Notice of Intent to Designate - 2488 Van Luven Road

Take notice that the Council of the Township of Hamilton intends to designate the property described below, as property of cultural heritage value or interest under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990.

2488 Van Luven Road is a 1.5-storey stone dwelling constructed of irregular field stone and located on a rural parcel on the southern edge of the village of Baltimore.

Reason for Designation

The property meets two or more of the criteria for determining that it is of culture heritage value or interest under Ontario Regulation 9/06. Council has authorized proceeding with the process to designate the property under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

Statement of Significance

2488 Van Luven Road is significant as a rare surviving example of an early rural stone dwelling that represents the Township of Hamilton’s earliest period of agricultural settlement. The building’s continued presence in the landscape provides a tangible connection to the establishment of permanent farmsteads and the early development of the community.

The historic place is valued for its strong historical associations with early settler families whose long-term occupation reflects early land use and community formation in the Township. The documented association with the Johnston family supports this value by demonstrating continuity of residence and agricultural activity during the formative years of settlement.

The historic place is also valued for its design and physical qualities as an early example of vernacular stone construction. The use of locally sourced field stone, modest scale, and functional form reflects early building practices shaped by available materials and practical needs rather than formal architectural design.

In addition, the historic place has contextual value for its relationship to historic transportation and settlement patterns. Its location on a former unopened road allowance, later formally closed by municipal by-law, illustrates early adaptations to the natural landscape and contributes to an understanding of how rural roads and settlement patterns evolved over time.

Description of Heritage Attributes

Key elements that define the heritage character of 2488 Van Luven Road include:

• the 1.5-storey massing and simple rectangular form of the stone dwelling
• the exterior field stone walls, including stone material, texture, and irregular coursing
• the overall roof form and pitch
• the pattern, placement, and proportions of original or early window and door openings
• the building’s original siting and orientation toward Van Luven Road
• the dwelling’s relationship with the surrounding rural landscape and historic settlement pattern

Obtaining Additional Information

Further information regarding the proposed heritage designation of 2488 Van Luven Road can be obtained by contacting the Municipal Clerk at clerks@hamiltontownship.ca or 905-342-2810.

Objection

Any person may, within thirty (30) days after the publication of this Notice, serve written notice of objection to the proposed designation, together with a statement of the reasons for the objection and all relevant facts, on:

Amanda Millar, Deputy Clerk
Township of Hamilton
8285 Majestic Hills Drive, PO Box 1060
Cobourg ON  K9A 4W5
clerks@hamiltontownship.ca

If no notice of objection is served within thirty (30) days of publication of this Notice, Council may proceed to pass a by-law designating the property under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

Dated at the Township of Hamilton this 20th day of May, 2026.