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Hamilton preserves former Augustus Jones house
(Stoney Creek News, Kevin Werner, Jan 25 2016)

It may have happened in reverse order, but Hamilton councillors and the Heritage Committee both accelerated designating 1 Jones Street as a heritage building of value.

Stoney Creek councillor Maria Pearson, who is a member of the Heritage Committee, urged her council colleagues to accept the designation at council’s Jan. 20 meeting, a day before the heritage committee was set to vote on the same recommendation.

She said the property owner recently sold the house, commonly referred to by heritage advocates as the “Jones House,” and they wanted to keep it safe when it sold.

“The owners are supportive of designation,” said Pearson. “They want the heritage attributes to be maintained. I’m just thrilled, absolutely thrilled with the outcome.”

She said the new owner will be responsible for protecting the two-storey, wood-framed and stucco building. There are a few no trespassing and no parking signs dotting the property.

Pearson said she has already talked to the buyer of the home, Jas Sohal, who will help to preserve the building.

“He knows the property has to be protected,” said Pearson. “There is no issue.”

The property is already in the register of property of cultural heritage value or interest. It means the owners have to provide the city 60 days’ notice before demolishing or removing any structure on the property.

The former City of Stoney Creek had identified the property had historical merit to be designated. Hamilton heritage members had placed the property on a list of buildings of concerned.

Pearson said she has been in contact with a person willing to purchase the property, located at the corner of Jones Street and Mountain Avenue North in downtown Stoney Creek, and accepts the heritage designation.

The property may have been the home of Augustus Jones, a United Empire Loyalist who came north from the United States in the 1780s.

The house is believed constructed by Jones’ nephew Stephen Jones , and was lived in by Ebenezer and Joseph Jones, brothers to Augustus. When the brothers were killed in an accident, Augustus inherited the house. The Jones family owned the property from 1791 to 1911.


Read it in full here.