Description of Historic Place

The Eagleson-Buyers House is located at 433 Regent Street, on the west side of Regent Street in the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. The one-and-a-half-storey house was built circa 1830.

The Eagleson-Buyers House was designated for its heritage value by the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake in 2008 under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act (By-law 4227-08).

Heritage Value

The Eagleson-Buyers House is an early timber frame house with a clapboard exterior that was built after the War of 1812. The property is associated with several interesting personalities, including Reverend Edmund Burk, a Roman Catholic priest and Vicar General for the Diocese of Upper Canada; and Robert Pilkington, a British Major-General and Army Engineer who was a friend of Elizabeth Simcoe. John Eagleson likely built the house circa 1830. He is also reputed to have rebuilt the Masonic Lodge using bricks salvaged from the burning of Niagara.

The Eagleson-Buyers House adds architectural value to Niagara-on-the-Lake's collection of heritage properties with its typical Neo-Classical Loyalist design noted in its five-bay symmetrical front façade. The simple pedimented portico supported by plain pillars protects the front entrance, which consists of an early six-panel door with a simple four-light transom. The house's early windows are six-over-six sash, two of which are located at each of the gable ends. Original eave returns, soffit and fascia boards are extant on the gable ends.

Modern additions include a new entrance to the north side and removal of a fireplace some time before 1973 when the dining room was converted to a hair salon for a short time. Interior features of interest include original baseboards and chair rails in the dining and living rooms, an original fireplace of refined Neo-Classical design in the large parlour, an original staircase, railing and newel post, and all of the original pine plank floors.

Source: Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, By-law 4227-08.

Character-Defining Elements

Character defining elements that reflect the heritage value of the Eagleson-Buyers House property include the:
- timber frame construction
- clapboard exterior
- eave returns
- soffits
- fascia on the gable ends
- six-over-six windows
- transom and pedimented portico
- original interior trim and doors including baseboards and chair rails
- original wide pine floor boards
- fireplace and mantel in the parlour