Historic farm and barn to be demolished in Bradford

Some of Bradford’s heritage is to be demolished, but some elements may live on at the Auld Kirk.

During the May 23 meeting, the city’s heritage committee recommended approval to demolish the barn and farm at 1934 Sideroad 5, and the council approved the recommendation without discussion during its June 4 regular meeting.

This follows the council’s decision in December to support an application from Sarjeant Co. for a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) to rezone the property because Sarjeant only has until July 9 to relocate the company’s concrete plant, which has been located at 3111 Sideroad 10. since 2004 but was expropriated in 2022 by Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) as part of the Bradford Bypass highway project.

Prior to the council meeting, Mayor James Leduc confirmed that the city is still awaiting a decision on the MZO from the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. But in the meantime, a report to the heritage committee from MHBC Planning Urban Design and Landscape Architecture has provided details of the buildings now slated for demolition.

Although the age of the two-story farmhouse is not specified, the report notes that heritage attributes include: original red brick, exterior and glazed brick accents, original openings, two original chimneys, roof pitch and pitch, Gothic Revival woodwork. to the gables and a belfry remaining at the north gable.

Heritage features of the barn and surrounding landscape date back to the 1880s and include: a field stone foundation, timber framed interior construction, original openings, sliding track doors to the west, rows of mature pines, mature pine plantings and deciduous trees, as well as the remains of a split rail fence at the side of side road 5.

Unfortunately, an assessment by ZC Engineering on March 20th found structural problems with both buildings.

They determined that the farm was “unlivable” due to “significant structural problems” including water infiltration issues, roof leaks and a flagstone foundation that would need to be “completely rebuilt with a new concrete foundation,” a task which would be “significant”. challenges’ due to the condition of the above-ground frames and external perimeter walls.

When it comes to the barn, engineers determined that “the overall stability of the structure is compromised,” in part due to weather damage and broken beams, and that “reconstruction to maintain its current appearance is impossible.”

The minutes show that Brandon Elliott, chairman of Sarjeant, attended the heritage committee meeting not only to support the proposed demolition, but also to advocate for the preservation of the property’s heritage and cultural value.

Former Alderman Ron Orr was also in attendance and recommended that some of the building’s components be preserved and moved to the historic Auld Kirk site at 3380 Line 6.

As a result, the committee agreed to recommend demolition as long as:

• Sarjeant covers the costs of photographing and documenting the buildings and contents
• Sarjeant is covering the costs of commemorative plaques and a display commemorating the buildings on the site
• Work where possible to save brick, barn wood, interior fixtures, windows or other items of potential historical value

It is hoped that those salvaged materials will be used as part of a future building at the Auld Kirk. In September, councilors hinted at the possibility of a new outbuilding, toilets and parking on the historic site thanks to a land swap with DG Group which will see the town receive an acre of land immediately west of the Auld Kirk site.