Notice of Intention to Designation 55 Main Street Village of Bobcaygeon

Take Notice that the Council of the City of Kawartha Lakes, on April 22, 2025, passed a resolution of intent to designate the following property under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.18, as a property of cultural heritage value or interest:

55 Main Street, Village of Bobcaygeon
PLAN &) PT LOTS 2 & 3 ED OF;MAIN ST

Statement of Reasons for Designation
Design and Physical Value
55 Main Street has design and physical value as a representative example of a late nineteenth century small-town municipal building. Constructed in 1874, it demonstrates prevalent patterns in rural and small-town municipal buildings seen in the final quarter of the nineteenth century. While government buildings in larger centres were often large and architecturally complex structures, government structures in smaller communities were built on a smaller scale with less ornate details and designs, while nevertheless utilizing current architectural trends and stylistic features. The architecture of the subject property, which was constructed as the Verulam Township Hall, is demonstrative of the types of municipal buildings constructed in Ontario in the Victorian style and its key features such as polychromatic brickwork, a steeply pitched roof and belfry.

Historical and Associative Value
55 Main Street has historical and associative value as the former Bobcaygeon Town Hall. The building was constructed in 1874 as a new town hall for the Township of Verulam and, after the incorporation of Bobcaygeon as its own separate village, was used by both municipal Councils for council meetings, as well as other community gatherings. The property yields information regarding the history of municipal government in Bobcaygeon and Verulam Township and the growth of local government in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries prior to their amalgamation as part of the City of Kawartha Lakes in 2001.

Contextual Value
55 Main Street has contextual value as part of the historic landscape of Bobcaygeon’s Market Square. Located on the north side of the Bobcaygeon River on the main land, Market Square developed as part of the original town site of Rokeby and is currently characterized by a collection of commercial and institutional buildings clustered around a central square, including the subject property which maintains and supports its historic character with regard to the street pattern and layout that is distinct from the rest of the village. It is historically and visually linked to its surroundings as part of the development of Market Square as a distinct commercial area and public square in the nineteenth century for the northern part of the community. It is a local landmark as the original Bobcaygeon Town Hall.

Further information respecting the proposed designation is available at the City’s Economic Development Department. Any objection to this designation must be filed within 30 days of May 15, 2025. Objections should be directed to: Cathie Richie, Clerk, City of Kawartha Lakes, P.O. Box 9000, 26 Francis Street, Lindsay, ON K9V 5R8. Objections may be filed electronically at clerks@kawarthalakes.ca.

For more information regarding the property, please refer to its Heritage Evaluation Report.

Any inquiries may be directed to:

Economic Development Officer- Heritage Planning
City of Kawartha Lakes,
180 Kent Street West, Lindsay, ON  K9V 2Y6
(705) 324-9411 ext.1366
eturner@kawarthalakes.ca

The last date for objection is 4:00 p.m. on June 13, 2025.