Markham
November 28, 2008 03:33 PM
Keely Grasser, Staff Writer
There’s a lot of meaning behind those blue signs that will soon be affixed to heritage houses in Mount Joy.
Council approved a sign program for the historical area at its last meeting, which will see blue signs indicating a home’s building date and original owner added to a property, if the owners wish.
The signs will be a dark, rich blue.
A special shade, if you ask the Markham Village Conservancy.
President Diane More spoke of the colour at the Tuesday meeting.
“They were not done sort of haphazardly,” she said.
The group has chosen signs that are Prussian Blue, a shade that was used for decorating trim, furniture and other interior items in the late 18th and 19th centuries.
Mount Joy is named after a community in Pennsylvania and was originally settled by Pennsylvanian-Germans.
Ms More explained that this shade of blue was used to paint hex signs and furniture in Pennsylvania and is reflected in the state’s flag and license plate.
“Markham’s motto is leading by remembering and the blue plaques will do just that,” Ms More said.
The Mount Joy signs will be about 10” by 17”.
Plaques will be about $350. Interested owners will pay $100, the Conservancy will pay $150 and the town will cover the remainder through a grant from Markham’s heritage reserve fund.
Though the Mount Joy signs are ready to go, the same can’t be said for signs for the rest of the town’s heritage districts.
The town reports owners of historical buildings in heritage districts have expressed interest in having a sign program. Houses that have been individually designated already have the option of affixing bronze signs, but homes in a designating district currently don’t have such a program.
Council spent over an hour hearing delegations from residents and discussing the colour and size of signs.
One resident, Helen Walter, of the Old Markham Village Ratepayers Association, pointed out that a sign too large would overwhelm a smaller heritage home.
Councillor Valerie Burke commented that she didn’t think she would see so much discussion about the signs.
“It is fascination that we have residents that are sufficiently interested in heritage... that they would do this,” Councillor John Webster added.
Council deferred a decision on a town-wide sign policy for historical homes in its heritage districts.
Staff will later report back to council on size and colour options.