This July and August, a project involving seven art installations located in and around North York Central Library celebrates North York and invites participation from local residents. Oh dear: public art that unhinges North York’s sense of modesty features works based on the artists’ lives growing up, living, and/or working in the North York area, specifically in the the area of Yonge Street between Sheppard Avenue and Finch Avenue that constitutes Willowdale.

In addition to North York Central Library, participating venues in the exhibit include the Toronto Centre for the Arts, North York Civic Centre, Mel Lastman Square, Gibson House Museum, and the Ontario Historical Society’s historic John McKenzie House.

John McKenzie House: Celebrating 100 Years

John McKenzie House, a Willowdale landmark designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, has served as headquarters for the Ontario Historical Society since 1994. Construction on John McKenzie House dates back to 1913, so they are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. However, the house and the land on which it was built has passed through a number of hands over the last two centuries.

The home was built on land that predates the McKenzie family. The land (Lot 18, Concession 1, East of Yonge, to be exact) had been deeded to Jacob Cummer in 1801. Jacob Cummer, a major figure in North York History, became a devout Methodist and built a log church to serve the developing community in Willowdale. This was replaced in 1856, after Jacob Cummer’s death, by a brick church, pictured here:

In 1884, Philip McKenzie, a carpenter and cabinet maker, purchased part of the Cummer property and moved into the old Cummer farmhouse. Farm operations were taken over by his son, John, when Philip died in 1901, and John continued keeping Holstein cattle, pigs, and poultry until the farm was subdivided for residential development in 1912. In 1913, construction began on a new house to replace the existing farmhouse with its current iteration. After John’s death in 1941, his eldest daughter Florence retained occupancy of the home with her husband, Frank H. Brown, Treasurer of North York during the 1930s to 1960s. In 1975, the house was sold; in the 1980s, the city of North York acquired the house; and, in April 1994, the Ontario Historical Society moved in and began work on restoring the house.

Here is the house as it appears today:

Photo source: Ontario Historical Society.

The house is described as a blend of both Queen Anne Revival and Edwardian Classical architectural styles:

The simple classical details combined with vernacular elements and overall asymmetry are evidence of McKenzie House’s debt to the Queen Anne style, while the regular pyramid roof, the massiveness, the regularity of the main part of the house, the very large verandah and the impression of home comfort confirm it as Edwardian (Brown, 2005).

Visit the Ontario Historical Society website to see more pictures of McKenzie house.To learn more about McKenzie house and North York history in general, please visit the Gladys Allison Canadiana Room at North York Central Library to view materials from the North York History Collection, including books, photographs, scrapbooks, vertical files, maps, and pamphlets, as well as newspapers, both in print and on microfilm. When you visit the library, check out the nearby art installations that are part of the Oh dear exhibit.

Oh dear: The Exhibit—Get Involved

Interested in participating? Share what you like about North York, why you think North York is unique, and where you think the neighborhood will be headed in a few years or even a hundred years into the future. Fill out one of the postcards available throughout North York Central Library, and drop off your postcard in the library or at Gibson House Museum.

Or, participate in one of the artist-led tours: On Friday July 26, Mark Warrack, Senior Heritage Coordinator for the city of Mississauga and Heritage Toronto board member—as well as a former Willowdale resident—will lead a one-hour walking tour alongside two of the participating artists: Otino Corsano and Teresa Casas. Meet by the Mel Lastman Square reflecting pool at 8:00 p.m. on Friday July 26 if you’d like to join. No pre-registration necessary.

To find out more about the art installations, visit the project website at http://OhDearNorthYork.blogspot.com.

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Note: Sources consulted include: OHS Bulletin (1998), Issue 114 and The Genealogy of John McKenzie House by Douglas Brown, in Ontario History (2005), Vol. 97(1). (Note: all sources available in the Gladys Allison Canadiana Room, North York Central Library).