Clarington, Pickering, and Oshawa are continuing their efforts to preserve local history with a mix of new heritage designations and award-winning restoration work.
Roy House Farmstead: The Municipality of Clarington has announced its intention to designate the Roy House Farmstead, located at 2774 Concession Road 6, under the Ontario Heritage Act for its architectural and historical value.
According to Clarington, heritage designation formally recognizes a property’s cultural significance and ensures the conservation of important places for future generations. The Roy House Farmstead, which includes a circa-1852 fieldstone farmhouse, sits on the north side of Concession Road 6, near the Village of Tyrone. The original 53.8-hectare site also includes agricultural fields, two barns, and a garage.
The farmhouse is noted for its unique blend of vernacular Georgian style with Regency/Picturesque influences. It features a 1.5-storey structure, large tripartite windows, high ceilings, “Chinoiserie” patterning on the transom and sidelights, and sits on a gentle slope. The use of flat brick arches over wide openings and dressed fieldstone with “boulder quoins” adds to its architectural significance.
Historically, the property was developed by the Roy family, Scottish immigrants who settled in the area in the 1840s. William Roy, who purchased the land in 1845, built the house by 1852. The Roys were active in the local community and farmed the land for more than 130 years.
The property also holds contextual value, maintaining the rural character of the area once part of Darlington Township. Its park-like setting includes a long driveway leading to the house, which is prominently situated among rolling hills and farmland.
Clarington has identified several key heritage attributes, including the original fieldstone walls, sash windows, tripartite façade windows, original door and basement window openings, and the farmhouse’s setting within its surrounding landscape.
1916 Claremont Home
The City of Pickering has announced its intention to designate 5113 Old Brock Road as a property of cultural heritage value or interest under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.
Located on the east side of Old Brock Road at the northeastern edge of the former Village of Claremont, the property is recognized for its architectural, historical, and contextual significance.
According to the City of Pickering, the home was built in 1916 and is a notable example of an early twentieth-century American Foursquare farmhouse. Key architectural features include its square, two-storey design, hipped roof, wrap-around verandah with a two-storey frontispiece, and various unique details such as Tuscan columns and a five-sided bay window.
The property also holds historical value due to its association with G.M. Forsyth, a prominent local leader and farmer. Forsyth played a significant role in Pickering’s political history, serving in numerous leadership roles including Reeve of Pickering Township and Warden of Ontario County in 1923. His leadership was instrumental in bringing hydroelectric power to Claremont. The farmhouse and its estate-style landscaping reflect his influence and standing in the community.
In addition, the property supports the rural character of Claremont and is considered a local landmark, with its agricultural backdrop contributing to the area’s historical village fabric.
Pickering has outlined several key attributes for designation, including:
- The building’s form, scale, and hipped roof;
- The distinctive verandah and frontispiece;
- Brickwork, dormer windows, and chimneys;
- Mature trees lining the front driveway;
- The property’s orientation, location, and landscape features.
Log house and barn
Additionally, Pickering announced that the 2024 restoration of the log house and log barn at Pickering Museum Village won the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation.
In collaboration with B.A. Construction, the city undertook careful restoration work on these historic buildings, which were among the oldest on the museum property.
The log barn, dating back to around 1830, originally stood in the German settlement of Denbigh, north of Kaladar. This unique structure consisted of two barns joined seamlessly, built with hand-hewn squared timber and dovetail corners. The restoration preserved key features such as early wooden pegs—known as trenails—visible on door frames and ceilings.
The log house, also circa 1830, was originally built on Brimley Road in Scarborough and was donated to Pickering Museum Village in 1959. This 1.5-story home was constructed of wide-hewn, squared, dovetailed pine timbers.
The restoration involved conservation of the masonry using heritage mortars, repairs to existing woodwork and windows, and replacement of the cedar shake roofing. Wherever possible, materials were reused, including reclaimed foundation stones. Native softwood was sourced to maintain historical accuracy.
These efforts transformed the buildings into functional spaces for programs, events, and a new permanent exhibit titled Roots to Rebellion, which explores the history of early Black settlers.
Drew House, Oshawa
The City of Oshawa has officially designated the property at 442 King Street East, known as the Drew House, as a property of cultural heritage value or interest under the Ontario Heritage Act.
According to a public notice issued by the city, Oshawa council passed By-law 42-2025 on April 28, 2025, under Section 29, Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter O.18.
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