Description of Historic Place

The Terra Cotta Community Hall is located at 18 High Street on the south side of High Street, west of King Street, in the village of Terra Cotta, in the Town of Caledon. The small rectangular wood frame building was constructed in 1862, with two mid-20th century additions.

The property was designated by the Town of Caledon in 1992 for its heritage value under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act (By-law 92-62).

Heritage Value

The Terra Cotta Community Hall was constructed in 1862 as a Wesleyan Methodist Church, with labour provided by the local congregation. Following the union of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches into the United Church of Canada in 1925, the building ceased to be used for regular Sunday services. The building did, however, continue to be used as a Sunday school and for occasional church services, and gradually evolved into use as a community hall maintained by a group of Terra Cotta residents. Formal ownership to the group of trustees was granted by the United Church of Canada in 1992.

The Terra Cotta Community Hall reflects the typical style and construction materials of Methodist churches in the 1860s. The building is characterized by its rectangular form, shallow gable roof, horizontal cove siding and corner boards, rounded windows on the side facades and a centre entrance on the end facade. The front vestibule and two frame rear and side additions date to the mid-20th century.

Source: Town of Caledon, By-law 92-62.

Character-Defining Elements

Character defining elements that contribute to the heritage value of the Terra Cotta Community Hall include the:
- small, rectangular wood frame building
- stone foundation
- horizontal board exterior cladding and corner boards
- low gable roof
- front entrance centred on end facade
- two round-headed windows on either side of main building