Dundas' former Masonic Lodge pub, event space application under review

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A building permit application to renovate the 148-year-old former Dundas Masonic Lodge building at 3 Main St. into a main-floor pub with second-floor event space was submitted just days after Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee approved a staff recommendation to designate the property under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Owner Roger Abbiss said on May 24 that preserving historic buildings and encouraging locally owned businesses is part of what makes a city interesting and vibrant.

"If we don't value the unique, the interesting, the artistic and the historic, then we will end up looking like so many other places with bland buildings populated by chain stores and franchises - virtual strip malls that could be anywhere in the world," Abbiss said.

He said he is looking for a managing partner to run the proposed pub and an executive chef whose interest lies in cooking with locally grown, small farm foods.

City of Hamilton spokesperson Antonella Giancarlo confirmed May 25 chief building official Alan Shaw received an complete online submission regarding 3 Main St.

Giancarlo said the description of the scope of work, as provided by the applicant online, is: "Renovation of existing two-storey Masonic Lodge Building and converting into Pub space on the Ground Floor and Event Hall on the Second Floor Level with new open space terrace space. Proposed renovation includes HVAC and plumbing upgrades."

In presenting a Cultural Heritage Assessment of 3 Main to the heritage committee on May 19, heritage planning technician Meg Oldfield said the property's owner permitted access to the building in November 2022, and supported the recommended designation.

Oldfield told committee the building "helps define the character of the historic downtown Dundas streetscape and is a local landmark."

The city will post a notice of its intention to designate the property and if there are no objections within 30 days, staff will introduce the necessary designation bylaw.

If an objection is received within 30 days of the posting, staff will report back to council to allow it to consider the objection.

According to the assessment report, the cultural heritage value of 3 Main St. "lies in its design value as a representative example of the Second Empire architectural style in the former Town of Dundas, as demonstrated by its Mansard roof with dormer windows, polychromatic slate tiles, and central cupola, as well as its design value as a rare, unique and early example of the Renaissance Revival architectural style."

The report states: "it is also a rare and early example of the architectural use of galvanized iron for decorative exterior window hoods in Dundas."

According to the report, property's historical value "lies in its direct association with Britton Bath Osler (1839-1901), the original owner of the building and a prominent lawyer known for his work as a prosecuting attorney in the treason trial of Louis Riel" and in its direct association with the Masonic lodge.

"The contextual value of the property lies in its role in defining the historic character of the former Town of Dundas located at the prominent corner of Main and King streets. The building is visually, physically and historically linked to its surroundings as part of

the surviving mid-to late-nineteenth century commercial streetscape and the row of buildings from 2 King St. E. to 15 Main St.. The building is also considered to be a local landmark, identifiable by its unique central cupola," the report states.

The key heritage attributes identified include several aspects of the front (west) elevation and roofline of the two-storey brick structure.

Abbiss said Hamilton is blessed to have many old and interesting heritage buildings.

"I applaud the effort to designate them and ensure their legacy continues," he said. "I believe that a well-preserved building that is true to its original characteristics is far more appealing to everyone and a source of pride to its owner."

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