Rodman Hall to get historical designation
Constructed between 1857 and 1863 as residence for Thomas Rodman Merritt
One of St. Catharines’ most significant 19th-century buildings is finally going to receive designation under the Ontario Heritage Act.
Rodman Hall on St. Paul Crescent will have its interior, exterior and the grounds designated after a unanimous city council vote Wednesday.
“It’s preserving the building as a little jewel,” said Brian Narhi, who researched the history of Rodman Hall for the St. Catharines heritage advisory committee, which he co-chairs.
Narhi said Sunday the designation is a long time coming and is a good thing for the city and the property.
“It helps to preserve the integrity of the fabric of the building.”
The heritage advisory committee made the recommendation to council, which was supported by city staff and Rodman Hall owner Brock University.
The Ontario Heritage Act allows a municipal council to designate a property to be of cultural heritage, value or interest if the property meets certain criteria.
The city believes Rodman Hall meets that criteria due to strong architectural merits and historical associations to the community.
Mayor Walter Sendzik said in an interview the designation is long overdue.
“It does protect a heritage asset in our community and at the same time, hopefully opens the door if Brock wants to apply for heritage funds that would help to rehabilitate the building as they go along,” he said.
Rodman Hall was constructed between 1857 and 1863 as the residence for Thomas Rodman Merritt. Merritt was a prominent businessman and member of Parliament who was also the son of Welland Canal promoter William Hamilton Merritt. The house remained in the Merritt family until 1960.
Narhi said the building is virtually in tact as it was when Thomas Rodman Merritt lived there. It still has the original hardwood flooring, ornamental plasterworks, stained glass, 12 marble fireplaces and folding inside shutters.
“He could probably walk in the front door and say, ‘I’m home.’”
The lack of a historical designation for Rodman Hall was highlighted when Brock University began public consultation meetings in fall 2016 about the future of the property.
In November 2016, the board of the Historical Society of St. Catharines sent a letter to city council urging it to designate Rodman Hall. At the same time, the heritage committee passed a motion to conduct detailed research on the property.
Brock has maintained Rodman Hall since 2003 when it took over the struggling facility from a not-for-profit group for $2. The university agreed to maintain the building as an art gallery for 20 years.
The property costs the school $600,000 annually. Brock is now looking for ways it can return Rodman Hall to a communitybased organization when the agreement is up in five years.
The university put together a coalition of volunteers including artists, business people and faculty to plot a future for Rodman Hall after holding the consultation meetings.
Tom Arkell, Brock University’s special adviser to the vice-president of administration, said the group is continuing to work on a plan to transition Rodman Hall from the school to a new, not-forprofit community organization.
The group will establish a new governance model for Rodman Hall and will recruit an inaugural board of directors.
It’s currently recruiting an arts consultant to help prepare a feasibility study and business plan to ensure Rodman Hall is sustainable into the future.
Arkell said Brock still wants to be a part of Rodman Hall after the transition.
It currently has classes there and students have access to studios, curatorial staff and the permanent collection of art.
“We want that to continue,” he said. “No matter what the new Rodman looks like, the university wants to be a very strong partner, but we just can’t do it ourselves.”
The historical designation of Rodman Hall will take effect through a bylaw if no appeals are submitted within 30 days.