DETRITUS CONSULTING DETRITUS CONSULTING DETRITUS CONSULTING DETRITUS CONSULTING Archaeological Assessment (Stages 1, 2) 156-160 Trafalgar Road, Town of Oakville, CP# 2010-029, CIF# P017-184-2010 Submitted to: Weston Consulting Group Inc. 1660 North Service Rd. East, Unit 114, Oakville, ON, L6H 7G3 and The Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture Submitted by: Detritus Consulting Detritus Consulting Detritus Consulting Detritus Consulting 132 Water St. S. Kitchener, Ontario N2G 1Z5 voice: 519/744-7018 fax: 519/744-5260 e-mail: [email protected]www.detritus.ca Archaeological Consulting License Number P017 February 2011
Archaeological Assessment (Stages 1, 2) 156-160 Trafalgar Road, Town of Oakville,
CP# 2010-029, CIF# P017-184-2010
Executive Summary
A stage 1-2 archaeological assessment was undertaken at 156-160 Trafalgar Road in the Town of Oakville in advance of applications for development approval. The lands subject to assessment consist of 0.25 acres located on the west side of Trafalgar Road between Randall and Dunn Streets. The subject property was subject to stage 1 background research and stage 2 field survey. Shovel test survey was conducted in all undisturbed portions of the study area. Four brick fragments were recovered. The study was directed Mr. Garth Grimes under license number P017 issued by the Minister of Culture. Assessment techniques and recommendations follow the 1993 Guidelines established by MTC (Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture) and the archaeological license report requirements under subsection 65 (1) of the Ontario Heritage Act.
Executive Summary 1 List of Tables 2 List of Maps 2 List of Images 2 Project Personnel 2 Acknowledgments 2 1.0 PROJECT BACKGROUND 5
1.1 Development Context 5 1.2 Historical Context 5 1.2.1 Land Use History and Background Research 5 1.2.2 Historic Land Use 6 1.3 Archaeological Context 7 1.3.1 Registered Archaeological Sites 7 1.3.2 Property Description and Physical Setting 8
2.0 STAGE 1 ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS 9 3.0 STAGE 2 FIELD METHODS 9 4.0 STAGE 2 ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS 10 5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 11 Bibliography and Sources 12 Catalogue 21
List of Tables 1. Prehistoric Cultural Chronology (1.2.1) 6 2. Registered Archaeological Site Data 7
List of Maps
1. Subject Property and Environs 13 2. Part of the 1876 Historic Atlas of Halton County 14 3. Current Aerial Image of Study Area 15 4. 2008 Aerial Image of Study Area 16 5. Study Area Survey Methodology and Findspots 17
1. House at 156 Trafalgar Road 7 2. North side of property (view west) 18 3. South side of property (view southwest) 18 4. Central area (view northwest 19 5. East side of property (view north) 19 6. Brick fragments 20
Project Personnel
Project/Field Director Garth Grimes Report Preparation Garth Grimes Field Technicians Mathew Gibson
Acknowledgments Generous contributions by the following individuals and agencies made this report possible. • Mr. Robert von Bitter, MTC Toronto • Ms. Erangani Madugalla, MTC Toronto • Ms. Ashlee Rivet, Weston Consulting Group Inc. • Mr. George Chisolm, Oakville Historical Society • Ms. Carolyn Van Slightenhorst, Town of Oakville
1.0 Project Background 1.1 Development Context The Provincial Planning Act in Part 1 section 2 (d) calls for “the conservation of features of architectural, cultural, historical, archaeological or scientific interest”. Regional and municipal planning departments often implement this policy on behalf of the Provincial government. As such, the Town of Oakville requested an archaeological assessment of the study area as a condition of development approval. Detritus Consulting was contracted by the proponent in November 2010 to undertake a stage 1-2 archaeological assessment of the subject property in order to fulfill this condition. Stage 1-2 archaeological assessments are designed to provide information on the known and potential cultural heritage resources within the study area along with an inventory of any archaeological sites that are present. Archaeological assessment of the property was conducted but only four small brick fragments were found. The property is largely disturbed due to the recent demolition of two houses. The licensee received permission from the owner of the subject property to enter the land and conduct this work. Background research was conducted in November 2010 and fieldwork took place on December 8, 2010 under archaeological consulting license P-017 issued by the Minister of Tourism and Culture (MTC) to Detritus Consulting. Assessment techniques and recommendations follow the guidelines established by the MTC and the archaeological license report requirements under subsection 65 (1) of the Ontario Heritage Act. 1.2 Historical Context 1.2.1 Land Use History and Background Research Background research was undertaken in order to: • determine the potential for any archaeological resources which may exist on the
property • establish the proximity of known archaeological sites by compiling all available data
on previous archaeological surveys in the area • determine the prior land use of the property including prior construction impacts Archival information relating to the subject property was examined at the following locations: Canadian Archaeological Database Files, Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture; Kitchener Public Library; The R. M. of Halton Land Registry Office and the Oakville Historical Society, The Town of Oakville
Table 1 Ontario Prehistory Cultural Chronology Chart
7000 B.C. - 9500.B.C. Paleo Indian first human occupation hunters of caribou and other extinct Pleistocene game nomadic, small band society
1000 B.C. - 7500 B.C. Archaic ceremonial burials increasing trade network hunter gatherers 400 B.C. - 1000 B.C. Early Woodland large and small camps spring congregation/ fall dispersal introduction of pottery 800 A.D. - 400 B.C. Middle Woodland kinship based political system incipient horticulture long distance trade network 1300 A.D. - 800 A.D. Early Iroquoian limited agriculture (Late Woodland) developing hamlets and villages 1400 A.D. - 1300 A.D. Middle Iroquoian shift to agriculture complete (Late Woodland) increasing political complexity large palisaded villages 1650 A.D. - 1400 A.D. Late Iroquoian regional warfare and
political/tribal alliances destruction of Huron and Neutral
1.2.2 Historic Land Use The Halton lakeshore was the home of several groups of Mississauga Indians when, in 1793, Governor Simcoe sought to construct a military road through to Burlington. Intent to purchase lands was conveyed to the Mississaugas and they sold large tracts, preserving three blocks along creek outlets including at 16 Mile Creek, which is now the Town of Oakville. In 1806 the land was surveyed and settlement followed soon thereafter. Lots were divided into 200 acre parcels with the exception of the Broken Front lots. In 1827 William Chisolm purchased a 960 acre block of land at the mouth of 16 Mile Creek and named it Oakville. Oakville was developed as a port, enabling sale of at first lumber and wood products, later wheat and other farm products from the farmland north of town.
Settlement started slowly and though a survey of town lots existed by 1833 there were at that time still only a few buildings erected. Through the 1830’s and 40’s the village grew steadily and by the late 1850’s, after a brief period of economic boom, the population had grown to 2000, and the town was connected to the rest of the province by rail. In 1860 a modest depression took hold of North America and the strong growth that Oakville had seen in the previous decade gave way to stagnation and decline including closure of the foundry. In the later decades of the 19th century a variety of businesses and industries gradually opened their doors. Throughout the early part of the 20th Century Oakville was, if not exactly thriving, a well appointed and reasonably prosperous small Ontario town. It was only after World War II that explosive growth led to Oakville’s amalgamation with Bronte and the other small villages of Trafalgar Township leading to the modern Town of Oakville. The study area once contained two houses, the last of which, located on the east side of the property at 156 Trafalgar Road, having been demolished in 2009. The other was demolished some time prior to 2005. The house formerly at 156 Trafalgar Road is pictured below in Image 1. This was modest a two story timber framed structure with a stucco exterior and a large rear wing which may not have been original to the house. The design is plain Ontario Vernacular. The symmetry of the visible facades is reminiscent of Georgian style and was common throughout Ontario. Vernacular architecture is by far the most common type of architecture found in Ontario and is defined by a convergence of many factors, usually including the absence of a formally trained architect, a mix of designs oriented toward what tends to be popular at the time and what is available locally to build with. Vernacular architecture changed over time in Ontario incorporating some of the other formal styles such as Regency or Arts and Crafts as they became popular.
Image 1. House at 156 Trafalgar Road Prior to demolition
Both the Town of Oakville and the Oakville Historical Society were contacted regarding the house but neither had any information on the construction date. The house was listed for designation in 2009 but was legally demolished prior to designation. In the opinion of the author the design and the use of timber rather than brick as well as the study area’s location within the pre 1880 built up area of Oakville indicates it was likely constructed between 1875 and 1890 (Map 2). However, houses of this sort continued to be constructed well into the 20th century by owners of modest means.
1.3 Archaeological Context 1.3.1 Registered Archaeological Sites Research in the National Archaeological Sites Registration Database for the Province of Ontario at the MTC office in Toronto indicates there is one registered archaeological site located within a 2km radius of the study area. This is AiGw-262, a Euro-Canadian homestead located quite near the study area on Dunn Street, West of Trafalgar Road. As at the study area, archaeological survey was initiated at this property because of a recent demolition of a historic house. Artifacts were recovered and the remains of out buildings were observed. 1.3.2 Property Description and Physical Setting The study area is situated 560m northwest of the Lake Ontario shoreline which places it within the Iroquois Plain physiographic region (Chapman and Putnam 1984:190-191). This area was the ancient seabed of glacial Lake Iroquois, which extends around the western shore of Lake Ontario for some 300km. The region is characterized by flat topography composed of shallow lacustrine deposits, primarily sand over clay subsoil. Drainage is moderate and provided by a number of small streams and creeks that often end in marshy areas south of the dunes at the Lake Ontario beachfront.
Original soils at the subject property are Chinguacousy Clay Loam, a grey brown luvisolic and acidic loam that overlies calcerous till. It has medium to texture with imperfect drainage. It is typically formed on outwash and shallow lacustrine deposits (Halton County Soil Survey).
The study area is located within the central residential portion of the Town of Oakville. It features flat surface topography and is bounded by Trafalgar Road on the north east and adjacent residential lots and buildings along the other three property lines (Maps 3, 4).
At the time of assessment the study area featured asphalt driveway and parking area and a grassy lawn with scattered tree plantings (Images 2-5, Map 5). Two areas of the lawn are evidently composed of fill associated with demolition of the former buildings and restoration of the surface. These areas were composed of mixed topsoil and clay subsoil. One small area of grass lawn near Trafalgar Road on the southeast portion of the lot between the driveway and a small concrete path, a narrow strip in the centre of the study area and one larger area of apparently undisturbed grass lawn are all that remain of the original surface. These two appear to have been graded and landscaped.
Original forest cover probably consisted of a mix of pines and hardwoods such as sugar maple, oak, beech and cherry. This pattern of forest cover is characteristic of areas of clay loam soil within the Maple - Hemlock Section of the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Forest Province - Cool Temperate Division (McAndrews and Manville: 43).
2.0 Stage 1 Analysis and Conclusions The Ministry of Tourism and Culture has designated a set of criteria that allow for a determination of archaeological potential for a given property. These criteria include the distance from the study area to any known archaeological site, elevated topography, pockets of sandy soil and proximity to historic transportation routes. However the most important and over arching criterion which when present indicates potential for the discovery of archaeological resources is proximity to a source of water. Water sources may be in the form of primary sources such as lakes or rivers or secondary sources such as old beach ridges or ancient river beds.
The study area is located within 65m of Sixteen Mile Creek and is adjacent to historic transportation corridors making up the old town (pre 1880) of Oakville. In addition it was the site of two houses, at least one of which appears to have been constructed in the 19th century. As such, the study area is rated high for archaeological potential.
3.0 Stage 2: Field Methods The entire study area was shovel tested at 5m intervals. Test pits were excavated to subsoil depth and the contents screened through 6mm mesh. Artifacts found using this method are retained and their location mapped in the field. When positive test pits are encountered, additional test pits are excavated at 2.5m intervals emanating 5m in each cardinal direction from the initial findspot. Through test pitting the surface of the property with the exception of paved areas and the building foot print of the most recent house it became evident that the property was largely disturbed except for three small areas. The southwest corner of the lot, the central strip between the two areas of fill and a small area of grass lawn north and east of the former residence at 156 Trafalgar all provided intact subsoil horizons and some of the original topsoil matrix. The remainder of the property was either disturbed by paving, or had been deeply excavated and re filled. Four test pits in the southwest part of the property were positive for brick fragments (Image 6, Map 5)).
All of these were small fragments of dry process brick probably dating to the late 19th – early 20th Century. No artifacts were encountered in any of the other test pits. Additional test pits were excavated around the initial findspots at 2.5m intervals within the undisturbed area, but no additional artifacts were found. Approximately 70% of the surface appeared to be disturbed by construction, paving, demolition or landscaping. On the day of survey weather was sunny with perfect visibility. There was no noticeable ground frost.
4.0 Stage 2 Analysis and Conclusions Other than a small amount of brick, no artifacts were recovered during the assessment. The presence of brick in some of the test pits may be associated with the demolished houses or out buildings that may once have existed. The brick fragments were located in a relatively undisturbed area on the southwest side of the property. The study area was until recently occupied by two residential buildings which were likely built in the late 19th century and occupied the property for over 100 years. Based on the results of the stage 1-2 assessment the archaeological significance of the study is considered to be limited. Specifically:
• Only four artifacts, all small brick fragments were recovered. Due to their size the date of manufacture is unknown.
• No documents related to the study area which would indicate heritage interest of value were found.
• There is no evidence of human remains in the vicinity. • Less than 80% of the site occupation is pre 1870
5.0 Recommendations As a result of this assessment it appears the study area as described above contains no significant archaeological resources. However the potential remains for deeply buried archaeological resources which could relate to an earlier occupation existing under paved areas. Should previously undocumented archaeological resources be discovered, they may be a new archaeological site and therefore subject to Section 48 (1) of the Ontario Heritage Act. The proponent or person discovering the archaeological resources must cease alteration of the site immediately and engage a licensed consultant archaeologist to carry out archaeological fieldwork, in compliance with sec. 48 (1) of the Ontario Heritage Act. Based on the evidence gathered from the stage 1-2 archaeological assessment and in accordance with the Archaeological Assessment Technical Guidelines (1993), Detritus Consulting makes the following recommendation. 1. There are no significant archaeological resources at the study area. It is therefore recommended that the study area be considered free of heritage concern.
This report is submitted to the Minister of Culture as a condition of licensing in accordance with Part VI of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c 0.18. The report is reviewed to ensure that the licensed consultant archaeologist has met the terms and conditions of their archaeological license, and that the archaeological fieldwork and report recommendations ensure the conservation, protection and preservation of the cultural heritage of Ontario. The Cemeteries Act requires that any person discovering human remains must notify the police or coroner and the Registrar of cemeteries, Ministry of Small Business and Consumer Services.
Bibliography and Sources Chapman, Lyman John and Donald F. Putnam 1984 The Physiography of Southern Ontario (Third Edition) Ontario Geological Survey
Special Volume 2. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Toronto. Government of Ontario 1990 The Planning Act R.S.O. 1990. Queen’s Printer, Toronto. n.d. Archaeological Data Base Files. Heritage Branch, Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and
Recreation n.d. Archaeological Assessment Technical Guidelines, Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation, 1993 1997 Conserving a Future for our Past, Archaeology, Development and Land Use Planning in Ontario, An Educational Primer and Comprehensive Guide for Non- Specialists, Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation, Cultural Programs Branch Archaeology and Heritage Planning Unit 2009 Draft Standards and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists, Ministry of Culture Maitland, Leslie., Hucker, Jacqueline and Rickets, Shannon 1992 A Guide to Canadian Architectural Styles, Broadview Press, Peterborough. McAndrews, J.H. and G.C. Manville 1987 Descriptions of Ecological Regions in Historical Atlas of Canada From the
Beginning to 1800 Editor R. Cole Harris, University of Toronto Press, Toronto. Page and Smith 1876 Illustrated Atlas of the County of Halton Walker & Miles Publishers, Toronto, 1876. 1990 The Canadian Inventory of Historic Building. Queen’s Printer, Toronto. www.vernaculararchitecture.com/
