Description of Historic Place
The Reformed Mennonite Meeting House, Port Colborne's oldest existing church structure, is a simple rectangular structure of red clay brick, built in 1872. The building is distinguished by a few Italianate details and occupies the spacious corner lot of 269 Killaly Street West.
The property was municipally designated for its heritage value by the City of Port Colborne under By-law No. 3206/78/95.
Heritage Value
During a time when the migration of Mennonites to Upper Canada was increasing, the Reformed Mennonite Meeting House provided a meeting place for social and religious activities and contributed significantly to the cultural development of Humberstone Township, now Port Colborne. Now a private residence, the former meeting house is a familiar neighbourhood landmark for residents of Port Colborne.
The building is believed to be the oldest surviving church building in Port Colborne, and the original structure has been almost perfectly preserved. The meeting house is associated with Mennonites first settling in Port Colborne during the 1790s. The designated property was once owned by Abraham Neff Sr., one of Humberstone Township's earliest settlers, coming to Upper Canada shortly after the Revolutionary War.
After making a visit to Humberstone in 1833 Bishop John Herr of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, returned home and encouraged fellow Mennonites to emigrate. The Reformed Mennonite organization arose after these early years of immigration.
The brick structure was erected in 1872 by the Trustees of the Mennonite Church of Humberstone (Jonas Augustine, Christian Knisely and Wilson Near). For more than 100 years, the meeting house served the Reformed Mennonite congregation. It was later sold to Tykes Holdings Ltd. when the congregation was consolidated with the Mennonite church at Stevensville. The Reformed Mennonite Meeting House is the only remaining structure of its age in the area. Now a private residence, the former meeting house is a familiar neighbourhood landmark for residents of Port Colborne.
The simple design of the building reflects the Reformed Mennonite principle of minimalism and the avoidance of worldliness. Since its construction in 1872, the meeting house has undergone very little change, allowing the careful preservation of the original building. The symmetrical, rectangular structure set on a foundation of random coursed field stone has a small vestibule off of the back and a simple gable roof with wooden eaves and fascia. The front-gabled structure with medium-pitched roof has a few Italianate details and all of the windows are identical with brick arches mimicking the curved tops of the windows. The wood plank floor and simple board wainscot embody the well-preserved character of the interior, and the architecture appears uninterrupted by modern use.
Sources: By-law No. 3206/78/95; Report No. 95-20; Heritage Designation file - 269 Killaly St. W., City of Port Colborne, 1995.
Character-Defining Elements
Character defining elements that contribute to the heritage value of the property include its:
- century-long use as a venue for holding religious and social activities of the Mennonite community
- sash weights and cords that are still in place on most of the windows
- foundation of random coursed field stone
- simple rectangular shape clad in buff and red clay brick exterior
- windows and doors with segmented arched heads
- wide panelled entrance at the south end of the building, framed by brick
- simple gable roof with wood eaves and fascia
