History got its due Monday night, as the 2021 Heritage Barrie Awards were handed out at city council’s meeting.
The annual awards are for property owners, groups and individuals who have made strides in fostering local identity through heritage preservation and awareness in Barrie.
“This year’s Heritage Award recipients show the value of Barrie’s historical neighbourhoods and communities,” said Coun. Clare Riepma, heritage committee chairman. “The buildings recognized are over 100 years old and are recognizable landmarks in our city, and the groups receiving awards this year stand out for their heritage contribution and commitments.”
In the group category there were three winners, including BarrieToday. Editor Raymond Bowe said he’s appreciative of the honour.
“Since BarrieToday's inception in October 2015, history has also been a large part of what we do on the news site,” he said. “Beginning with Mary Harris’s Remember This column on Saturdays and growing to also include Deb Exel’s Then and Now feature on Sundays, not to mention various stories from Ian McInroy throughout the week, this award is truly a nod to their hard work, passion and dedication.
“Whether it's digging up those old yarns from the history books and telling them in a compelling way, or putting a new spin on an old story, altogether it hopefully helps educate and entertain our readership,” Bowe said.
Also winning in the group category is the Sir Robert Barrie Project committee, which honoured the city’s namesake and persuaded city council to name June 7 after the British Navy officer.
That day marks both the anniversary of Sir Robert Barrie’s death, more than 180 years ago, and the anniversary of the signing of the city’s agreement to make Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England — where he is buried — Barrie’s twin city. Harrogate’s flag is raised in the Barrie City Hall courtyard that day.
Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Barrie commanded HMS Dragon in Chesapeake Bay and sank, captured or destroyed 85 American vessels during the War of 1812.
Committee member William Sergeant praised the committee, which includes former Barrie mayor Janice Laking and the late Rob Warman.
“We had a lot of firepower to promote Sir Robert Barrie,” Sergeant said while accepting the heritage award.
The third group category winner was Grey and Simcoe Foresters Regimental Museum and the award was accepted by head curator Peter Litster.
At 36 Mulcaster St., in downtown Barrie, the Grey and Simcoe Foresters Regimental Museum is located in the recently refurbished historical building constructed in 1889 as a company armoury and drill hall for the volunteer militia raised from the surrounding counties.
In the residential category, the winner is 47 Rodney St., which is owned by Su Murdoch. In 1849, Frederic Gore, headmaster for the Grammar School, built the Regency Cottage style residence at 47 Rodney. Gore resided there with his wife and, sometimes, as many as 25 out-of-town boarding students. In 1863, the building became the home of Benjamin Walker Smith, first sheriff of Simcoe County.
Murdoch noted the importance of heritage.
“It’s about the architecture, the stories,” she said. “It’s about preserving knowledge.”
There are two winners in the commercial category — the Queens Hotel at 94 Dunlop St. E. and 178 Bayfield St., owned by Margaret Lindsay.
The Queens is Barrie’s oldest hotel. Called the Barrie Hotel until 1924, this Georgian-style building has been in continuous operation as a hotel since it was opened by Edward Marks in 1850. The Queens is an important part of Barrie’s built heritage.
The house at 178 Bayfield St., was built in 1895 for John H. Bennett and his wife, Fannie Augusta Meeking, after the land was bought for $550 the previous year. It was built by Toronto architects Edwards and Webster, based on a Queen Anne house design published in an 1889 issue of Canadian Architects and Builders.
“This building in the city of Barrie is more like a community hub,” said Lindsay. “We have various services within the building.”
Buildings must have two of the following attributes to be considered for a Heritage Barrie Award — be at least 100 years old, have well maintained property and buildings, be sensitive to the heritage features of the property, especially if it’s been restored, rehabilitated or adaptively reused, and it enhances the streetscape or assists in revitalizing the community through heritage conservation.
In the category for individuals or groups, nominees are considered if they have demonstrated a commitment to heritage preservation, built awareness and understanding of local history and heritage or helped revitalize the community through building local heritage awareness.
Residential buildings, commercial buildings with businesses including offices, restaurants or stores, institutional buildings such as churches, schools or a public facility and individuals or a group of people who stand out in terms of their heritage contribution to the community can be nominated for Heritage Barrie Awards.
Heritage Week is recognized province-wide the week of Feb. 21-27. It is a celebration of heritage in all its forms, its diverse traditions and cultural expressions. Heritage Week is a time to reflect on heritage contributions in Ontario and in Barrie, look at how heritage is conserved, promoted and commemorated, and how the past shapes the future.
