Notice of Intention to Designate 492 River Road as a Property of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Pursuant to Section 29 (3) of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, C. O.18

Dated and published on the municipal website the 26th day of June 2026.

Description of Property

The property, 492 River Road, facing the Mississippi River in the small hamlet of Appleton, is an early 19th century limestone house that features a three-bay front façade with a centre hall plan, twelve over twelve sash windows on the ground floor and six over six in the gable ends, a side gable roof and a large verandah on the first section of the house built in 1837, with a later addition that includes a front gable roof, six over six windows and a large, three-bay carriage house.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The cultural heritage value of the Teskey House lies in the building being an excellent example of the Georgian Classical style, its associations with the Teskey family, Irish Palatines who emigrated to Lanark County as part of the Peter Robinson settlement and its contribution to the character of Appleton.

The Teskey House was built for Joseph Teskey in two parts that form an “ell”, the main house in 1837 and the kitchen/carriage house wing in 1844*. The building has design value because of its unusual plan and as an example of Georgian Classicism. Features of the style include the symmetrical plan with three bay front façade (1837 section), front door with fanlight and side lights.

The Teskey House has historical value because of its associations with the Teskey family, Irish Palatines who emigrated from Ireland to Upper Canada in 1823 as part of Peter Robinson’s first settlement. The entire family, including eight children and their parents arrived in Lanark in the autumn of 1823, and the eldest sons, Joseph, Robert and John, received land grants close to each other and the waterfalls where they eventually built mills.

The Teskey House has contextual value because of its location on the Mississippi River in Appleton, overlooking the original site of Joseph Teskey’s grist mill. In addition, its distinctive style and design enhance the character of the village.

Description of Heritage Attributes

Key exterior elements that contribute to the heritage value of the Teskey House, 492 River Road, Appleton, as an excellent example of the Georgian Classicism style include:

• House plan that includes a side gabled roof, one and a half storey structure with a verandah on three sides (1837) that forms an “ell” with a front gabled, one and a half storey stone structure with a front verandah and three arched entrances to the carriage house at the rear (1844);
• Main House, 1837
  • One and a half storey massing, with side-gable roof
  • Irregularly sized rough-cut limestone quarried locally and laid in uneven courses;
  • Stone voussoirs above main door and all windows;
  • Three-bay front façade with centrally placed door flanked by 12 over 12 windows;
  • Rectangular plan;
  • Six over six windows on the ground floor;
  • Neoclassical doorway featuring fanlight with tracery, flanked by divided sidelights;
  • Verandah on three sides;
  • Stone chimneys at either end of the roof;
• 1844 Kitchen/Carriage House Addition
  • Front gabled, three bay structure with a front veranda, three chimneys;
  • Constructed of larger, darker, more rectangular blocks of limestone than the 1837 section, laid in roughly even courses;
  • Rectangular six over six windows with stone voussoirs, white sills on front façade, small square six pane windows under eaves;
  • Features a carriage shed with three arched openings (one enclosed);
• Setting
  • The large side yard, located to the north of the house;
  • The retaining wall and fence.

The interior of the building is not included in this designation.

Objections

Please be advised that any person wishing to object to this designation may do so under the objection process set out in Section 29 (5) of the Ontario Heritage Act by giving the Clerk of the Municipality of Mississippi Mills, within 30 days after the online publication of this notice, or before 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2026.

This notice must be sent by registered mail or delivered to the Clerk of the Municipality of Mississippi Mills and must set out the reason for the objection and all relevant facts. If a notice of objection is received, the Council of the Municipality of Mississippi Mills shall consider the objection and make a decision whether or not to withdraw the notice of intention to designate the property within 90 days after the end of the 30-day objection period. If Council decides not to withdraw its intention to designate, a heritage designation by-law must be passed within 120 days after the date of publication of the notice of intention to designate. Council must publish a Notice of Passing of the designation by-law which is followed by a 30-day appeal period when appeals of the by-law may be given to the Ontario Land Tribunal for a hearing and decision.

For further information, please contact the Development Services and Engineering Department: 613-256-2064 or mplanner@mississippimills.ca.