Notice of Intention to Designate 1047 Porter Road, Geographic Township of Manvers

Statement of Reasons for Designation

Design and Physical Value
1047 Porter Road has design and physical value as a representative example of a mid-nineteenth century rural cemetery. The cemetery was established in approximately 1850 as a burial ground for the local New Connexion Methodist congregation alongside a chapel constructed on the same site around the same time, which has been demolished. Through its landscaping, layout and orientation, the cemetery is demonstrative of the kinds of rural churchyard cemeteries established in the mid-nineteenth century, particularly in contrast to the growing trend of landscaped garden cemeteries being established in urban centres. The cemetery is one of eleven cemeteries in Manvers Township and one of the several that were established in the township around this period. It remains an important example of an early Methodist cemetery in Manvers Township.

Historical and Associative Value
1047 Porter Road has historical and associative value in its role as the Graham Cemetery. Originally established as the cemetery for the Graham Methodist Church, it is directly associated with the growth of the Methodist Church in Manvers Township, with specific associations with the New Connexion Methodists who established the church in the early 1850s. Through the surviving cemetery, the property yields information regarding this religious denomination in Manvers Township and death and burial in this community. The property also has direct historical connections with early Manvers settler John Graham who donated the land for the cemetery and church and whose family was a prominent group of early settlers in Manvers.

Contextual Value
1047 Porter Road has contextual value as part of the broader, historic rural character of the area of Manvers Township around Bethany. As an early settler cemetery, the property forms part of a broader rural agricultural landscape that includes a variety of features that, taken together, define the rural, dispersed community as a cohesive whole. These include agricultural properties, natural features, and institutional structures and properties including the cemetery which was established alongside a New Connexion Methodist chapel. It is historically linked to its surroundings as part of the development of rural Manvers Township in the mid-nineteenth century and the area where the cemetery is located retains a variety of features and land use patterns that are historically connected to this period and to each other. The property is a local landmark both its historic value and association with early residents of the Bethany area, but also as an active local cemetery. The property has served as a burial site for the local area since the early 1850s and is well-known in Manvers Township.

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 February 4, 2026. 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.

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 March 6, 2026.