REASONS FOR DESIGNATION – STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Buttonville Cemetery

9171 Woodbine Avenue

Established c.1817

The Buttonville Cemetery is recommended for designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as a property of cultural heritage value or interest, as described in the following Statement of Significance:

Description of Property

The Buttonville Cemetery is an historic burying ground located on the east side of Woodbine Avenue, just north of the hamlet of Buttonville and the Rouge River bridge. The cemetery is visible from Woodbine Avenue and contains both standing and flat grave markers.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Historical Value

It is said that Egerton Ryerson, the father of public education in Ontario, was the first Methodist preacher to visit Buttonville as the guest of Major John Button. Button donated one quarter of an acre of land for the construction of a Wesleyan Methodist chapel on the site in 1830, which was known for a time as “Button’s Chapel” As with many rural churches throughout Ontario, a burying ground was associated with the church site. The earliest marker is dated 1817, so the cemetery must pre-date the establishment of the chapel. Additional land was acquired in the 1850s, and the early log chapel was replaced with a frame church. In 1890, a substantial red brick church was built to replace the frame church, but in spite of its grandeur, its days were numbered after Church Union in 1925. The Methodists of Buttonville joined with the Presbyterians of Brown’s Corners to form the Brown’s Corners United Church, rendering the Buttonville church building redundant.

In 1934, the Buttonville Wesleyan Methodist Church was demolished, however the cemetery remains as a memorial to the contribution of the Button family and other early residents of the community. Major John Button and his son, Captain Francis Button, were both laid to rest here, and their monuments may be seen in the front row of the Buttonville Cemetery.

Architectural Value

The Buttonville Cemetery contains numerous grave markers dating from 1817 to recent times, as the cemetery continues in active use. The markers are arranged in orderly rows oriented north-south. Most face Woodbine Avenue, or west, in terms of their inscriptions. The oldest grave markers are made of white marble, and are typically of the traditional upright slab or obelisk style. A number of the marble markers exhibit decorative carving, shaped tops, and Bible verses or other appropriate memorials to the deceased in addition to the usual, valuable genealogical information. Markers dating from the 20^th century are typically made of more durable grey, red or black granite, or are in the form of bronze plaques that lie flat on the ground. The change in the style and materials of the grave markers provides distinct visual clues to the location of the earlier burials.

Contextual Value

The Buttonville Cemetery is a significant cultural heritage landscape that speaks of the commemorative practices of past and present generations of mourners, and is a tangible remnant of the rural community and Wesleyan Methodist congregation of people that lived, worked and worshipped locally when Buttonville was a mill village.

Significant Attributes

The physical attributes of the Buttonville Cemetery that are its character-defining elements include:

- Grave markers in marble, granite and metal, including their decorative elements and inscriptions;

- The park-like setting of the cemetery defined by mowed lawn, trees and shrubs;

- The sign facing Woodbine Avenue that identifies the cemetery;

Q:\Development\Heritage\PROPERTY\WOODBINE\9171 cemetery\REASONS FOR DESIGNATIO1.doc