Notice of Intention to Designate 489 Lakeshore Road West

Thu, 18 Jul 2019

On January 18, 2019, Oakville Town Council resolved to pass a Notice of Intention to Designate the following property under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.18, as amended, as a property of cultural heritage value and interest:

Captain G. E. Morden House
489 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville, Ontario

Description of Property

The Captain G.E. Morden House is a grassed property with several mature trees that contains a rectangular 2­½ storey masonry structure built c. 1858. It is located among other residential estate homes along Lakeshore Road West in Oakville, Ontario. The house is orientated south towards Lake Ontario and directly opposite Appleby College, a prestigious private school founded in 1911.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Design Value or Physical Value

The Captain G.E. Morden House has design value as an example of an estate house of an original settler in Oakville. This 2­ 1/2 storey home has a symmetrical façade, with three evenly spaced openings on the main floor and decorative hood moulding above the second storey window. The home is easily identifiable by its steeply pitched front gable roof. The double stack brick chimney is a prominent feature on the street front elevation, as is the front porch, although it is a more recent addition.

Historical Value or Associative Value

The house has historical value as an example of an original residential estate home built during the time of settlement in Oakville. Original owner John T. Howell and his wife Hannah built the house c.1858 prior to their official acquisition of the land in 1875, which required, as a condition of the sale, that they clear the land and build a structure no less than twenty­four feet by eighteen feet made of stone, brick, or frame construction.

The house also has historical value in its association with Captain George Hardy Morden (1837–1934) who purchased the property in 1900. A savvy businessman, he owned and operated several Lake Schooners, founded the Morden Line steamers, and amassed over a thousand acres of land by the time of his death in 1908. He also served as Reeve of Trafalgar Township. His family lived in the house from 1900 to 1974. Both an Oakville Road and a school are named after the Morden family.

Contextual Value

The property has contextual value by supporting and maintaining the character of the area, as an estate house oriented southward. The area is dominated by residences on the north side of Lakeshore Road West facing Appleby College.

Description of Heritage Attributes

Key elements that contribute to the heritage value of this site include:

  • The house’s orientation south towards Lakeshore Road West, Appleby College, and Lake Ontario.

Key exterior attributes of the house which embody its physical and historical significance from the original exterior design c. 1858 include:

  • The original, symmetrical front facade with three evenly spaced openings on the main floor, with one serving as an entrance to the home;
  • The decorative wood window hood above the 2nd floor opening;
  • The 3rd floor lancet windows (currently set into a rectangular wood window frame);
  • The gable roof with dormer windows;
  • The high pitched roof topped at the front with a tall double stack brick chimney, which gives the house prominence;
  • The reconstructed front porch that spans the first floor of the residence.

Any objection to this designation must be filed no later than August 19, 2019. Objections should be directed to

Town Clerk
1225 Trafalgar Road
Oakville, Ontario L6H 0H3

Any inquiries may be directed to Susan Schappert, heritage planner at 905-845-6601, ext. 3870 (TTY 905-338-4200), or by email at
susan.schappert@oakville.ca

The last date to file a notice of objection is August 19, 2019.