Two Ancaster homes with 282 years of history given historical protection

Two homes on Wilson Street East in Hamilton’s Ancaster community with a combined 282 years of history were designated as being of ‘cultural heritage’ by the City Monday.

A building constructed in 1885 at 241 Wilson St. E earned the designation as an example of a “vernacular stone nineteenth-century industrial building.”

Currently, the long building contains several services including a financial advisor, an optometrist and a glasses boutique.

The historical value of the property lies in its association with the Ancaster Carriage Company and the Egleston Brothers, who were responsible for much of Ancaster’s nineteenth-century industry. Brothers Alonso and Harris Egleston operated a machine shop in the building before selling the property to lawyer Edward Kenrick, who converted it to a carriage company.

The original structure was wood framed, but following a fire Kenrick replaced the exterior with its current stone facade. While Kenrick became known as a major contributor to Ancaster with a 50-year career, he only operated Ancaster Carriage for a short time.

He sold the building by 1900 and it was turned into residential units. It also became home to the Odd Fellows fraternal organization.

“This property defines the historic former industrial character of this section of Wilson St. E and is visually and historically linked to its surroundings. The sympathetic new structures on either side of the property enhance this former character,” the city noted its historical report.

The property was put forward as recommended for a heritage designation on Nov. 28 and the city announced its intention to designate on Feb. 6.

A home down the street that is four years older also received a protective heritage designation Monday.

The two-story home at 176 Wilson St. E. on Jan. 6, historically known as ‘Birch Lawn,’ is a two-bed, two-bath home noted for its “Italianate style of architecture as applied to a private dwelling which displays a high degree of craftsmanship,” according to its historical report.

“Contextually, the property is important in supporting the character of the historic village of Ancaster and is historically linked to its surroundings. It is located on the historic Wilson Street transportation corridor and still marks the western entrance into the core, though now surrounded by modern construction.”

With files from Liam McConnell and Glenn Hendry