Notice of Intent to Designate - 168 Martin Street

In the matter of The Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.O. 18, as amended, and in the matter of the lands and premises at the following municipal address in the Province of Ontario.

Notice of intention to designate

Take notice that the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Milton intends to designate the property at the following municipal address as a property of cultural heritage value or interest under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.O. 18, as amended.

Municipal address: 168 Martin Street, Milton, ON L9T 2R4, Block 10, Lot 2 Martin Survey, Town of Milton, and Regional Municipality of Halton

Reasons for the proposed designation

Description of property

168 Martin Street is a two-storey brick house that fronts onto Martin Street. The house was built by Thomas Coxe in 1894. It is an excellent example of a Victorian-era Neo-Gothic style house.

Historical value or association value

Historically, the lot was first registered to John Martin in 1856. It went through several owners until it was sold to Thomas Coxe in May 1893 but was only registered in May 1894. Mr. Coxe was a member of the Esquesing Township Council before moving to Milton on Jan 14, 1922, where he became the Town Councillor, serving from 1924 to 1934 except 1926.

He was also a lumber dealer and retained one of the last sawmills in the area until about 1930; along with the lumber business, he sold firewood to residents and industries. Several other properties were built on his initiative. He was responsible for two large brick residences on the west side of Court Street North in 1907.

One of his masterpieces, however, was the new home he built for his family on the south corner of Martin and Woodward Street in 1921. He also built the same size plan of a house on his sawmill farm in Esquesing Township. After losing his wife, he sold his property in 1900 to the Coates family.

Design value or physical value

Physically, the two-story brick house is a good representation of the Victorian-era Neo-Gothic style house. It has a cross-gable roof with three brick chimneys. The front elevation features decorative gable pediments and barge boards. The paired windows are tall one-over-one wood windows with moulded trims, topped with unique segmented arch brick headers with protruding extrados.

Ornamental wooden shutters flank the right and left sides of the paired windows on the ground and second floor. The exterior running bond bricks are likely from the Milton brickyard. The side porch entrance features an ornate timber post design and fretworks. The interior of this house was featured in the 1984 summer edition of the Canada Century Home magazine in an article entitled Turn of the Century Transformation written by Elizabeth Ingolfsrud. The article described the many antique furniture pieces in this house.

An attached garage and rear addition were added to the house in 2007, and a side addition was made in 2012. These additions are tastefully done, and the design is sympathetic to the original house.

Contextual value

Contextually, this property contributes to the heritage character of Martin Street, published in the Toronto Star review by Christopher Hume on Jul 4, 2009, as one of the top three streets to live on in Toronto.

Character defining elements/heritage attributes

• A two-storey brick Victorian-era Neo-Gothic style house with three single-stack brick chimneys
• Cross gable roof with decorative pediments and barge board
• One-over-one tall windows with flanking shutters, segmented arch brick headers with protruding extrados, and plain stone lug sill.
• Off-centered entrance with open ornate front porch with decorated timber post and fretworks
• Single leaf three-panel door with transom and moulded trims
• Home of Thomas Coxe, former Milton Councillor and lumber dealer.
• A historical house that contributes to the Martin Street character

Any person may, within ninety (90) days of the publication of this notice, send by registered mail or deliver to the Clerk of the Corporation of the Town of Milton, notice of his or her objection to the proposed designation together with a statement of the reasons for the objection and all relevant facts. If such a Notice of Objection is received by March 17, 2024, the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Milton shall refer the matter to the Conservation Review Board for a hearing.

Dated at Milton on Feb. 16, 2024.

Meaghen Reid, Town Clerk
The Corporation of the Town of Milton
150 Mary Street
Milton, Ontario, L9T 6Z5