Historical Buildings Bring the Past to Life
Oakville is blessed with many historically and architecturally significant buildings that, to this day, still maintain the charm of a long ago era. In order to preserve these buildings the Town of Oakville, through its Official Plan, has designated more than 100 properties under the Ontario Heritage Act. Here is a small sampling of some of Oakville’s many historical homes and buildings, each a reminder of a unique place in time during the Town’s early years.
The Erchless Estate, 8 Navy Street
In 1839 town founder William Chisholm deeded this four-acre property to his son Robert Kerr Chisholm. Robert, who also became the Town’s customs officer, built the Customs House in 1857 and the Erchless house a year later. Today, the Erchless Estate and Customs house is owned and operated by the Town of Oakville and houses the Oakville Museum. The home has been restored to the elegance of its 1925 appearance.
Gairloch Gardens, 1306 Lakeshore Road East
In 1922 Colonel William Mackendrick bought this property and built a Tudor-style home, completed by landscaped grounds, trees and rose gardens. Colonel Mackendrick died in 1957 and James A. Gairdner, an investment dealer residing in Oakville, bought the property in 1960. He named the estate Gairloch, a Gaelic word that means, “short lake.” He bequeathed the estate to the Town of Oakville in 1971 with the wish that the residence and land be used as an art gallery and public park.
Sovereign House, 7 West River Street
Charles Sovereign built this house on the property owned by his father, Philip, one of Bronte’s earliest settlers. Charles opened the first school in the area in 1815 when he was just 17 years old. After teaching for several years he became the first local school inspector. His collection of journals, which he kept from age 36 to his death at 87 and are filled with interesting facts of life in Bronte in the 1800s, are now housed in the provincial archives. From 1910 to 1914, Sovereign House was home to Canadian author Mazo de la Roche. She featured the home, as well as other details about Bronte and Oakville villagers’ lives, in her novel Possession, which became the prototype for her successful Jalna series. Today Sovereign House is the home of the Bronte Historical Society.
Amos Biggar House, 2441 Neyagawa Boulevard
Built in the Classic Revival style, Amos Biggar House is thought to be the oldest existing home in Oakville. Amos Biggar, a United Empire Loyalist, built the home’s original rectangular section in 1816, which originally stood on Dundas St. West. In 2000, the home was moved from its original location and is now located on Neyagawa Blvd. The house, now home to Jelinek Cork Group and the Cork House, has been restored, with many original elements retained.
Edgemere, 1502 Lakeshore Road
This 14-acre property at the foot of Maple Grove Road was originally known as a stagecoach stop called Halfway House, due to its distance halfway between Toronto and Hamilton. It was later bought in 1907 by Toronto jeweler James Ryrie, who was the partner of Henry Birk. He built a home and a stone wall around the property. The property is currently for sale for an estimated $45 million, the most expensive house ever listed for sale in Canada.
Knox Presbyterian Church, 89 Dunn Street
Knox Presbyterian Church Oakville began with a simple service in 1833 attended by 11 worshippers in a wood-framed public hall on the east bank of Sixteen Mile Creek. The current red-brick Gothic style building was dedicated May 20, 1888. It replaced the old frame church, called Oakville Presbyterian Church. The new church had taken a year to build and cost $16,000, a huge amount in those days. The church is one of the most complete examples of the Gothic Revival period in Oakville.
George K. Chisholm House, 85 Navy Street
Purchased in 1848 by the son of the founder of Oakville, this one-and-a-half storey home was one of the first brick buildings in Town. Built in the Regency style, its impressive porch surrounds the house on three sides.
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