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When I first began studying Niagara’s architecture in preparation for writing the “Heirloom Guide to Architectural House Styles” (online: www.heirloomhomeguide.ca), I was struck by the number of historic houses and buildings that had
You see them sprinkled across Niagara-on-the-Lake and, indeed, across Ontario. Some are one storey, others a storey and a half. There are those with hip roofs, with end gable roofs and with a gable
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Over the past few weeks, we have visited a number of homes here in Niagara-on-the-Lake that escaped the American torch in 1814. In doing so, my mind has a tendency to consider what our
As I mentioned in last week’s column, Peter Secord, apparently despairing of ever receiving a grant, left Niagara in 1793. However, his absence did not halt the glacially slow wheels of government from proceeding onward
When the first Loyalists mustered out of militia regiments like Butler’s Rangers in late 1779 and early 1780, the Crown had not developed any plan for their resettlement. While it was generally accepted
In the 18th century, even the most successful craftsman could not become a wealthy man from his trade; certainly comfortable, but never in a position to leave a legacy to their children. And
No war has commenced with a neat line that divided people on one side or the other. In fact, history shows that usually there is a hard-core group at either extreme while the
The occupation of Niagara by the Americans during the War of 1812 irrevocably altered the built landscape. Destruction of homes and commercial buildings, particularly during the final months of that war, was an
In 1874, on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in New York, the Methodist minister John Vincent (in partnership with entrepreneur Lewis Miller) opened an outdoor summer education program for adults. The concept was
Sometimes the undertakings of government leave me confused. Take, for example, the recent draft bylaw addressing garage setbacks introduced by town council on Feb. 3. In what I am sure was a well-intentioned attempt
Brian Marshall Featured With design plans in-hand, completing the quotation process is relatively straight-forward. The short-listed contractors don’t have to guess at the scope-of-work, it’s there in front of them. Do not be
The old saying that goes “Anything is possible provided you throw enough money at it” is perhaps nowhere more appropriate than during a renovation. Given that one is able to get building permits,
Now that we’ve met with the potential contractors, it’s time to check the references (a minimum of three) they provided you with. In last week’s column I suggested these should represent projects the contractor
A wise man once told me that the best result is always generated through the combined effort of a cohesive, talented team. Time and again, this statement has proven itself valid on projects
Even under the best circumstances, renovation projects often have a tendency to expand. Almost inevitably there is “job creep” that occurs as the work reveals hidden issues that require additional labour and materials to
Several times in the past few weeks I am asked for advice concerning the best approach to a renovation. While multiple television renovation shows have focused on raising our level of concern that
When an Arts & Crafts house is mentioned in North America one thinks of Craftsman or Prairie designs, but these expressions were late-comers to a tradition founded in England decades earlier. While John
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For some reason there is a commonly held opinion that the homes of our immigrant ancestors were boring and somewhat sombre places. When asked to visualize the colours used in early 19th-century houses,
Christmas in the Town of Niagara during the late 18th and early 19th century was absent many of the practices we follow today. One attended church in the morning, possibly place holly or
To suggest that urban developers didn’t care for ranch bungalows might be an understatement. The Ranch, requiring a lot with at least 90 feet of frontage and a depth sufficient for backyard entertaining,
Brian Marshall Featured Patio entertaining around a barbecue was something that came into popularity in the mid-20th century. For the first time in middle-class North America, it became respectable for the “man-of-the-house” to engage
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There is something glorious about fully-expressed Second Empire buildings. Perhaps it has to do with the vertical lines, which draw one’s eyes upward. Then again, it may be the continental flavour imparted by
So, if you were among the moneyed class living in the Town of Niagara (aka Niagara-on-the-Lake) during the first third of the 19th century, where was your kitchen? The short answer is, not in
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If you could afford a craftsman-built house in the decade after the War of 1812, the choices of architectural style were few. Of course, the venerable Georgian remained the dominant preference among the traditional
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