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NEWS 13 | Stouffville Sun-Tribune | Thursday, December 29, 2016 '4th oldest brick house' in province demolished Newmarket resident Mike Widdifield disappointed over 'shameful' demolition ALI RAZA aliraza@yrmg.com One of Ontario's oldest brick buildings was demolished on Tuesday, Dec. 19. Historically known as "Maple Grove Farm," the brick house on 17166 Woodbine Ave. lies within the boundaries of WhitchurchStouffville. The house was demolished over a period of two days after a demolition request was approved by the town in August. A Heritage Advisory Committee was put in place to determine whether or not the house could be conserved and given a heritage designation. The committee found the structure to be unstable and the demolition permit was issued. The current owner of the property is the Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services - Archdiocese of Toronto, who plan to construct a cemetery on the property. Newmarket resident Mike Widdifield told the Sun-Tribune that the house shouldn't have been demolished as it is "historically significant" and more importantly the home of his ancestors Henry and Martha Widdifield. Widdifield has expressed great disappointment in the decision to tear the house down. "This was absolutely shameful," he said. "This is the worst thing historically that's happened in the area in I don't know how long. The place was never in danger of falling down; it would've stood another 200 years." The structure was built by Quakers (the Widdifields) who arrived from Pennsylvania in 1801, though the building was erected circa 1814. It would make the structure approximately the same age as Fort York. Widdifield, with the help of architectural historian Bruce Corley, has been researching any information he can find to show the house should not have been demolished. Among his research, Widdifield says the structure was "probably the 4th oldest brick house in Ontario." Corley, a member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals, says his job is to document the significance of the building. "No one saw the interior of the building before the demolition permit was issued by the town," he said. After assessing the interior, structure and other details of the building, Corley concluded that the house served as a Quaker meeting house. It also had a school attached adjacent to the building, which Corley says is also one of the province's oldest schools. The Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services Archdiocese of Toronto, in accordance with the town, reiterated that the structure was fragile and unsafe. Stouffville Churches Welcome You 345 Glad Park Ave. Stouffville 905-640-6954 Anglican Church of Canada 254 Sunset Blvd., 905-640-1461 www.stouffvilleanglican.ca Sunday, January 1st 8:00 am & 10:00 am Eucharist Nursery & Church School 10:00 am Wednesday, January 4th Seniors' Service & Tea 1:00 am Saturday, January 14th 2:00 pm Concert for Christ Church Feat. Valentin Bogolubov & Ludmila Gontcharova-Bogolubova Christ Church TO ST. JAMES Stouffville PRESBYTERIAN 6432 Main St., Stouffville 905-640-3151 Rev. Joan Masterton, Minister Sunday, January 1 Start the New Year right. Come to church. Service of Worship 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 2 Fellowship breakfast Fickle Pickle restaurant Main St., Stouffville 8:00 a.m. Saturday, January 14 Robbie Burns Night Dinner and entertainment Parkview Village 5:00 p.m. WELCOME CHURCH STOUFFVILLE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH Stouffville Christian Fellowship A Church in a Beautiful Countryside Pastor Walter Robbins SUNDAY SERVICE @ 10:00AM * EVERYONE WELCOME * Lead Pastor : Jeff Laird Children's Pastor : Lori Attack Youth Pastor : Steffan Watson Sunday Service STOUFFVILLE Lunch to follow Sideline 28 10:30am 8th Conc. CLAREMONT NEW YEAR'S MASS SCHEDULE Saturday, December 31, 2016 · 5:00 pm Mass Sunday, January 1, 2017 · 9:00 am Mass · 11:00 am Mass · 12:30 pm Mass www.stmarkstouffville.ca York Durham Line 30 Bridge Out Major Mackenzie MARKHAM Brock Rd. 7th Conc. Hwy. 7 Hwy. 407 BROUGHAM PICKERING Student programs will resume in January 6853 Main St. Stouffville 905-640-5696 860 Conc. 8, Claremont 905-649-2812 Rev. Elizabeth Cunningham All Welcome COME & SEE "A friendly family church" WWW.SPCFAMILY.CA Stouffville Grace Baptist Church 34 Church St. N. · 905-640-1163 office@stouffvilleuc.ca Christmas Day Service New Years Day Pancake Breakfast BLOOMINGTON GOSPEL CHURCH 13660 Ninth Line N. (905) 642-4414 Rev. Peter Pallant CHINESE Sun. School:10am Worship:11:30am () ENGLISH/ CHILDREN Worship:10am Sun. School:11:30am 10:00am 6273 Main Street 905 - 591 - 3200 www.in2one.ca Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 6:00pm - 7:00pm A Church of the Christian And Missionary Alliance Sunday, January 1, 2017 9:30 am - Sunday School 11:00 am - Worship Service 6:30 pm - Evening Service NEW WORSHIP PLACE & CHURCH OFFICE 12485 Tenth Line, Stouffville (647) 547-3618 admin@stouffville-gbc.org www.stouffville-gbc.org (EastRidge Evangelical Missionary Church) Sunday, January 1st 10:30 am New Year's Day Worship Service Happy New Year 2017 to all! Everyone Welcome! www.stouffvilleuc.ca yorkregion.com Everyone Welcome!