Meeting House finally a heritage site

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

One of the oldest buildings in Uxbridge Township is finally going to be recognized as a heritage site.

The Quaker Meeting House in Uxbridge, one of the areas oldest buildings, will be declared a heritage site in September.

Uxbridge council says it intends to pass a bylaw - probably in September - to designate the Quaker Meeting House on Concession 6 as a heritage building. Even though the building was constructed more than 200 years ago (around 1820), it has never been listed as a heritage site.

Jake Locke of the Township's building department and staff liaison with the Heritage Committee, explained that the proposed designation comes about as a result of changes a couple of years ago to the Ontario Heritage Act. He said the province has two lists: the Heritage Registry and another list of non-designated buildings that have cultural and/or historical interest. The Quaker Meeting House was on the non-designated list.

The Township has issued a notice declaring its intent to pass the bylaw and Locke says residents have 30 days to appeal. After that time, if council passes the bylaw, there will be another 30-day period in which anyone opposed to it can appeal.

The simple one-storey building reflects the Quaker philosophy of plainness and restraint, although it has undergone several alterations over the decades. Its historical value is rooted in its association with the original Quaker settlers of Uxbridge. Across the road from the meeting house is the Quaker burial ground.

In the early days, Alma Gould Dale (1854-1930), the daughter of prominent community member Joseph Gould, preached at the Meeting House. Over the years, the congregation dwindled and the last formal meeting was held in1925. An annual service is held in June each year. The meeting house is now cared for by a board of trustees.

Staff at the Township were unable to say why the building was not designated as a heritage site a long time ago.