Heritage Register

The echoes of history reverberate throughout the Town of Essex. As early as 1787, soldiers and loyalists were settling on farm lots running inland from Lake Erie. During the 1800s, fugitive slaves and European settlers carried on the pioneer spirit by building small communities throughout Colchester Township, as it was then known. Villages that endure today arose at Colchester, Harrow, McGregor and Essex Centre.

Before European settlement, First Nations living in the area of what is now the Town of Essex included the Three Fires Confederacy, comprised of the Ojibway, Odawa, and Potawatomi Peoples, and the Huron-Wendat Peoples. To open the area between Lakes Erie and St.Clair to settlement the British colonial government asked an Indian agent at Detroit, Alexander McKee, to negotiate a treaty. The treaty, known as the McKee Purchase, or Treaty No. 2, was signed in 1790. The Town of Essex acknowledges that this land is the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of the First Nations. We are grateful to live and work on this land."

Although amalgamation in 1999 merged the former Towns of Essex and Harrow with the former Townships of Colchester North and Colchester South, the unique history and cultural identity of the original communities continues to be preserved by its residents with help from the Essex Municipal Heritage Committee, Town staff and local historical societies.

Engage with our past by learning more about some of the built and cultural heritage that dots our landscape.

Heritage Register

The Town's Planning Department is responsible for processing requests for heritage designation. The Town's Planning Division works with the Heritage Committee to research properties of heritage importance and then to report to Council in this regard.

Designation under section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, gives a property special legal status. Designation applies to real property, and helps to protect and recognize the heritage features of that property. Properties can also be listed, which allows for the protection of a culturally significant building or structure from unnecessary demolition. If a property is listed and the owner wishes to demolish or alter the structure, they must give 60 days' notice to council, who will make a decision on whether or not to issue a permit.

To access the name and address of the property owners contact the Town of Essex Clerks department and please make an appointment to view the property rolls

For information on Heritage Planning, or to find out if your property is eligible for designation under the Ontario Heritage Act or listing under our Municipal Heritage Registry, please contact our Planning Department.

Please note: Some of the following locations are privately owned or may require an entry fee.

Designated

25 Walnut St. S., Harrow- BME Cemetery (Designated)

Gravestone for Reverend Noah C. Cannon RCP 1645 Lot 80 RP, 12R5789 Part 2, municipally known as 25 Walnut Street, Harrow Center, in the Township of Colchester South, within the Town of Essex, and the County of Essex.

The Harrow British Methodist Episcopal Cemetery is found in Harrow Centre, within the Town of Essex. It is located immediately south of Sanford and Son Supermarket and attached parking space. It contains a series of tombstones set back from a wrought iron fence with an eastward facing gate and stone pillars. The site is currently inactive as a cemetery.

Heritage attributes:

Burial place of early Black pioneers
Municipal connection to the Underground Railroad
Prominence of a number of buried persons
Original location of cemetery
Well maintained headstones

Well maintained grounds
Bronze historical signage added in 2007

The Harrow BME Cemetery is one of the most intact examples of a Black Canadian Cemetery in Ontario, thanks to the restorative efforts of the local community that surround it. Some of the earliest settlers in Essex County were of African origin, some having fought as United Empire Loyalists during the American War of Independence and others coming to Essex County as refugee slaves from the American South. It houses many well-maintained headstones and is the resting place of many notable Black people in the area, including Reverend Noah Canon, founder of many BME churches throughout Ontario that were built to safeguard the religious freedoms of African Canadians.

The cemetery was originally attached to an African Methodist Episcopal Church started under the guidance of the Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Philadelphia, that was located on the corner of the property and used until the mid-20th century.

18 Gordon Ave., Essex Centre- Carnegie Library (Designated)

Red brick building with wide staircase

Lot 202 and Lot 204, Registered Plan 176, Municipally known as 18 Gordon Avenue, Essex Center, in the Township of Essex, within the Town of Essex, and the County of Essex.

Heritage Attributes:

Built c. 1914
Built through donations made by Scottish American Businessman and Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, funded by the Carnegie Foundation
One of 111 Carnegie Libraries built in Ontario
Designed by Architect J.C. Pennington

The Essex Carnegie Library is one of five buildings sponsored by Scottish American philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie who believed in free access to education, in Essex County and one of three still standing. The library was opened in 1914 after receiving $6000 in funding from Andrew Carnegie and was designed by architect J.C. Pennington. The Carnegie library system was designed to develop literacy in small communities and establish accessible education in those communities. This building housed the public library for over 100 years and today it continues to serve the public by hosting the Essex and Community Historical Research Society.

Learn about the libraries funded by the Carnegie Foundation in communities across the province.

195 Bagot St., Colchester- Colchester Schoolhouse (Designated)

195 Bagot Street is located at the corner of Bagot and Sulivan Street in the hamlet of Colchester and is legally described as LOT S W/S BAGOT STREET, PL 18 COLCHESTER; PT LOT S E/S SYDENHAM STREET, PL 18 COLCHESTER PT 2, 12R6837, ESSEX. It is comprised of the Colchester Schoolhouse: a one-and-half storey, one room brick schoolhouse built in 1881. The property forms part of a small historic precinct of buildings and landscapes along the waterfront.

Heritage Attributes:

Location at the NW corner of Bagot and Sullivan Street

Contextual relationship of the property with the village historic precinct including the frontages and views to the church building, rectory, cemetery, and chapel;
Mass, form, and style of original schoolhouse
Red brick cladding in common brick bond on all four elevations
Fieldstone foundation
Roof belfry with square housing, bell, and finial

Later brick chimney and crown
All existing window openings topped with rowlock and header brick voussoirs and underscored by cast stone lug sills
Projecting keystones with central keystone carved with floral motifs and flanking label stop stones
Decorative stretcher course quoins arranged and offset in three course sections
Inset date stone under southern gable apex reading “School Section No. 2, 1881”

Round vent opening under northern gable apex
East yard, from Bagot Street, with views to the schoolhouse
South yard, from Sullivan Street, with views to the schoolhouse

The Colchester Schoolhouse, known locally as “the little red school”, was built in 1881, the first in the area built under the Public Schools Act. The “S.S. No. 2, 1881” was built to replace another schoolhouse and provide a better space for children in Colchester to learn. The architectural style of the building is reminiscent of many schoolhouses across rural Canada. It was one of the first racially integrated schools in Essex County, contrasting the existing segregated schools in other nearby municipalities.

87 Station St., Essex Centre- Essex Railway Station (Designated)

Stone train station with grain silos behind

Lots 88, 89, 90 and Part of Roadway of Registered Plan 176, Town of Essex. Commencing at the Northeast limit of Lot 88, thence Westerly 200 feet, thence Southerly 130 feet, thence Easterly 270 feet, thence Northerly 80 feet, thence Westerly 70 feet, thence Northerly 50 feet to place of beginning. This property is known as the Essex Railway Station, located on Station Street in the Town of Essex.

Heritage Attributes:

Built in the late 19th Century
A branch line connecting Essex to Amherstburg was chartered by the Michigan Central Railway and opened in 1884
A stone station was erected in 1887
On April 10th, 1907, not more than 75 yards from the station, a box car loaded with 5000 pounds of dynamite blew up, and the station, though still standing, was damaged

Served and housed many of the early settlers

The Essex Railway Station, originally known as the Michigan Central Railway, was built in 1887, replacing the original station with the stone station seen today. The Railway station and the tracks laid across the Talbot Trail helped establish Essex Centre as the shipping hub of Essex County, bringing in settlers to the area and helping the local economy. On April 10th, 1907, not more than 75 yards from the station, a box car loaded with 5000 pounds of dynamite blew up, and the station, though still standing, was damaged. And on February 14th, 1980, the downtown core of Essex faced a natural gas explosion. Despite these two nearby explosions, the building has been well preserved and restored for its surrounding community.

Cornwall Beach Rd, Harrow - Hutchin's Family Cemetery (Designated)

Three headstones

Part of Lot 84, Concession One, Township of Colchester South, within the Town of Essex, in the County of Essex.

The Hutchins family farm cemetery is found in the Colchester South region within the Town of Essex. This is an inactive cemetery. It was active for roughly a half-century from the mid-nineteenth century until the beginning of the twentieth century. The cemetery still occupies the original location as it did during the nineteenth century.

Heritage Attributes:

Original Location of Cemetery
White Marble Headstones
One Double-Sided White Marble Headstone
Burial place of Early pioneers

0 Twin Gables Rd. South of County Rd. 50, Essex- Iler Settlement Baptist Cemetery (Designated)

Iler Settlement headstone with history

Part of Lot 40, Concession One, Township of Colchester(Designated) South, within the Town of Essex, in the County of Essex.

The Iler Settlement Cemetery is found in the Colchester South region within the Town of Essex. This is an inactive cemetery. The cemetery first began as a family cemetery, but later became a community cemetery for the Iler Settlement. The cemetery still occupies the original location as it did during the nineteenth century.

Heritage Attributes:

Original Location of Cemetery
Number of Headstones

Well maintained grounds
Burial place of early pioneers

The Iler Settlement Cemetery is an example of an early pioneer cemetery, starting as a family cemetery then later expanding into a community cemetery. There are a number of well-maintained headstones, with the oldest headstone in this cemetery dating back to 1832.The Iler family were among the earliest settlers in the Colchester South region. The Iler Settlement began in 1808 when Jacob Iler bought Lot 37 in Colchester's Front Concession. Throughout the years, churches, schools, farms and businesses have thrived there.

1215 Iler Rd., Harrow- Iler Wirag Home (Designated)

Two storey house with one storey addition

Part of Lot 41, Concession One, Designated as Part 3 on Plan12R14832; Town of Essex.

The property is located at 1215 Iler Road and is a two-acre lot located at the northeast corner of Iler and Huffman Road, in the former township of Colchester South, in Essex County. The property is occupied by a single detached dwelling and three outbuildings.

Heritage Attributes:

Existing single detached dwelling and its location

915 County Rd. 50 East- John R. Park Homestead (Designated)

White wooden home on lakeshore

Part of Lot 39 and 40, Concession 1, Geographic Township of Colchester South, now in the Town of Essex, in the County of Essex, shown as Parls 1 and 2, Reference Plan 12R-22616 being all of PIN 75195 0061 (LT) and PIN 75186 001 (LT).

The John R. Park Homestead and Conservation Area is a nineteenth century farmstead comprised of a two-storey clapboard house, eleven frame barns and outbuildings, an heirloom orchard and a garden. Operated as a living history museum, it is located on the south side of County Road 50 in the former Township of Colchester South, now the Town of Essex. The irregularly shaped property of 5.917 hectares is bounded on the south of Lake Erie, on the East by Fox Creek, and on the north by County Road 50 and Twin Gables Road. The lake frontage is approximately 350 meters.

Heritage Attributes:

Rare surviving example of a nineteenth century farmstead
Location of the houses, outbuildings, heirloom orchard, and garden

Scale and massing of all elevations of the barns and outbuildings
Brick forge and chimney of the Blacksmith shop, surrounded by a dirt floor; and
Louvered air ventilators (cupolas) on the roof of the Hog Barn
An example of American Greek Revival domestic architecture

Scale, massing and symmetry of the two-storey center block and the one-storey east and west wings

Gable roofs on the center block and the east and west wings
Painted clapboard exterior with wooden shutters
Wooden sash windows including very large 9-over-6 windows flanked on both sides by the north elevation, and 6-over-6 windows on the second floor
Fanlights and dentil trim on the gables
Sidelights and transom surrounding the front (south) entrance

Wooden pilasters flanking both doors
Three brick chimneys
Fieldstone foundation
Original interior room layout with center hall and staircase
Two Rumford fireplaces with built-in cupboards

Original interior door and door hardware

The John R. Park Homestead and Conservation Area is a local living history museum maintained by the Essex Region Conservation Authority and is a historic example of a nineteenth century farmstead comprised of the original farmhouse and a series of barns and outbuildings, many original to the property. This was the home of John R. Park, a local businessman, council member, and founding member of the Colchester Agricultural Society, and his family. The farmhouse was built in 1842, with some of the outbuildings coming in the following decades.

78 Fox St. N, Essex Centre- Kowtiuk Home (Designated)

Wooden heritage home

Parts of Lots 92 and 93, Registered Plan 176, in the Town of Essex, Essex County, Ontario. Lot area is 0.27 acres, Lot frontage is 57 feet, Map Roll Number is 130-01100- Single detached residential dwelling.

This building is located on Parts of Lots 92 and 93, Registered Plan 176, in Essex Center. Proven documents, including the 1870 Assessment Roll book, show that it was built in or before 1870. Documents have not been found to prove the building existed before this date. This clad building was used during the time of the building of the rail line, (Michigan Central at that time). In the 1888 deed, the new owner is referred to as a hotel keeper, and in a later document, there is reference this being a hotel building known as the Essex House. The words “Hot Tea and Coffee” are painted on the side of the house.

Heritage Attributes:

Age of building proven using the 1870 Assessment Roll book

Ownership- Alexander Cameron deeded the property to Jeremiah Lindsay
Survived 1907 Rail Explosion (caused by nitroglycerine)
Single detached residential dwelling use continues presently

The Kowtuik home is one of the oldest residences in Essex Center. Built around 1870,in close proximity to the Railway Station, this private home was at one time used as an overnight stop, as a space for railway employees and later as a hotel, known as the Essex House. Alongside the Essex Railway Station, this home also survived the 1907 Rail explosion, despite its proximity to the blast. As a private residence, it has been carefully restored and has received heritage designation.

Dunn Rd. Between County Rd. 13 and Fox Sd. Rd.- McCormick Family Cemetery (Designated)

Heritage plaque in honour of Alexander McCormick

Part of Lot 7, Concession Gore, Township of Colchester South, within the Town of Essex, in the County of Essex.

The McCormick family farm cemetery is found in the Colchester South region within the Town of Essex. This is an inactive cemetery. It was active throughout the nineteenth century until 1884 when Matthew McCormick was buried at the age of 87. The cemetery still occupies the original location as it did during the nineteenth century.

Heritage Attributes:

Original location of cemetery
Oldest headstone in the county
Marble headstones

Cement wall which protects the cemetery
Burial place of United Empire Loyalist
Burial place of a War of 1812 veteran and rebellion of 1837-38 veteran

The McCormick family cemetery was used throughout the 19th century until 1884. The McCormick family were among the earliest settlers along Lake Erie's north shore. Alexander McCormick, a fur trader and loyalist during the American Revolutionary War, moved to Upper Canada in 1794, settling near Colchester. The cemetery houses well maintained headstones, dating back to the early 19th century, with some representing United Empire Loyalists and War of 1812 Veterans. The oldest headstone in Essex County, dated 1803, the year of McCormick's death, is found in this cemetery.

Dunn Rd.- Quick Family Cemetery (Designated)

Part of Lot 8, Concession Gore, Township of Colchester South, within the Town of Essex, in the County of Essex.

The Quick family farm cemetery is found in the Colchester South region within the Town of Essex. This is an inactive cemetery. It was active for roughly a half-century from the mid-nineteenth century until the beginning of the twentieth century. The cemetery still occupies the original location as it did during the nineteenth century.

Heritage Attributes:

Original location of cemetery
Marble headstones
Stone piles which represent burials

Burial place of early pioneers
Burial place of War of 1812 veteran

The Quick family cemetery is an example of a small 19th century cemetery, being active from the mid-19th century to the beginning of the 20th century.

872 County Rd. 50, Harrow- Tofflemire Snider Cemetery (Designated)

Headstones beside a vineyard

Concession 1, Part of Lot 42, in the former Township of Colchester South, Essex County, Ontario. Lot Area-0.17 acres, Lot Frontage- 85.14 feet, Map Roll Number 620-17000- Cemetery.

Heritage Attributes:

Final resting place of Colchester South’s earliest pioneers and their family, as evidenced by grave markers
Shared burial symbolic of collaboration between Colchester’s pioneer families

The Tofflemire-Snider Cemetery was a collaborative effort between two of the area's earliest pioneer families. This cemetery is located on scenic County Road 50.In it rests John Snider, a Pennsylvania blacksmith, and his wife, who obtained a grant of land near Colchester Village in 1790 and built a house that still stands as the oldest house in Essex County.

The cemetery houses the Tofflemire, Snider, Buchanan, Beeman, and Brush families, symbolic of the collaboration of Colchester’s earliest pioneering families and the beginning of a longstanding relationship between many of the original settler families in the area.

Listed

190 Bagot Street, Colchester- Christ Church (Listed)

Image of 190 Bagot Street The Christ Church, built in 1876, was significant to the spiritual development of the community of Colchester. It played a significant role in the development of education and government within the community. The Christ Church has a direct association with Reverend Richard Pollard, the first ordained clergyman of the Church of England in Essex County and served as minister to congregations in communities throughout Essex County and encouraged each area to build a school.

103 King Street West, Harrow- John McIntyre’s Shop (Listed)

Image of 103 King Street West

This commercial building once served as John McIntyre’s harness shop. John McIntyre was one of the most prominent harness makers in the area, a very important business in the area when horses were the main source of power on the farm and acted as transportation. It was built in 1896 as a harness shop, but by 1899 it served as the community library.

The architectural style of the building is reflective of 19th century commercial buildings in Canada.

120 Talbot Street North, Essex- Grace Baptist Church (Listed)

Image of 120 Talbot Street South

The Grace Baptist Church, built in the late 19th century, was originally located on Medora Avenue and known as the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was one of the original Methodist churches in the town but was vacated when two congregations amalgamated. The building was then used temporarily as the first high school in the Town of Essex, before it was used as the new Baptist church. Because of the 1907 Railway explosion, the church was damaged and only the frame, from 1887,was salvaged. The congregation moved the frame to Talbot Street, and pledged money to fund there building of the church around the frame. Each member could pledge to buy bricks at 10 cents.

21 King Street East, Harrow- John McAfee General Store (Listed)

Image of 21 King Street East

This commercial building has historic ties to John McAfee. McAfee contributed much to the growth of Harrow.

The architectural style of this building is reflective of most 19th century commercial red brick buildings.

49 Talbot Street South, Essex- Essex United Church (Listed)

Image of 49 Talbot Road South

The Essex United Church, originally known as the Grace Methodist Church, was built in 1908 and was significant to the spiritual development of Essex Center. It was built following the Railway explosion in 1907 when one of the original Methodist churches was destroyed. The Church was originally a Methodist Church, but it would later become a United Church in 1925, when the Methodist Church and some Presbyterian Churches in Canada joined together to form the United Church of Canada.

The name changed from the Grace Methodist Church to the Essex United Church in 1946

4005 County Rd. 11, Harrow- Central Grove AEC (Listed)

Image of 4005 County Road 11

The Central Grove African Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1910-1911. The Central Grove AME was originally founded in 1888, when Reverend Joesph O’Benyon, a preacher from Sarnia, came to the area hosting an Evangelical campaign promoting the doctrines of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. It became one of the first AME churches in the area. The church was named Central Grove due to its location, being a central location for people from the communities of Pleasant Valley and New Canaan. The building was built in 1910-1911 and has special ties to the Essex Methodist Church.

After the impact of the 1907 Railway explosion, the original Essex Methodist Church was damaged beyond repair and a new building, the future Essex United Church, was built in its place. Central Grove trustees purchased the frame of the old Essex Methodist Church for $210 and built the Church around it.

18 Talbot St. North, Essex- Bennigan's/IBoC (Listed)

Image of 18 Talbot Street South

The former Imperial Bank of Canada, later known as Bennigan’s, was formally opened on December 5th, 1947, replacing the Town of Essex’s original branch with a larger, more modern building. The original branch of the Imperial Bank of Canada was established on March 5th, 1885, and was the 11th oldest branch in Canada. This building was designed in the Art Deco Style and built as a credit to the Town of Essex and the bank trustees.

22 King St. West, Harrow- IOOF Building (Listed)

Image of 22 King Street West

This building was designed by Thomas Jenner, a prominent architect in Essex County, for the International Order of the Oddfellows and is one of 210 lodges in Ontario. Thomas Jenner drew up plans for the building in 1912, and by 1915 the building was constructed. Funds for the building were raised during a Labour Day Celebration held in Harrow, involving the entire community in its funding and establishment.

The International Order of the Oddfellows dates back to the 17th century in England, with the purpose of giving aid to the needy and pursuing projects to benefit the communities they were in and all of mankind.

11 King St. West, Harrow- E.F Darby’s Drugstore (Listed)

Image of 11 King Street West

Edmund F. Darby was elected as the first mayor of Harrow when it became a Town on April 3rd, 1930.At the time a municipality needed over 2,000 residents to qualify for town status, but the town successfully lobbied the provincial government to pass a special statute incorporating the Town of Harrow.

3 King St. West, Harrow- John McAfee (One of Harrows Original Building Blocks) (Listed)

Image of 3 King Street West

This commercial building was built John McAfee, a prominent business who contributed to Harrow’s growth and establishing the downtown and is one of Harrow’s original building blocks. John McAfee was a civil engineer involved with surveying the railroad that served as the Windsor and Lakeshore Railway line between Harrow and Kingsville. This building was built before 1883 and was used as a general store, furniture store, funeral home, post office, and bank throughout the years.

This commercial building has historic ties to John McAfee. McAfee contributed much to the growth of Harrow. The architectural style of this building is reflective of most 19th century commercial red brick buildings. This commercial building was built before 1883 by John McAfee, a local Harrow businessman who contributed much to the growth of Harrow. The architectural style of the building is reflective of most 19th century commercial buildings, and most buildings in Harrow, once they started to rebuild the town. It also served as the local post office. The building was bought by C.I. Pastorius in 1888, where he sold furniture.

314 Queen St. West, Harrow- Station Master's Home (Listed)

Image of 314 Queen

Built in 1896-1897, this was the home of the station master for the former Lake Erie and Detroit Railway built by Hiram Walker, M.P O’Connor. O’Connor was the Harrow station master from 1891-1918, and this house was likely built for him.

The LEDR railway in Harrow was built in 1888 by Hiram Walker, which added establishing a local economy in the town and aided the agricultural industries in the area. The original railway station was located behind this red brick home.

44 King St. East, Harrow- Harrow Municipal Building (Listed)

Image of 44 King Street East Built in 1939, the Harrow Municipal Building was designed by prominent Windsor-Essex architect, James Carlisle Pennington, and served the community for decades. It housed many community events and community amenities, such as a post office, the hydro office, and the local library. It was also used as a council chamber and an office for town officials.

In 1986, the basement of the Municipal Building became the OPP station and in 1999, after the amalgamation of the Town of Essex, the entire building became Police Headquarters for the Town of Essex. Today, it remains the OPP headquarters.

9567 Walker Rd., McGregor- St. Clements Church (Listed)

Image of St. Clement's Church

The St. Clements Church Roman Catholic Church was an important spiritual pillar in the community of McGregor and served the local Catholic families in the area. Construction of the church began in 1879 and was finished in 1903, with preservation techniques and restoration of the church continuing to this day.

400 County Rd. 13, Colchester- Victorian Farmstead (Listed)

Image of 400 County Road 13

This residential building, built before 1881, is a good example of a Victorian era farmstead that was common across Ontario during the late 19th century. The architectural style is a good example of the Victorian era but holds some elements that are like the style of the late Georgian era.

54 Talbot St. South, Essex (Listed)

Image of 54 Talbot Street South

The style is a good example of a hybrid Victorian design, reminiscent of Queen Anne Revival architecture. This home was owned by local doctor, Dr. Robert B. Potts, who lived here from 1893 to 1897. Before he married his wife Ada L Pascoe, the daughter of an Essex Methodist Church minister. The home was sold to his mother Rhonda Potts in 1897, following his sudden death.

94 Talbot St. South, Essex (Listed)

Image of 97 Talbot Street South

The building's architectural design makes it an important feature of South Talbot Street, a region of town that was developed before the town was officially incorporated in 1884. This building is a good example of a hybrid Victorian design, combining a variety of architectural design elements that were popular at the time.

98 Talbot St. South, Essex- Parsonage (Listed)

Image of 98 Talbot Street South

In 1886 the property was conveyed to the Essex Centre Congregation of the Methodist Church (now the Essex United Church).

The house on the property may have been the parsonage for the ministers of the Methodist church until 1943, housing ministers such as Reverend W.S Pascoe, James Whiting, and Gorman Gifford. The building's architectural design makes it an important feature of South Talbot Street, a region of town that was developed before the town was officially incorporated in 1884.

102 Talbot St. South, Essex (Listed)

Image of 102 Talbot Street South

The building's architectural design makes it an important feature of Talbot Street South.

Talbot Street South was a region of the town that was developed before the town was officially incorporated in 1884.This building is a good example of a hybrid Victorian design, combining a variety of architectural design elements that were popular at the time.

138 Albert St., Essex- Charles Robert’s Home (Listed)

Image of 138 Albert Street

This is one of the oldest homes in Essex, predating the incorporation of the Town. It was built before 1885 and was the home of Charles Roberts, the founder of C.W Roberts & Sons, a local business that opened in 1912.The house has immense architectural significance, as it is an example of the Second Empire architectural style. This style was prominent throughout Ontario during the 1860’s to 1880’s and is recognizable due to its towers and turrets and its mansard roof line.

2547 County Rd. 20 East, Harrow- Fina Gas Station (Listed)

Image of 2547 County Road 20 East

This Fina gas station, built in 1956, was one of many built across Canada by the Petrofina Company, a Belgian company, during their expansion into North America.

The architectural style of this building is reminiscent of the Belgian roots of the Petrofina Company, with a bow fronted glass office

0 Ferriss Rd., Harrow- Ferriss Cemetery (Listed)

Stone monument at the Ferriss Cemetery

The Ferriss family is the first recorded family to have settled in this area around the Second Concession.

The Ferriss Cemetery remains on the site in memory of some of the municipality’s earliest pioneers, including both pioneers, Joseph and Catherine Ferriss. The cemetery is plotted in a cross layout and houses headstones from the 19th century.

687 County Rd 50 East- Huffman Cemetery (Listed)

Gravestone at the Huffman Cemetery After the American Revolution, Rudolph Huffman, a United Empire Loyalist, came to this part of Canada from Virginia on May 4, 1792. He obtained 600 acres along the shores of Lake Erie. This cemetery lies on a part of that original 600 acre family farm. Many of the Huffman family descendants still live in the Colchester area.

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