Notice of Intention to Designate under the Ontario Heritage Act - 2 Wellington Street

Location of subject lands: 2 Wellington Street, Orangeville

Take notice that The Council of the Corporation of the Town of Orangeville intends to designate the above noted property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. 0.18., as amended, as a property of cultural heritage value or interest.

Description of property

The subject property is known municipally as 2 Wellington Street and is located at the southwest corner of Wellington Street and Armstrong Street, within the town of Orangeville. The property contains a two- and one-half storey industrial structure that has been converted into a commercial structure.

Statement of cultural heritage value or interest

2 Wellington Street contains design value as a representative example of a vernacular industrial building built between 1895 and 1899. Vernacular industrial design elements of 2 Wellington Street include its massing, its regularly spaced segmental arch window openings, its central first storey former carriageway opening and central second storey opening.

2 Wellington Street has historical and associative value due to its direct associations with George W. Griggs, James Griggs and Orangeville’s first mill that was built by the Griggs’ on the site. The settlement of Orangeville was first named Griggs’ Mill after the mill was constructed on the property. This property was later owned by Orange Lawrence, the namesake of Orangeville, and was the site of his two mills. Subsequently, the site was acquired by well-known local builders, Thomas T. and Charles King, who established the King Brothers Furniture Factory on the property. The property also has historical value due to its associations with the Armstrong Foundry and Machine Shop. In the 1890s, James Armstrong and John Robinson leased, and eventually purchased, the property from Charles King and established a foundry and machine shop in the current structure. The foundry was a major industry in Orangeville. It was uncommon due to its use of waterpower and was considered to be one of the longest-running industries in the community by the middle of the 20th century.

2 Wellington has contextual value due to its historical, physical and functional links to the Mill Creek. Historically, the water from the creek was integral to the operations of the original Griggs Mill, the Lawrence Mills and the later Armstrong Foundry and is integral to the historical development and understanding of the site.

Property’s heritage attributes

2 Wellington Street is a representative example of a late 19^th century vernacular industrial structure. The property contains the following heritage attributes that reflect this value:

• two- and one-half storey massing*
• red brick cladding with a red brick foundation
• segmental arch window openings
• red brick double and triple brick voussoirs
• stone sills
• central second storey door opening
• central first storey carriageway opening and adjacent door opening

*Additional half storey is contemporary and does not have CHVI

Submitting an objection to this Notice

Any person who objects to this proposed designation may, no later than 4 p.m. on July 15, 2026, give the Town Clerk, a Notice of Objection, setting out their reasons for the objection and all relevant facts. Objections can be submitted to [email protected] or delivered in-person to the Clerk’s office at Town Hall, 87 Broadway, Orangeville.

If no objection is received within the designated period, Council may consider and pass a bylaw designating this property under Part IV of the Act.

If a Notice of Objection is received, the Council of the Town of Orangeville will consider the objection on or before September 13, 2026 and make a decision to withdraw this intention to designate the property, or pass a bylaw to designate the property.

For more information

For more information about this matter, including information about the property’s heritage attributes and cultural heritage value or interest, contact the Planning Division in person at Town Hall, or electronically at [email protected] during regular office hours.

Notice Issued: June 15, 2026