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Downtown Heritage Conservation District
Heritage Awards
Clerkson's
Richard and Anke Lex, owners of 85 Hurontario Street, have created an amazing transformation to their building, now the home of Clerkson's Antiques, Country Furniture and Gifts.
The building was erected by Rev. Lawrence Kirkby of All Saint's Anglican Church in 1882. It has housed many businesses over the years including a grocery, a bookstore, and more recently insurance, barbershop and show repair.
Mr. & Mrs. Lex purchased the building in 2003 have devoted many hours to the renovation of the building with great attention to detail. "It ended up the way we envisioned it," said Richard. "Before we even had a tenant, we decided the way it would look. We were more than halfway through when we approached by Clerkson's. It really was a very good match."
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The Shipyards
A significant piece of Collingwood’s built heritage came close to being lost forever before it caught the eye of a developer with a knack for reclaiming history. Once home to the Queen’s Hotel and reputed to be the town’s first brick commercial structure, the building at 28 Huron Street was slated for demolition when it was purchased in 2003 by the FRAM Building Group/Slokker Canada, now known as FS Collingwood Development Ltd.
“We were looking for a location to have our new home gallery,” said Tara Parsons, site manager for The Shipyards Harbour Residences of Collingwood, a 720-unit development proposed for the former site of the Collingwood Shipyards.
”Our first option was to build on site – that’s typical. But we found out this building was actually going through the application process for demolition. Because it was the original (commercial) brick structure, we thought it was worth saving.”
The developers not only rescued the 143-year-old building from imminent destruction, they made a major investment in bringing it back to life. Their efforts, which included painstaking restoration of the façade and a complete overhaul of the interior, netted them a Heritage Award from the town of Collingwood. The award, recognizing the outstanding commercial restoration, was presented February 21, 2005 during the province’s Heritage Week celebrations.
”It’s wonderful to be recognized for hard work and also a beautiful quality restoration project,” said Parsons, who accepted the award on behalf of the developers.
The exterior restoration included the installation of new storefronts and the creation of a handsome new sign frieze in the tradition of the 19th-century Collingwood shops.
The new owners also replaced the windows on the second and third floors with special-order reproductions of the original arched style and took care to properly clean the soft old brick, re-pointing where necessary.
“The brick had to be cleaned and the paint on the quoins removed,” said Parsons. “It was quite an extensive process to find someone who could do it in keeping with the heritage character of the building.
“It’s pretty extraordinary to bring it back to life the way it originally looked,” said Parsons. “We did everything –whatever it took – to do it properly, even if we had to source different contractors who had experience in restoration.”
Garden's Nest & Espresso Post
Mark and Christene Krause, undertook to extensively renovate their building at 137-145 Hurontario Street (Garden's Nest & Expresso Post).
This building was constructed in 1897 by W.A. Hamilton, known as the Hamilton Block and was used as the Federal Post Office. It was originally designated as historically significant by L.A.C.A.C. (Now Heritage Committee) in 1985. Mr. & Mrs. Krause purchased the building in 2001 and have been renovating and restoring it to its original condition.
On their first scouting visit here in late 2001, Mark and Christene saw big potential in a downtown building that wasn't even formally for sale at the time. Before making an offer, Mark did extensive research on the property's history and talked to the town's building department about his plans for a cafe and outdoor patio.
"The Town was helpful and encouraging, the location was great, and the things we liked to do (snowboarding and cycling) were around," he said. "It just felt like the best fit for us."
167 Minnesota Street
Mr. & Mrs. Dawson, owners of 167 Minnesota Street, have renovated and restored this stately Queen Anne Revival style home.
Originally built as the Charles Stephens residence in 1901, the home was designated as a Collingwood Heritage building in 1979. When it was completed in the Spring of 1899, this stately mansion won the lavish praise of the local press. Built by the Bryan Manufacturing Company in the fanciful Queen Anne Revival style, the house was hailed as the finest residence in town.
"Amongst the beautiful and palatial dwellings that are the proud boast of Collingwood citizens, the handsome residence just completed for Mr. C.E. Stephens at the corner of Minnesota and Ontario streets occupies pre-eminently the first place," the Enterprise-Messenger pronounced on May 25, 1899. "Everything that wealth and good taste could suggest to create a home, elegant, cozy, comfortable and complete has been utilized in its construction."
Mr. and Mrs. Dawson have done extensive restoration work to the front wall of the home, the slate roof and the veranda.