After extensive research Jane Henson and husband Ed MacDonald began restoration of their historic home in Lunenburg, N.S., in 2014 and moved in four years later.Raoul Manuel Schnell
Turning an old house in need of care into a charming, meticulously restored historic home became a passion for owner Jane Henson.
Born and raised in Halifax, Ms. Henson’s education and career took her to several other provinces and the Northwest Territories, but she dreamed of returning to her roots in Nova Scotia. She was captivated when an agent showed her a Cape Cod-style home built by original settlers in the 1750s that was for sale in Riverport, southwest of Lunenburg.
It needed extensive restoration but had many original features, including a massive fireplace with a bake oven, an original corner cupboard, as well as 17-inch pine wainscoting and wide-plank wooden floors. “I was excited by engaging in a restoration project of this complexity, but little did I know what was to come,” she says.
“Interest in rehabilitating heritage homes and older buildings in general has been rising across the country,” says Chris Wiebe, manager of heritage policy and government relations for the Ottawa-based National Trust for Canada, “in part because they literally don’t build them like they used to, but also because trashing structures, and the embodied carbon and environmental impacts of their materials, is a luxury that Canada can no longer afford.”
The recognition and support for heritage restoration varies across the country. In Ontario, provincial legislation to conserve the character of heritage districts was passed in 1985 and to date more than 100 districts with intact century-old architecture have been municipally designated, more than 20 of them in Toronto, according to the Ontario Heritage Trust.
Interest is also rising in Quebec, which has more than 350,000 houses that were built before 1940. About 600 individual homes with architectural or historic significance have been classified for heritage protection by the province and another 150 homes have heritage protection from municipalities, says Clément Locat, president of AMPAQ, (Amis et propriétaires de maisons anciennes du Québec) an association of friends and owners of historic houses which includes 800 members across Quebec.
Interest in rehabilitating heritage homes and older buildings in general has been rising across the country.”
— Chris Wiebe, manager of heritage policy and government relations, National Trust for Canada
Heritage has become its own niche in real estate, says Hilary Browning, a representative of Sage Real Estate Ltd. in Toronto. “These homes have a charm and character that is hard to replicate. It can be a major commitment to bring century-old buildings to modern standards.” And that’s why it’s important to deal with a real estate expert who can offer guidance, she says.
“Sure, these homes are over 100 years old and a home inspection (and termite inspection, depending on the area) is imperative, but they’ve stood the test of time. I would argue that some of the most shocking problems I’ve come across have been found in much newer homes” she says.
The historic home, named Fairhaven by owners Jane Henson and Ed MacDonald, was built by original settlers in the 1750s.Raoul Manuel Schnell
Until recently, it was difficult to source replacement doors and windows that match historic details, but the interest in heritage has led many suppliers to develop heritage product lines. And there are specialist restoration plumbers and electricians who can minimize the amount of disruption when updating systems.
Her specialty is Cabbagetown, a heritage conservation district just east of the city’s core, with more than 2,000 homes that date back to the Victorian era and still retain their architectural features.
“We’ve certainly had buyers who are hesitant about older homes and the perceived limitations that come with living in a heritage conservation district like Cabbagetown, but the reluctance melts away when they learn that the provisions only apply to what is visible from the street not the interior or rear of the property,” Ms. Brown explains. “And there are grants available towards heritage restoration work.”
According to a study by the McMaster Research Shop for the City of Hamilton, Heritage attributes can add financial benefits. The research team reviewed nine studies, mostly conducted in Canada, that examined the association between heritage designations and resale values. It concludes that heritage designations are associated with increases in sale price of residential properties.
One issue has been reluctance of insurance companies to write replacement coverage for homes built before World War Two, Mr. Wiebe notes. Surveys conducted in 2022 by the National Trust and AMPAQ found residential as well as some commercial owners were experiencing refusal and rate rises from insurers who have a misperception that heritage designation brings increased replacement cost risks.
“In fact, heritage designations do not require that a structure or heritage features on a property be replicated in kind if they are destroyed,” Mr. Wiebe says. In 2023, the National Trust created a Heritage Properties and Insurance Taskforce to monitor the situation and make recommendations to the insurance industry that heritage and older properties shouldn’t be treated any differently than newer ones. Insurance rates now appear to be normalizing, but there are still some problems regionally, he says.
The building had many original features, including a massive fireplace with a bake oven, an original corner cupboard, as well as 17-inch pine wainscoting and wide-plank wooden floors.Raoul Manuel Schnell
Older houses come with unique issues, which can be satisfying to resolve, Ms. Henson says. Restoration of their home – named Fairhaven by Ms. Henson and husband Ed MacDonald – began in earnest in 2014. Extensive research revealed the original carpentry techniques, which used hand-hewn planks slotted horizontally into grooves in large corner posts without the use of pegs or nails. The trim had been made with hand tools and the masonry used traditional lime mortar.
Restoration included replacing 20th-century doors and windows with custom reproductions based on documented 18th-century Nova Scotia designs. The removal of other modern additions revealed the original slate-and-brick fireplace and attached bake oven in the area that is now the dining room.
A sympathetic rear addition that is not visible from the front added a modern kitchen, bathrooms and a laundry room. Plumbing and wiring also needed replacement.
In 2018, it was a delight to finally move in after four years of intensive restoration, Ms. Henson says. The home has since won a restoration award from Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia.
For those with a passion for history and craftsmanship, rehabilitating a heritage home isn’t just a project – it’s an opportunity to become a steward of Canada’s architectural legacy.
“Heritage people are passionate,” Ms. Henson says. “You are part of the house’s history.”