Description of Historic Place

The Caledonia Town Hall, built in 1857, is now the Edinburgh Square Heritage and Cultural Centre, in downtown Caledonia. This two-storey public building includes an eclectic mix of features. Most notable are the double pilasters surmounted by a pediment, the Palladian windows and a domed cupola.

The Caledonia Town Hall is designated for its heritage value under Haldimand County By-law 340/82.

Heritage Value

The Caledonia Town Hall provided a place for social and civic services to the community from 1857 to 1974. It is considered one of the finest works of John Turner, an architect renowned for designing and constructing exceptional churches, commercial buildings and court houses across South-western Ontario. Typical for the era, this building contained an administrative office, a constable's residence, a public lock-up, a meeting hall and a meat market, marking it as the centre of the community. The first Council meeting was held on January 16, 1858 while the following year, and every year thereafter, the meat market's five stalls were auctioned off on January 1st for use by local butchers and farmers.

The Caledonia Town Hall is an eclectic mix of styles. Constructed of red brick, the tri-partite design suggests Classical Georgian influences, while buff brick, double-columned pilasters, leading to a prominent dentil trimmed pediment, divide the building's length into five equal bays. Two triple flue chimneys are located at both rear corners of the roof. The roof also exhibits a copper-domed cupola. Large Palladian triptych-style windows are framed by paired pilasters on the front and rear façades. The windows are uniform, with all but the centre window, above the main door, being a four-over-four sash window. The main floor windows are topped by arched buff brick, whereas the second storey windows are characterized by segmented hood caps. Stone steps lead to the front entrance, which features sidelights and a transom. Vermiculated and feathered keystones are plentiful, even over the arched louvered vents of the cupola.

Source: Haldimand County By-law 340/82.

Character-Defining Elements

Character defining elements that reflect the heritage value of the Caledonia Town Hall include its
- continuous use for public service; as a civic centre, community hall, museum, archive, and gallery
- buff brick pilasters that divide the building's length into five equal bays
- stone capitals surmounted by a wooden entablature with dentil detailing and classic pediments that enclose the gable ends
- front entrance with a transom panel over the door
- triptych-style windows
- two triple flue chimneys
- stone detailing
- copper topped cupola