with the Christ Church located at 190 Bagot Street (built in 1876); the Colchester Schoolhouse (built in 1881); and, Lake Erie. It still serves as an active cemetery for members of the Christ Church congregation and helps preserve the history of some of the areas earliest settler families

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical/associative value that has direct associations with the institution of Christ Church and persons interred at the cemetery which have significance to the community, includes:

• The Cemetery’s location at the southern side of Sullivan Street and parallel to the banks of Lake Erie; and,
• The 1957 limestone Christ Church Chapel existing on the cemetery lands, including the chapel’s roof line, window openings, limestone brickwork, and large cross carving on the eastern wall of the chapel above the entrance.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical and associative value which yield, of has the potential to yield, information that contributes to the understanding of the Colchester community and culture, includes:

• All existing burials and headstones. The key heritage attributes that has contextual value that is important in defining, maintaining and supporting the character of the area includes:
• Its location adjacent the Christ Church at 190 Bagot Street and the Colchester Schoolhouse at 195 Bagot Street.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the contextual value of the Christ Church Cemetery that are physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings includes:

• The location of the cemetery adjacent to the Christ Church at 190 Bagot Street
• The grave markers identifying the final resting place of Colchester’s earliest settlers and their families
• Shared burial pattern symbolic of collaboration between Colchester’s settler families and of a large religious community
• Location, mass, form, and style of the limestone 1957 replica chapel
• Location of all existing burials and headstones.

Legal Description

CON 1 PT LOT 73 T/W & S/T ROW’S

General Description of Property

179 County Road 50 is a 1.4 hectare residential lot located on the south side of County Road 50, just west of Walnut Lane and the Hamlet of Colchester, and fronting on Lake Erie.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that colonial style home built in 1813.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Design/Physical Value

The property has design value or physical value because it is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method.

179 County Road 50 retains design and physical value because it is a rare representation of a colonial home built in a Loyalist architectural style with inspiration from a log house. The house demonstrates this style primarily through its layout, the materials used to construct it, the roof line, and the windows and window placement.

Historical/Associative Value

The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

179 County Road 50 retains historical or associative value because it has direct associations with John Snider who built the home in 1813. John Snider was a United Empire Loyalist (U.E.L) who settled in Colchester in the 1790s following his family’s escape from the United States after the American War of Independence. Like other United Empire Loyalist’s, Snider refused to fight alongside the revolutionaries during the American War of Independence, remaining loyal to the British Crown, and migrated north immediately following the conflict to avoid persecution.

Many loyalist families were granted land in both Upper and Lower-Canada by the government of King George III for their loyalty to the crown. This aided in the further settlement of both Upper and Lower-Canada and in the development of English-speaking Canada.

Snider was granted the entirety of Lot 73 just west of the village of Colchester by King George III. It is purported that from the house's location, builders were able to hear cannons being fired during the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813. Snider died on May 17, 1828, and he and his wife, Elizabeth, are buried at the Tofflemire-Snider Cemetery just east of the Hamlet of Colchester.

The property has historical value or associative value because it yields, or has the potential to yield, information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture.

179 County Road 50 retains historical or associative value because it has the potential to yield information on the lifestyle of some of the earliest settlers in the area and showcases the parcels that were often granted to United Empire Loyalists by King George III. The house showcases the types of materials and construction methods of the era and is connected to one of the first settler families in the area.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the design and physical value of 179 County Road 50, includes:

• All existing window openings and door openings,
• The limestone and walnut logs forming the foundation and walls,
• The brick chimney,
• The existing shape of the roof line and roof peaks.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical/associative value that has direct associations with John Snider and the Snider family include:

• The location of the house on the southern side of County Road 50, along the northern shore of Lake Erie,
• The location of the house on the lands with a view of Lake Erie and the surrounding farmland,
• The views and vistas of Lake Erie from the house,
• Unencumbered access from the House to Lake Erie

Legal Description

PLAN 206 LOT 3 LOT 4

General Description of Property

120 Talbot Street North is located on the west side of Talbot Street within Essex Centre. It is comprised of the Grace Baptist Church: a red brick church that was built in 1875 on Medora Avenue and moved to the current property following the 1907 Essex Rail Explosion.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that includes the Grace Baptist Church building built in 1875.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Historical/Associative Value

The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

120 Talbot Street North retains significant historical or associative value because it has direct associations with beliefs, organizations, and institutions that are significant to the community. The church was built on the southern side of Medora Ave. in 1875 and was a pillar within the community, aiding in the development of religion, education, and community within Essex Center. The church housed some of the earliest congregations in Essex Center, such as the Methodist Episcopal Church congregation from 1875 until 1884 and the First Baptist Church starting in 1888.

The church was built in 1875, primarily through the efforts of George Wilson, a local businessman and property developer who worked closely with Alexander Cameron, Edwin C. Lewis, and James Robinson, and was dedicated on December 5th, 1875. It served as the Methodist Episcopal Church until 1884 when the church amalgamated with another Methodist Church in the community, the Grace Methodist Church located on the corner of Fox and Gordon Street. After its closure, the building would become an educational pillar within the community. Church trustees would rent out the building temporarily to the local school board and serve as the 1st public high school in Essex Center from 1884 until 1885, with the original Essex High School opening.

In 1888, the church was sold to a local Baptist Congregation for $1,000 and would become the First Baptist Church of Essex. In 1907, the church was severely damaged following the 1907 Essex Rail Explosion, with only the church’s frame being salvageable. The congregation opted to move the church frame to its current location on Talbot Street following the incident and worked to restore the building to its former glory. Each member of the congregation could pledge 10 cents to purchase bricks for the exterior and fund the rebuilding effort.

The church would remain open until 1969, when the expanding congregation would move into a larger building on Maidstone Ave. A new congregation would take over the building soon after and rename it the Grace Baptist Church of Essex.

Contextual Value

The property has contextual value because it is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings.

120 Talbot Street North retains contextual value because it is both functionally and historically linked to its surroundings. It is historically linked to its surroundings due to its relocation to the property following the 1907 Essex Rail Explosion, as a means for the congregation to preserve their beloved church. This allowed the church to remain a part of the community and help shape the look of Talbot Street North.

It is functionally linked to its surroundings as there is still an active congregation within the building and it continues to serve as an important religious and communal space within the Town of Essex.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical/associative value of 120 Talbot Street North includes:

• The location of the church on the western side of Talbot Street North within Essex Centre,
• The mass, form, and style of the church building,
• The red brick cladding on all levels of the building,
• All existing window openings and stained-glass window pieces with brick voussoirs and underscored by brick sills,
• Inset engraved stone,
• The roof lines and peaks.

Key Exterior attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 120 Talbot Street North, Include its:

• The location of the Church on the western side of Talbot Street North within Essex Centre.

Legal Description

PLAN 267 LOTS 8 TO 11 LOTS 21 TO 23 PT LTS 7 & 24 PT CLSD ALLEY

General Description of Property

49 Talbot Street South is located on the eastern side of Talbot Street within Essex Centre. It is comprised of the Essex United Church: a large red brick church that was built in 1908 and expanded in 1958.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that includes the original portion of the Essex United Church built in 1908.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Historical/Associative Value

The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

49 Talbot Street South retains significant historical or associative value because it has direct associations with beliefs, organizations, and institutions that are significant to the community. The Essex United Church served as a pillar within Essex Center, helping develop and maintain an important religious and communal space within the community from 1908 until its closure in 2024.

The Essex United Church is connected to one of the earliest Methodist congregations to have formed in Essex Center and the congregation dates back to the 1870s. The original church, the Canada Methodist Church, was built in 1876 and was located on the corner of Fox Street and Gordon Avenue. In 1884, the congregation of the church would grow as the community’s two Methodist churches amalgamated and the church was expanded to accommodate this growth.

In 1907, the church was damaged beyond repair during the 1907 Essex Rail Explosion and the congregation opt to build a new church in 1908 on the present property. Construction of the new church was done under the congregation's guidance, and the cornerstone would be laid on May 25, 1908. The first service in the new church was held on February 28th, 1909.

In 1925, the church would officially become Grace United Church, with the amalgamation of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches of Canada and the establishment of the United Church of Canada. In 1946, the building would become the Essex United Church and in 1958, the church would undergo a massive expansion to accommodate the rapidly growing congregation. This expansion would include the addition of a new hall, several classrooms for the extensive Sunday School class, a vestry, boardroom, and a parlor.

The church’s pipe organ would be installed in 1927 by the Casavant family of Quebec, who are famous organ builders who are known for their craftsmanship and have work across the world.

Contextual Value

The property has contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area.

49 Talbot Street South retains contextual value because it maintains and supports the character of the surrounding area through the materials used to construct the building being similar to the surrounding area. The red brick seen in the church can be seen in the homes at 54 Talbot Street South, 94 Talbot Street South, 98 Talbot Street South, and 102 Talbot Street South.

Alongside this, the building helps define and maintain the character of Talbot Street South due to its size. The buildings size helps define Essex Center’s skyline and serves as a main focal point within the community. The congregation of this church was comprised of the two congregations from the former Grace Methodist and the Methodist Episcopal Churches after they amalgamated in 1884. Following the 1907 Essex Rail Explosion, the congregation advocated for the construction of a new church and would lay the cornerstone of the new church on May 25, 1908.

The property has contextual value because it is a landmark.

49 Talbot Street South retains contextual value because it serves as a well-known marker within Essex Center due to both its size and longstanding history. It also serves as a defining feature of the community’s landscape, an important feature in maintaining the area’s character, and as a waypoint within Essex Center.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical/associative value of 49 Talbot Street South, includes:

• The location of the church at the eastern side of Talbot Street within Essex Center;
• The mass, form, and style of the original church built in 1908, excluding the 1958 additions;
• The red brick cladding on the original church, excluding the 1958 additions,
• All existing windows and stained-glass pieces with limestone voussoirs and underscored by brick sills on the sanctuary and original portion of the church,
• The large red brick tower and square belfry with bell from the Canada Methodist Church, • The existing roof lines and peaks,
• The small square roof belfry and all existing finials,
• Inset engraved cornerstone,
• Small circular vent openings on the northern and southern side of the building;
• The existing limestone foundation,
• The brick chimney,
• Geodetic Survey of Canada benchmark on the south-eastern side of the building,
• The 1927 Casavant Organ with 27 stops over 3 manuals,
• The tin ceilings,
• The balcony within the sanctuary.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 49 Talbot Street South, includes:

• The location of the church at the eastern side of Talbot Street within Essex Centre,
• The original 1908 church structure and all additions made, excluding the 1958 additions.

Legal Description

PLAN 207 LOT 3 PT LOT 4 RP 12R4953 PART 1 PART 3

General Description of Property

54 Talbot Street South is located on the east side of Talbot Street within Essex Centre. It is comprised of the Dr. Robert B. Potts House: a red brick house that was built prior to 1885 in the Queen Anne Revival architectural style.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that includes the house built prior to 1885.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Design/Physical Value

The property has design value or physical value because it is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method.

54 Talbot Street South retains significant design or physical value because it is a rare example of a late 19th century Victorian hybrid home built in the Queen Anne Revival architectural style, that also showcases clear inspiration from the Gothic-Revival and Italianate styles.

The house was built prior to 1885, with the property having surveyor plans done by James S. Laird in 1878, at a time when the Queen Anne Revival style was popular amongst the wealthy upper middle classes. The style is marked by red brick, bay windows, differing wall textures, and steep, gabled roofs. These features can be seen throughout the building at 54 Talbot Street South, alongside decorative corbels and gables.

Contextual Value

The property has contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area.

54 Talbot Street South retains significant contextual value because it is important in defining and maintaining the character of Talbot Street South. The building helps define and maintain the character of the area through the material that was used to construct it being similar to buildings in the surrounding area. The red brick cladding that is seen on the exterior of the house is similar to that used to build the Essex United Church (49 Talbot Street South), 94 Talbot Street South, 98 Talbot Street South, and 102 Talbot Street South.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the design/physical value of 54 Talbot Street South includes:

• The mass, form, and style of the house;
• The Bay windows on the front of the building,
• The red brick cladding in a common brick bond,
• All existing window openings topped with brick voussoirs and lines with wooden sills/frames,
• Decorative corbels lining the bay windows,
• The existing roof lines and peaks,
• The door opening and surrounding wooden frame.

Key exterior attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 54 Talbot Street South, include its:

• The location of the house on the western side of Talbot Street.

Legal Description

PLAN 263 PT LOT 31 RP 12R5646 PART 1

General Description of Property

138 Albert Street is located on the western corner of Albert Street and Medora Avenue West within the settlement area of Essex Centre. It is comprised of the Charles Roberts House: a two-storey, red brick house that was built in 1876 or 1877 in the Second Empire architectural style.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that includes the two-storey, red brick house built in the 1800s.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Design/Physical Value

The property has design value or physical value because it is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method.

138 Albert Street retains significant design or physical value because it is an example of the Second Empire architectural style, which is rarely seen in Essex Center in the condition that it is in. The house was built as a part of an 1876 or 1877 development of the north end of Talbot Street, initiated by George Wilson and Alexander Cameron.

The Second Empire architectural style is characterized by its use of towers, turrets, the mansard roof line, balconies, and dormer windows that were lined with lavish moldings. It was popularized in Ontario by the wealthy upper-middle classes during the 1860’s and remained popular until the late 1880’s, due to its lavish designs and many embellishments. These characteristics can be seen used throughout the building at 138 Albert Street.

Historical/Associative Value

The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

138 Albert Street retains historical value because it has direct associations with different people that are significant to Essex Center and the surrounding areas, including George Wilson, Charles W. Roberts, and Myron C. “Tiny” Roberts.

The home was built under the guidance of George Wilson. Wilson was a businessman who worked closely with Alexander Cameron in establishing several industries within Essex Center, including grain warehouse with a grain elevator (which was built in 1874/5), a public hall and mercantile store ("Wilson Hall" was primarily used by religious communities before they built their own places of worship, council elections, political gatherings, and other civic purposes essential to building the town), and a general store. This home was built as part of an 1876 or 1877 development of the north end of Talbot Street, initiated by George Wilson and Alexander Cameron.

Alongside this, the house was owned by Charles W. Roberts, the founder of C. W. Roberts & Sons Meat Market, and his family. He opened C. W. Roberts & Sons Meat Market in 1912 and ran it until his death in 1931 with his sons Franklin and Earl. His sons took it over after his death and ran the business until October 1962, when they sold it to Gerry and Herman Schinkel. Before opening his business in 1912, he was an occupational farmer in Colchester South from the 1880’s and into the 1900s, when he moved to Essex Center to start his business.

It was also the home of Charles Roberts youngest son, Myron C. Tiny Roberts, a local jazz musician and the leader of his 15-man band the Tiny Roberts Orchestra. They frequently played at the Coral Gables (a dance hall in Windsor), the Roxy Ballroom in Walkerville, the McGregor Hotel, and on the decks of the Boblo boat's ballroom. The orchestra was popular throughout Windsor- Essex County during the latter half of the 1920s and into the 1930s. He would make several popular albums in Windsor and Detroit, working with musicians like Benny Goodman, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.

Contextual Value

The property has contextual value because it is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings.

138 Albert Street retains contextual value because it is historically linked to its surroundings because it was a part of a development done by George Wilson to expand the northern side of Talbot Street and allow for greater settlement within Essex Center. This development would include the creation of three new streets that would run parallel to Talbot Street (Albert, Harvey, and Thomas) and several new houses to accommodate the rapidly growing population in Essex Center.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the design/physical value of 138 Albert Street, includes:

• The mass, form, and style of the house,
• The red brick cladding in common brick bond,
• All existing dormer window openings with wooden moldings,
• Decorative corbels and gables on roof,
• The distinctive tower and turret,
• The mansard roof line,
• Red brick chimney,
• The porch,
• All existing roof lines and peaks and the decorative shingles,
• Decorative corbels lining the roof,
• The door opening and surrounding wooden frame and transom,
• The bay windows.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical/associative value of 138 Albert Street, include its:

• The location of the house on the western corner of Albert Street and Medora Avenue West.

Key exterior attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 138 Albert Street, include its:

• Location of the house on the western corner of Albert Street and Medora Avenue West.

Legal Description

CON SMR N PT LOT 18

General Description of Property

The African Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, also referred to as the New Canaan Cemetery, is located at 0 County Road 12, on the south side of County Road 12, just west of the hamlet of Gesto. The cemetery is not visible from the street front and is accessed from County Road 12 through a 22-foot wide right-of-way. It is comprised of the A.M.E/New Canaan Cemetery: a small historically Black cemetery that dates back to the early 19th century and houses _ headstones on a cement pad.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that includes the cemetery all existing marked and unmarked burials.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Historical/Associative Value

The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

0 County Road 12 retains significant historical value because it has direct associations with significant people, such as Delos R. Davis, and the New Canaan settlement, a historically Black settlement that was settled by individuals who had come to Canada via the Underground Railroad. The African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E)/New Canaan Cemetery, also known as the Chavis Cemetery due to the number of Chavis’ buried there, is the only remaining part of the New Canaan Settlement.

New Canaan was a small, historically Black, settlement that was established by African American freedom seekers who arrived in Canada in the early 19th century, via the Underground Railroad. Families first began settling in Colchester North in the early 1830s, with the desire to own land and establish communities for themselves. The very first freedom seekers settled in New Canaan in the early 1830s and by 1840, it was a thriving community comprised of about 20 families living in and around the area. They acquired land through "Clergy Reserves" and the Canada Company, a private land development company that worked to aid in the colonization and settlement of land in Upper Canada. At the community’s peak in 1900, it consisted of 2 churches, a cemetery, a school, and a small grocery store with a post office, and in 1909, the population reached approximately 60 people.

The cemetery is also the final resting place of Delos R. Davis, the first Freedom Seeker to become a lawyer in Canada, and the first Black man to make the King's Counsel in the British Empire. Davis would have a large impact on the community of New Canaan and nearby Black communities, like Harrow and Gilgal, as he advocated for the education of children. Before becoming a lawyer, he taught at the Gilgal A.M.E school in the early 1870s, until he resigned and began pursuing his career in law. He began to study law under attorney Charles Robert Horne and would become a Notary for the Province of Ontario on June 19, 1873. Due to his race, he was unable to complete his education, as the Law Society of Ontario required that all students work with an established lawyer, before writing their examinations for The Bar. No lawyer in the area would hire him and he was unable to complete his education until 1886, after a special act authorizing the Supreme Court of Judicature for Ontario to admit him as a solicitor. This act was pushed by M.P.P William Douglas Balfour and on Nov. 15, 1886, Delos R. Davis was admitted to The Bar.

The property has historical value or associative value because it yields, or has the potential to yield, information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture.

0 County Road 12 retains significant historical or associative value because it has the potential to yield information about the New Canaan Settlement and the area's earliest families and their lives. The property provides evidence to the settlement of New Canaan by some of the earliest freedom seekers and can help showcase the community’s development and eventual fall.

Alongside this, the property is significant because of its associations with numerous influential Black families from across Windsor and Essex County, including the Chavis, Davis, and Nolan families.

Contextual Value

The property has contextual value because it is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings

0 County Road 12 retains contextual value because it is physically and historically linked to its surroundings due to it being the only remaining part of the New Canaan Settlement.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical/associative value of 0 County Road 12 includes:

• Its location on the south side of County Road 12 in the former settlement of New Canaan,
• All existing burials and headstones,
• The cement pad with inset headstones.

Key attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 0 County Road 12, includes:

• Its location on the south side of County Road 12 in the former settlement of New Canaan. 

Legal Description

CON 4 PT LOT 9

General Description of Property

4005 County Road 11 is located in an agricultural area on the Northwest corner of County Road 11 and 4th Concession Road, just North of the Settlement Area of Harrow on a 1.5 Hectare lot.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that includes the Central Grove Methodist Episcopal Church (a red brick Church built in 1910) and the Central Grove Cemetery which includes a large white monument.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Historical/Associative Value

The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

4005 County Road 11 retains significant historical and associative value because it has direct associations with people and an organization that is significant to both the community of Harrow and the Black community of Windsor and Essex County.

Built in 1910 with the frame of the original Grace Methodist Church in Essex to replace an earlier structure, the Central Grove African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E)l Church has continued to be an important space for the development of religion and community within Harrow and the surrounding area.

The Central Grove A.M.E. church was originally founded in 1888 by local Black families after Reverand Joesph O’Benyon, a preacher from Sarnia, came to the area and hosted an evangelical campaign promoting the doctrines of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The property was purchased in 1888 from Theodore Larabee for $200.00 by members of a small committee, namely James Johnson, Henry Graham, James W. Dennis, Squire Hamilton, and Peter Jackson. Originally, the congregation met outside until a small frame church was built at the end of 1888. The church was named Central Grove due to its location, being a central location for people from the communities of Pleasant Valley, Gilgal, and New Canaan.

In 1910, church trustees acquired the frame of the former Grace Methodist Church of Essex for $210.00, that was heavily damaged because of the 1907 Essex Rail Explosion. Members of the congregation and the surrounding Black settlements worked to construct a new facade, under the leadership of William Kersey and Ezra Davey.

Anthony Banks was one of the members of the congregation that helped construct the new church. He was very involved with the Colchester South community and the Central Grove A.M.E Church, as he was one of the founding members in 1888. He advocated for access to education and served as a schoolboard trustee. Banks was also the 1st Black constable of Essex County, appointed on April 12th, 1881, the Deputy Warden for the Ontario Game and Fishing Commission, a Bailiff, and Road Master. He is buried in the cemetery behind the church, along with his wife, Susan.

Delos R. Davis also helped construct the new church. He was the first Freedom Seeker to become a lawyer in Canada, and the first Black man to make the King's Counsel in the British Empire. Davis would have a large impact on the community of New Canaan and nearby Black communities, like Harrow and Gilgal, as he advocated for the education of children. Before becoming a lawyer, he taught at the Gilgal A.M.E school in the early 1870s, until he resigned and began pursuing his career in law. He began to study law under attorney Charles Robert Horne and would become a Notary for the Province of Ontario on June 19, 1873. Due to his race, he was unable to complete his education, as the Law Society of Ontario required that all students work with an established lawyer, before writing their examinations for The Bar. No lawyer in the area would hire him and he was unable to complete his education until 1886, after a special act authorizing the Supreme Court of Judicature for Ontario to admit him as a solicitor. This act was pushed by M.P.P William Douglas Balfour and on Nov. 15, 1886, Delos R. Davis was admitted to The Bar.

The property has historical value or associative value because it yields, or has the potential to yield, information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture.

4005 County Road 11 retains significant historical and associative value because it has the potential to yield information about the communities of New Canaan, Pleasent Valley, and the Black community of Harrow. The church was connected to several historic Black communities within the surrounding area and served as a space for members of those communities to congregate and interact with each other. The church would aid in the greater development of the Black community and serves as a reminder of all of these settlements.

Alongside this, the property can provide information about prominent Black families connected to the church through the Central Grove Cemetery. It provides information on the family history of those families, their lifestyles, and the types of burials and headstones that were commonly used throughout the cemetery’s use.

Contextual Value

The property has contextual value because it is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings.

4005 County Road 11 retains contextual value because it is physically linked to its surroundings due to the Central Grove Cemetery. The Central Grove Cemetery is a historically Black cemetery that was established as early as the 1860s by African American freedom seekers who had come to Canada after fleeing slavery in the United States via the Underground railroad. The cemetery has connections to various prominent Black families and is still in use by the descendants of those original families.

The property has contextual value because it is a landmark

4005 County Road 11 retains contextual value because it serves as a landmark. It is a well-known marker within the community due to its longstanding history and connection to the Black community of Windsor and Essex County. It also serves as a waypoint within the Town of Essex, as it sits at the intersection of County Road 11 and the 4th Concession Road.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical and associative value of 4005 County Road 11 includes:

• The mass, form, and style of the church,
• The red brick cladding on the exterior of the sanctuary,
• All existing window openings and wooden sills,
• Wooden molding above windows,
• Roof line and peak, 
• Inset stone on the front façade,
• Fieldstone foundation,
• The wooden door and white molding above the door frame,
• All existing burials and headstones,
• The white monument in the middle of the cemetery.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 4005 County Road 11 as being physically, functionally, visually and historically linked to its surroundings and as a landmark includes:

• The location of the Church and cemetery on lands at the northwest corner of County Road 11 and the 4th Concession Road, central to the communities of Pleasant Valley, Gilgal, New Canaan and Harrow.
• The location of the cemetery on the lands.

Legal Description

RCP 1645 LOT 32

General Description of Property

11 King Street West is in the commercial district of the former Township of Harrow, now Town of Essex, on the south side of King Street, in between 15 King Street West and 5 King Street West.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that includes the two-storey, brick commercial building built in the late 19th century.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Historical/Associative Value

The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

11 King Street West retains its historical and associative value because it has direct associations with E. F. Darby, the first Mayor of the Town of Harrow following its incorporation in 1930. E. F. Darby was instrumental in lobbying the government of Ontario to pass a special statue that would incorporate the Town of Harrow.

Edmund F. Darby was also the Town’s druggist (pharmacist) and registered optometrist. The commercial building was constructed in 1890. Darby operated his business, Darby’s Drug Store, from 11 King St. West for over 50 years.

Contextual Value

The property has contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area.

11 King Street West is located within the area of downtown Harrow. Downtown Harrow includes several buildings which are the earliest buildings blocks of Harrow’s commercial district. 11 King Street West is important in defining, maintaining and supporting the character of downtown Harrow because it is one of the original building blocks of Harrow and is reflective of architecture for late 19th century commercia buildings.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical/associative value that has direct associations with E.F. Darby includes:

• The buildings' location in the commercial district of Harrow along King Street.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 11 King Street West includes:

• The location of the building in the commercial district of Harrow,
• The mass, form, and style of the commercial building,
• The brick cladding on all elevations of the building,
• All existing window and door openings and the decorative features around them.

Legal Description

RCP 1645 LOT 34

General Description of Property

3 King Street West is located in the former township of Harrow, now Town of Essex, on the south side of King Street and at the corner of King Street West and McAffee Street, opposite 21 King Street East.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that includes the two-storey red brick commercial building

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Historical/Associative Value

The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

3 King Street West retains its historical and associative value because it has direct associations with John McAfee. McAffee was a civil engineer who worked for Hiram Walker in the 1880s and surveyed the area in and surrounding Harrow for the construction of the Lake Erie, Essex, and Detroit River railway. McAfee was also an influential businessman who helped develop Harrow’s downtown core during the late 19th century, helped organize the first Harrow Fair in 1878, and contributed much to the growth of Harrow and the surrounding rural areas.

The building is one of the original building blocks of downtown Harrow, having been built prior to 1883, prior to the completion of McAffee Street in 1888.

Contextual Value

The property has contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area.

3 King Street West is located within the area of downtown Harrow. Downtown Harrow includes several buildings which are the earliest buildings blocks of Harrow’s commercial district. 3 King Street West is important in defining, maintaining and supporting the character of downtown Harrow because it is one of the original building blocks of Harrow and is reflective of architecture for late 19th century commercia buildings.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical/associative value that has direct associations with John McAffee includes:

• The buildings' location at the corner of King Street West and McAffee Street.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 3 King Street West, includes:

• The location of the building in the commercial district of Harrow,
• The mass, form, and style of the commercial building,
• The red brick cladding in common brick bond on all elevations of the building,
• All existing window openings topped with rowlock and header brick voussoirs on the building,
• Decorative inlaid white bricks,
• Decorative frieze on the front façade.

Legal Description

PLAN 180 PT LOT 1

General Description of Property

The Independant Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F) Building is located at 22 King Street West, on the northwest corner of King and Queen Street. It is comprised of the former I.O.O.F. building: a large, two-storey, red brick building.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the two-storey, red brick commercial building built in 1915.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Historical/Associative

The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

22 King Street West retains significant historical value because it has direct associations with an organization that is significant to a community, specifically the I.O.O.F. Harrow branch #309. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) is a fraternal organization that came out of the Order of Oddfellows in the early 19th century, however the organization’s practices date back to the early 18th century. The I.O.O.F. Harrow branch #309 was founded in the early 1880’s and officially received their charter on May 15th, 1894. They first met in the Foresters Hall building and had the building dedicated on November 21st, 1894. However, they would be forced to relocate soon after due to a fire that destroyed the building and moved to a building on the Drummond block. They later moved to a Baptist Church on Queen Street.

The buildings on the corner of King and Queen Street burnt down in the early 1900’s and the lot remained vacant for 10 years. In 1912, the Harrow I.O.O.F. worked to purchase the property from C. I. Pastorious, due to their civic pride and desire to maintain the character of Harrow’s downtown. They instituted a Labour Day Celebration with a parade and different sporting events to raise funds and they were able to purchase the property on August 31st, 1912, for $1,500. Construction on the building began in 1915 and was completed in 1916. The Harrow I.O.O.F. officially moved into their new lodge in June 1916 and had the building dedicated on February 12th, 1917. They used the building until it was sold in 1989/1990.

Many influential members of the Harrow community were members of the I.O.O.F., such as E. F. Darby, the first mayor of Harrow. They worked to maintain the character of Harrow and bring various opportunities to the community through fundraising and community building.

The property has historical value or associative value because it demonstrates or reflects the work or ideas of an architect, artist, builder, designer or theorist who is significant to a community.

22 King Street West retains significant historical and associative value because it reflects the work of Kingsville architect, Thomas Jenner, who designed the building in September 1912. Thomas Jenner is an architect and building contractor who worked primarily in Kingsville and Harrow, designing a few buildings in each community.

Jenner was responsible for designing buildings such as the Harrow Methodist Church, now known as the Harrow United Church. This building is a great example of his work, as it showcases his attention to detail and is largely reflective of Harrow’s downtown core.

Contextual

The property has contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area

22 King Street West retains contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining, and supporting the character of Harrow’s downtown and commercial district through its architectural style and building materials. Downtown Harrow includes several buildings which are the earliest blocks of Harrow district, that were all constructed in a 19th century commercial architectural style and out of the same building materials and red brick.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical/associative value of 22 King Street West includes:

• The buildings' location at the corner of King and Queen Street within the commercial district of Harrow,
• The mass, form, and style of the commercial building,
• The red brick cladding on all elevations of the building,
• Decorative white brick cladding on all elevations of the building,
• All existing window and door openings and the decorative features around them,
• The existing roof line,
• The inset decorative stone reading “I.O.O.F.”.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 22 King Street West includes:

• The buildings' location at the corner of King and Queen Street within the commercial district of Harrow

Legal Description

RCP 1645 LOTS 59 & 60

General Description of Property

21 King Street East is located on the southeast corner of King Street East and McAffee Street within Harrow. It is comprised of the Robert Heaton Building: a red brick, late 19th century commercial building that was built in 1901.  

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that encompasses the entirety of the Robert Heaton Building.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Design/Physical Value

The property has design value or physical value because it is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method.

21 King Street East retains significant design or physical value because it is a well-preserved representative example of a building built in a late 19th century commercial architectural style and is consistent with the look of Harrow’s commercial downtown. The building was built in 1901 by Robert Heaton for his farm implement business in a late 19th century commercial architectural style out of red bricks from a local brickyard.

A late 19th century commercial architectural style is characterized by its mass, form, and shape, along with the building’s window shape, flat roof line, and use of red brick. These features can be seen throughout the building at 21 King Street East.

Contextual

The property has contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area.

21 King Street East retains significant contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining, and supporting the character of Harrow’s commercial downtown. Downtown Harrow includes several buildings which are the earliest building blocks of Harrow’s commercial district.

21 King Street East is important in defining, maintaining and supporting the character of downtown Harrow because it is one of the original building blocks of Harrow and is reflective of architecture for late 19th century commercial buildings.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the design/physical value of 21 King Street East includes:

• The mass, form, and style of the building;
• All existing window openings topped with brick voussoirs and white trim,
• The window shades,
• The red brick cladding in a common brick bond,
• The existing roof line and decorative corbels

The key attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 21 King Street East includes:

• Its location on the southeast corner of King Street East and McAffee Street in Harrow

Legal Description

PLAN 1236 LOT 30 LOT 31

General Description of Property

44 King Street East is located in the commercial district of the former Township of Harrow, now Town of Essex, on the North Side of King Street, in-between 34 King Street East and 60 King Street East.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the two-story, brick commercial building built in 1939.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Historical/Associative Value

The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

44 King Street East retains significant historical and associative value because it has direct associations with the incorporation of the Town of Harrow in 1930 and to J. H. Madill, a local business owner who helped fund the construction of the building. The building served as the community’s municipal building from 1939 until 1999 when the Town of Harrow amalgamated with the Town of Essex. The building housed all municipal offices, a banquet hall, the library, hydro offices and the Post office until it was moved to its current location at 38 King Street.

The property has historical value or associative value because it demonstrates or reflects the work or ideas of an architect, artist, builder, designer or theorist who is significant to a community.

44 King Street East retains historical and associative value because it reflects the works of prominent Windsor architect, J. C. Pennington, who designed the building in 1938. James Carlisle Pennington, or J. C. Pennington, is a well-known architect who is credited with designing hundreds of buildings throughout Windsor and Essex County during the early to mid-20th century.

Pennington was responsible for designing buildings such as the Carnegie Library in Essex Center and the additions made to the Essex High School in the 1920s. This building is a great example of his work throughout Windsor and Essex County which was largely reflective of early to mid-twentieth century commercial and public buildings.

Contextual Value

The property has contextual value because it is a landmark

44 King Street East retains contextual value because it serves as a landmark. It is a well-known marker within the community due to its longstanding history and connection to the community of Harrow. It also serves as a waypoint within Harrow, as it is occupied by the OPP headquarters of the Town of Essex.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical/associative value that has direct associations with the incorporation of the Town of Harrow in 1930 includes:

• The location of the building on the north side of King Street East.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical/associative value that demonstrates or reflects the ideas of an architect who is significant to a community include:

• The mass, form, and style of building,
• The brick cladding on all elevations of the building,
• Decorative white stone cladding,
• Decorative stone reading “Harrow Municipal Building”,
• All existing window and door openings and stone sills.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 44 King Street East as a landmark includes:

• The location of the building on the north side of King Street East in the commercial district of Harrow.

Legal Description

PLAN 327 PT LOT 6 PLAN 202 PT LOT 3 RP 12R27455 PARTS 2 AND 4,

General Description of Property

314 Queen Street is located on the eastern side of Queen Street within Harrow. It is comprised of the Station Master’s House: a red brick house that was built in 1897 in a hybrid Victorian architectural style.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that encompasses the entirety of the Station Master’s House.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Design/Physical Value

The property has design value or physical value because it is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method.

314 Queen Street retains significant design or physical value because it is representative of a late 19th century hybrid Victorian home, and it was built using materials from the surrounding materials. Built in early 1897 by Micheal P. O’Connor, on land that he had purchased from Emma Thrasher in August 1896 for $130, the home served as the station master’s house until 1920, when O’Connor sold the property to Frederick H. White for $3,000.

The hybrid Victorian architectural style is characterized by the mass, form and shape of the building, the window openings, the porch style, the roof line and peak, and the brick cladding. These features are seen throughout the house at 314 Queen Street.

Contextual Value

The property has contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining, or supporting the character of an area

314 Queen Street has significant contextual value because it is important in defining and maintaining the character of the area that was formerly the Lake Erie, Essex, & Detroit River Railway (L. E. E. & D. R. R.). Built in 1897 by Harrow Station Master, Micheal P. O’Connor, this building served as the home of one of Harrow’s earliest station masters and allowed him access to the railway, which was located beside his home. O’Connor was the 2nd station master in Harrow, arriving in Harrow in 1891 and working within the Harrow Station that opened in 1888.

314 Queen Street was built as a result of the L. E. E. & D. R. R. The L. E. E. & D. R. was a rail line that connected the communities of Walkerville, Harrow, and Kingsville through Marshfield (Gilgal). It was built in the late 19th century by Hiram Walker and changed the landscape of Essex County by bringing opportunities to small communities through the county (such as Marshfield, New Canaan McGregor/Colchester Crossing, and Oxley). It spurred on the development of small settlements and encouraged tourism throughout Essex County.

314 Queen Street is the last remaining connection to the L. E. E. & D. R. R within Harrow, as the train station and all railway tracks have been demolished and removed. It helps showcase the former L. E. E. & D. R. R. and helps conceptualize the appearance of the community around the railway.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the design/physical value of 94 Talbot Street South includes:

• The mass, form, and style of the house;
• All existing window openings topped with brick voussoirs,
• All existing door openings and the surrounding door frames,
• The red brick cladding in a common brick bond,
• The existing roof lines and peaks,
• The existing porches on the front facade and eastern side of the house,
• The decorative corbels and pillars of the porches,
• The fieldstone foundation,
• The brick chimney on the roof,
• The decorative corbels and gables on the roofline.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 94 Talbot Street South includes:

• The buildings’ location on the eastern side of Queen Street

Legal Description

COLCHESTER NORTH CON 11 W PT LOT 1 RP 12R24294 PARTS 1 TO 3 and 7

General Description of Property

9567 Walker Road is located on the eastern side of County Road 11, adjacent to 9571 County Road 11, in the settlement area of McGregor.

It is comprised of the St. Clement Church: a large limestone, French-Colonial Revival, Catholic Church that was built in 1903.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that includes the St. Clement Church that was built in 1903.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Design/Physical Value

The property has design value or physical value because it is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method.

9567 Walker Road retains significant design or physical value due to it being built in a French-Colonial Revival architectural style. The limestone building was built in 1903 by local French-Catholics to replace an older structure. The architectural style is comparable to other Roman-Catholic churches built in Ontario during the late 19th and early 20th century.

The church is characterized by the limestone walls, the high ceilings in the chapel, the large stained-glass windows, and the area at the front where a large tower would sit. Architecturally, the church contains decorative embellishments including carved stones, raised quoins, stained glass windows, and an area for a large belltower.

Historical/Associative Value

The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

9567 Walker Road retains significant historical or associative value because it has direct associations with an organization and institution that is significant to a community. The church is located on the oldest religious property within the community of McGregor, and it has ties to the French-Catholic community of McGregor and the surrounding rural areas. The St. Clement Church was built to replace an earlier structure in 1903 to accommodate the rapidly growing congregation.

The St. Clements Church is an important institution within the community of McGregor, being the oldest church property within the community. The original church was built in 1879, located where the parking lot now sits. The present church was constructed afterword, finishing in December 1903. The church didn’t receive its name until June 1880, once it was blessed and then given the name St. Clement.

Contextual Value

The property has contextual value because it is a landmark.

9567 Walker Road retains contextual value because it serves as a well-known marker within the community due to both its size and its longstanding history. The church serves as a defining feature of the McGregor community and is important to the French-Catholic community of McGregor

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the design/physical value of 9567 Walker Road, includes:

• The mass, form, and style of the church,
• The limestone brickwork,
• The Bell tower, metal belfry, and cross finial,
• The Bell (Ava Maria),
• All existing door opening and window openings and stained-glass window pieces with limestone voussoirs and underscored by limestone sills,
• Decorative quoins,
• Arched vent opening under eastern tower,
• Inset carved limestone with cross detail,
• Inset engraved cornerstone.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical/associative value of 9567 Walker Road includes:

• Its location on the east side of County Road 11 in the Settlement area of McGregor.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 9567 Walker Road as a landmark includes:

• Its location on the east side of County Road 11 in the Settlement area of McGregor.

 Legal Description

PLAN 236 LOT 6

General Description of Property

94 Talbot Street South is located on the western side of Talbot Street within Essex Centre. It is comprised of the Arthur Raines House: a red brick house that was built in 1887 in the Folk Victorian architectural style.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that encompasses the entirety of Arthur Raines House.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Design/Physical Value

The property has design value or physical value because it is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method.

94 Talbot Street South retains significant design or physical value because it is a representative example of a home built in the Folk Victorian architectural style and uses materials sourced from local brick yards. The house was built in 1886, as a part of a small development of the south end of Talbot Street initiated by William Betcone and finished by Daniel Welsh.

The Folk Victorian architectural style is characterized by its mass, form, and shape of the house, the peaked roof line, and the shape of the windows. These features can be seen throughout the building at 94 Talbot Street South.

Historical/Associative Value

The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

94 Talbot Street South retains significant historical or associative value because it is directly associated with Arthur Raines, a local businessman and former mayor of Essex Centre who contributed to the development of Essex’s commercial areas in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Raines was a local businessman in Essex, owning several businesses during the late 19th century and into the 20th century.

Raines was originally a baggage master when he moved to Essex in 1885 or 1886, later becoming the railways warehouseman. He would have been involved with the opening of the Essex Railway Station in 1888. In 1891, he worked as a drayman and as the local agent for the American Express Company. He kept an icehouse so that he could deliver ice that he was cutting on Fred Robinson's Pond in the eastern part of town. On July 29th, 1903, Raines would purchase a storefront from M. E. Allen in the former Craddock block of Talbot Street and open A. Raines Grocer on August 1st, 1903. He was a beloved grocer in Essex Centre, operating his store from 1903 until his death in 1934.

Alongside this, Raines was heavily involved in politics in Essex Centre and served on several different committees and Council during the late 19th century and into the 20th century. He would serve on Town Council as Ward 2 Councillor from 1894 until 1898 and again in1900, on the Essex Public Library Board in 1899 and 1901, as Mayor in 1901, 1902, and 1906, and finally as Reeve in 1922.

Contextual Value

The property has contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining, or supporting the character of an area.

94 Talbot Street South retains significant contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining, and supporting the character of Talbot Street South. Through its architectural style, and the use of red brick throughout the building, the house helps define and maintain the character of the neighborhood as it is consistent with buildings at 54 Talbot Street South, the Essex United Church (49 Talbot Street South), 98 Talbot Street South, and 102 Talbot Street South.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the design/physical value of 94 Talbot Street South includes:

• The mass, form, and style of the house;
• All existing window openings topped with brick voussoirs,
• All existing door openings and the surrounding door frames,
• The red brick cladding in a common brick bond,
• The existing roof lines and peaks.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the heritage/associative value of 94 Talbot Street South includes:

• The buildings location on the western side of Talbot Street South.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 94 Talbot Street South includes:

• The buildings location on the western side of Talbot Street South.

Legal Description

PLAN 236 LOT 5

General Description of Property

98 Talbot Street South is located on the western side of Talbot Street within Essex Centre. It is comprised of the former Essex United Church manse: a red brick house that was built in 1886 in the Folk Victorian architectural style.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that encompasses the entirety of the Essex United Church Manse.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Design/Physical Value

The property has design value or physical value because it is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method.

98 Talbot Street South retains significant design or physical value because it is a representative example of a home built in the Folk Victorian architectural style and uses materials sourced from local brick yards. The house was built in 1886 and was conveyed to the Grace Methodist Church Congregation, now known as the Essex United Church Congregation, on September 27, 1886.

The Folk Victorian architectural style is characterized by its mass, form, and shape of the house, the peaked roof line, and the shape of the windows. These features can be seen throughout the building at 98 Talbot Street South.

Historical/Associative Value

The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

98 Talbot Street South retains significant historical or associative value because it is directly associated with the Grace Methodist Church, now known as the Essex United Church, and was important to the development of Essex Centre’s religious community. 98 Talbot Street South served as the church’s manse from 1886 until it was sold to Slyvester Damn in 1943 and housed several ministers, including Rev. James Whiting, Rev. W. S. Pascoe, and Rev. Gorman Glifford. It served as both the home of the church’s minister and a community hub for members of the church.

The Essex United Church is connected to one of the earliest Methodist congregations to have formed in Essex Centre and the congregation dates back to the 1870s. The congregation of the church grew rapidly, due to the amalgamation of the community’s two Methodist churches and the expansion of the community overall. The manse allowed the minister to live close to the church and served as a place for members of the church to form a community.

 Contextual Value

The property has contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining, or supporting the character of an area.

98 Talbot Street South retains significant contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining, and supporting the character of Talbot Street South. Through its architectural style, and the use of red brick throughout the building, it helps define and maintain the character of the neighborhood as it is consistent with buildings at 54 Talbot Street South, the Essex United Church (49 Talbot Street South), 94 Talbot Street South, and 102 Talbot Street South.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the design/physical value of 94 Talbot Street South includes:

• The mass, form, and style of the house;
• All existing window openings topped with wooden voussoirs,
• All existing door openings and the surrounding door frames,
• The red brick cladding in a common brick bond,
• The inlayed brick cladding creating decorative arches,
• The inlayed white bricks surrounding all windows and doorways,
• The existing roof lines and peaks,
• Decorative corbels and gables on roof,
• The red brick chimney on the roof,
• Carved white brick on the front façade.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the heritage/associative value of 98 Talbot Street South includes:

• The buildings location on the western side of Talbot Street South.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 98 Talbot Street South includes:

• The buildings location on the western side of Talbot Street South.

Legal Description

CON 5 PT LOT 7

General Description of Property

The Gilgal Cemetery is located at 0 County Road 11, on the east side of County Road 11 between the 5th Concession and the 6th Concession. The cemetery is visible from the road and is accessed from County Road 11 from the roadside. It is comprised of the Gilgal Cemetery: a small historically Black cemetery that dates back to the early 19th century and houses a few headstones.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that includes the cemetery and all existing marked and unmarked burials.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Historical/Associative

The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

0 County Road 11 retains significant historical value because it has direct associations with significant people, such as Alexander Kersey, William Kersey and Delos R. Davis and the Village of Gilgal, a historically Black settlement that was settled by individuals who had come to Canada via the Underground Railroad. The Gilgal Cemetery is the only remaining part of the Gilgal Settlement.

Gilgal was a small, predominantly Black community that was established by African American Freedom Seekers who arrived in Canada in the early 19th century, via the Underground Railroad. The first settlers arrived in the area in the 1840’s, as Freedom Seekers who had arrived in Amherstburg travelled along the Pike Road, along the edge of a historic marsh. In 1852, settlers built a small British Methodist Episcopal Church on land donated to the community by Nasa McCurdy, mostly through the efforts of Alexander and William Kersey. The Kersey family was a free Black family living in Indiana, prior to the start of the American Civil War. Due to the political and social situations at the time, the Kersey family migrated north and arrived in the area in the mid-1850s.

Alexander Kersey and his wife, Amanda Watterford-Kersey, settled in the Colchester South Township, north of Harrow. He was a well-known minister and preached at the Gilgal British Methodist Episcopal Church (B.M.E.), later the Gilgal African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.), and Bulter’s Chapel A.M.E. in New Canaan. He and his son, William Kersey, would build the Gilgal Church in 1852. William Kersey would later help build the small school in Gilgal and a Black school and church in the community of Pleasant Valley.

A small school was established in the community in the late nineteenth-century through the church. One of the first teachers at the school was Delos R. Davis, the first Freedom Seeker to become a lawyer in Canada and the first Black man to make King’s Counsel in the British Empire. He taught at the school in the early 1870’s, shortly before he became a lawyer. In 1897, the community would build a small brick schoolhouse with funds donated by Hiram Walker. The Gilgal Schoolhouse, Section C, was originally designated as a Black school by Colchester authorities, however, this would change in the early 1900’s as the community’s population gradually became more diverse.

The property has historical value or associative value because it yields, or has the potential to yield, information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture.

0 County Road 11 retains significant historical or associative value because it has the potential to yield information about the Village of Gilgal and the area's earliest families and their lives. The property provides evidence to the Village of Gilgal by some of the earliest Freedom Seekers and can help showcase the community’s development and eventual decline.

Alongside this, the property is significant because of its associations with numerous influential Black families from across Windsor and Essex County, including the Grayer, Hurst, and Powell families, which can all be seen in burial records.

Contextual

The property has contextual value because it is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings.

0 County Road 11 retains contextual value because it is physically and historically linked to its surroundings due to it being the only remaining part of the Village of Gilgal.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical/associative value of 0 County Road 11 includes:

• Its location on the east side of County Road 11 in the former Village of Gilgal,
• All existing burials and headstones.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 0 County Road 11 includes:

• Its location on the east side of County Road 11 in the former Village of Gilgal.

Legal Description 

PLAN 181 PT LOT 10 PT LOT 11 COM AT LMT BETWEEN L 10 & 11

Reasons for Designation

Under the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter O.18
The Former Imperial Bank of Canada

General Description of Property

18 Talbot Street North is located on the western side of Talbot Street within Essex Centre. It is comprised of the former Imperial Bank of Canada building: a large Art Deco style building that was built in 1947 to serve as the Essex Branch of the Imperial Bank of Canada.

Description of Property that has Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
The area of the property that demonstrates cultural heritage value or interest is the area that encompasses the entirety of the former Imperial Bank of Canada building.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest Design/Physical Value

The property has design value or physical value because it is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method. 18 Talbot Street North retains significant design or physical value because it is a rare example of a 20th century commercial building built in the Art Deco architectural style, which is rarely seen within the Town of Essex.

The building was built in 1947 by the Imperial Bank of Canada as the need for a larger space grew. The Art Deco architectural style is marked by the use of stone, geometric shapes, large window openings, and differing wall textures. These features can be seen throughout the building, alongside numerous motifs depicting what the building’s initial purpose was.

Historical/Associative Value
The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community.

18 Talbot Street North retains significant historical or associative value because it has direct associations with an organization and institution that is significant to the community. The Imperial Bank of Canada played a significant role in the development of Essex Centre in the late 19th century and into the mid to late 20th century.

The original Essex branch of the Imperial Bank of Canada was first established on March 1st, 1885. It was the first branch to open in a community south of London, Ontario and became the 11th branch to open in Canada overall. The bank would be located in a two-storey building on the corner of Centre Street and Talbot Street. It was the first chartered bank in Essex and would eventually replace private banks owned by R. C. Struthers and John Milne. In May 1946, management decided to construct a new building at a new location, as the one that it was currently located in was deemed too small for its rapidly growing clientele and additional staff. Construction began on the new building in March 1947 and would be finalized by December 1947. When the new building opened it was seen as the most modern bank in Essex County, south of London, equipped with five teller cages, one double coupon booth, two single coupon booths, and two large vaults (security/cash and safe deposits). The bank held an open house on December 5th, 1947, before officially opening for business on
December 8th, 1947.

The Imperial Bank of Canada provided the community and the surrounding area with access to a public financial institution, removing the need for private banks. It aided in the development and expansion of Essex Centre throughout the late 19th century.

Contextual

The property has contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining, or supporting the character of an area. 18 Talbot Street North retains significant contextual value as a mid-20th century commercial building due to the buildings overall architectural style being unique and the buildings overall size. Built in 1947, the building stands as an important feature in defining the character of Essex Centre’s downtown core through the unique Art Deco architectural style and the size of the building.

Description of Heritage Attributes

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the design/physical value of 18 Talbot Street North, includes:

• The mass, form, and style of the building,
• The brown stone cladding on all elevations,
• All existing window and doorway openings,
• The brick reading Essex Branch on the front facade,
• The existing bank deposit box on the front facade,
• The pattern of the brick.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the historical/associative value of 18 Talbot Street North, includes:

• The location of the building in the commercial area of Essex Centre,
• The brick reading Essex Branch on the front facade,
• The existing bank deposit box on the front facade.

The key heritage attributes that contribute to the contextual value of 18 Talbot Street North, includes:
• The location of the building in the commercial area of Essex Centre.