KitchenerCivic Centre / Central Frederick Walking Tour
Civic Centre/Central Frederick
The Civic Centre neighbourhood was home to Berlin’s and later Kitchener’s industrial, civic and commercial elite; and features excellent examples of late 19th and early 20th century architecture.
These neighbourhoods were once home to some of Berlin/Kitchener’s wealthiest business
operators and industrialists. Many of the community’s working class families
lived right beside them. Homes included in this tour have been designated under Part
IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.
Start of tour
Depart from the Three Kretans, Frederick Street
Angelo and Doxa immigrated to Canada from the island of Krete. In 1996, they decided that Kitchener needed a Greek dining experience where customers would feel welcome and a part of the family in warm, casual atmosphere. Soon after, the Three Kretans were born. Named after their three sons - Gus, Zack, and Niko - they succeeded in bringing the tastes of their native Greece back to KW. With fresh ingredients and traditional Greek dishes and desserts prepared daily, Three Kretans has established itself as being Kitchener-Waterloo's premiere authentic Greek restaurant for over 13 years.
Waterloo Regional Headquarters Building150 Frederick Street
Murals in cafeteria
Title: History of WaterlooCounty Murals
Artist:Selwyn Dewdney
Location:Region of Waterloo Administrative Headquarters Cafeteria, 150 Frederick Street, Kitchener, ON
Created:1950
Description:These five murals painted in 1950, cover more than 600 square feet and depict Waterloo County from pre-history through the 1940s. They were commissioned by the Waterloo Trust and Savings Company and hung in their King Street branch until 1993 when they were donated to the Region of Waterloo by Canada Trust.
About the Artist:Selwyn Dewdney (1909-1979), a native of Saskatchewan, was educated in Astronomy and English at the University of Toronto, followed by art training at the Ontario College of Education. Dewdney is best known for his research in pictography (Aboriginal rock paintings). Beginning in the 1920s, Dewdney traveled throughout Canada visiting First Nations communities, documenting more than 290 rock art sites. Dewdney is also recognized as one of the founders of the Canadian art therapy profession, having been hired as Psychiatric Art Therapist at WestministerHospital in London, Ontario in 1953.
A Selection of Photos of the History of WaterlooCounty Murals:
History of Waterloo County Murals
Region of Waterloo Administration Building
1st Floor Cafeteria, 150 Frederick St., Kitchener
Painted in 1950 by Selwyn Dewdney (1909-1979), pictography (Aboriginal rock paintings) researcher and one of the founders of the Canadian art therapy profession, painted these five murals depicting Waterloo County from pre-history through the 1940s. Commissioned by the Waterloo Trust and Savings Company, the murals hung in the King Street, Kitchener branch until 1993.
From the Waterloo Regional headquarters building, walk to the corner of Frederick and Weber Streets
Waterloo Region police, Kitchener detachment
WaterlooCounty Registry Office (former)122 Frederick Street
Designed by architect Ray Hall and built in 1938-1939 by Dunker Construction, at a cost of $60,000, this is a well-preserved example of an Art Deco style building. It opened June 26, 1939.
It was originally built to house the Waterloo County Registry Office. The lobby has recently been repainted in its original colours, and replicas of the original windows and front doors were installed in 2007.
Its elevation, roofline and front interior lobby make this building an important city landmark. Of specific note are the marble lobby walls, high plaster ceilings with geometric designs, original hanging fixtures, terrazzo floors, grey marble steps, handrails and nickel-plated heating grates. It has been designated by the City of Kitchener.
The building now houses the Registry Theatre and is a designated building.
At the corner of Frederick and Weber Streets
Walls of the former WaterlooCounty gaol (jail)
Frederick Street was named after Frederick Gaukel, an early Berlin hotelier, who donated land for the Waterloo County Courthouse in 1852.
GAUKEL,FRIEDRICH(Frederick),farmer and businessman; b. 7June1785 in Württemberg (Federal Republic of Germany); m. firstc.1813 Polly Kaufman (d. 1827), and they had four sons and three daughters; m. secondly Maria Roschang (d. 1834 of cholera); m. thirdly Dorothea Weikmillar; d.8Nov.1853 in Berlin (Kitchener), Upper Canada.
Friedrich Gaukel’s name appears among those of the German immigrants who arrived at Philadelphia from Holland aboard theRebeccaon 27Aug.1804. Along with other Württemberg natives, he may have been attracted to America by the publicity attending the exodus to Pennsylvania at this time of members of the charismatic sect led by the German lay preacher and weaver John George Rapp. According to a short biography published by Gaukel’s grandson Jacob Stroh, he served for his passage money as a redemptioner on a farm near Philadelphia. He continued farming after his release from the indenture and by 1815 lived near Johnstown, Pa.
About 1820, Gaukel, a Lutheran, heard of the Mennonite migration from Pennsylvania to Upper Canada and decided to move there. After a trip of four weeks, he arrived with his family in WaterlooTownship, where he worked in a distillery until he bought a small farm near Bridgeport (Kitchener) and began operating a distillery of his own. After 1826, increasing numbers of Germans arrived in the region directly from Europe and settled largely in four townships: Wilmot, Waterloo, Woolwich, and Wellesley. Thus, when the settlement of Ebytown began to expand, Germans, as well as Mennonites, were prominent in its development as a commercial centre. On 2Nov.1833 Gaukel purchased property there from Joseph Schneider* and from Benjamin Ebyand moved into the settlement. The deeds for these transactions are the first on record referring to the community as Berlin.
Gaukel operated a tavern while awaiting the completion of a larger building which would meet the demands of the growing village. A public-spirited member of the community, he subscribed to the establishment of Heinrich Wilhelm Peterson’s newspaper CanadaMuseumundAllgemeineZeitungin 1835, the year in which Gaukel’s Inn (later known as the Commercial Hotel) opened to the public.
For many years Gaukel and his third wife, also a native of Württemberg, hosted, in addition to the inn’s daily commercial activities, various civic and political meetings, markets, and other public gatherings in this predominantly German-speaking community. The wide veranda of the inn was a favourite tribune for political candidates who addressed the citizenry assembled in the street.
In 1841 and 1846, Gaukel acquired additional property and as one of Berlin’s leading landowners, he took an active interest in its municipal development. He donated the land on which Waterloo Township Hall was built in 1848–49.
Together with his friend Joseph Schneider and other early citizens, he had campaigned for the organization of WaterlooCounty, which took place in 1850, and he was much involved in promoting Berlin’s selection as county seat in 1852. He provided land that year for the construction of a county court-house.
In recognition of Gaukel’s contributions, a grateful community named two of its early streets (Frederick and Gaukel) after him.
New Ontario Provincial Courthouse under construction
Downtown Kitchener
Corner of Weber Street and Queen Street
RegencyTowers, former site of YMCA
Commerce House,46 Queen Street North
Located where the Neo-Classical 1903 Carnegie Library had been a meeting place for many of Kitchener’s citizens. It was demolished in 1965.
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church54 Queen Street North
The present building was built in 1906 to replace the first Presbyterian Church on the site c1857. The style is late Gothic Revival.
Plaques at the corner of Queen Street North and Weber Street East
In three languages – English, French and German
Etching in the glass of the 1853 courthouse
Waterloo County Court House (1853) and Gaol (1853)
The structures went up following the appointment of Berlin, now Kitchener, asthe county seat which led the way to growth, industry and prosperity.
Waterloo County Court HouseWeber Street East
Here the original Waterloo County Court House was erected in 1853
Note canopy over the front door. It was designed to represent the cover of a Conestoga wagon used by the first pioneers who settled in WaterlooCounty.
A painting by John Martin of the original 1853 Court House is in the foyer of the new building.
Berlin became the county seat for WaterlooCounty in 1853.
The new Waterloo County Court House was built on the same site in 1968.
WaterlooCountyGaol (former)73 Queen Street North
The Waterloo County Gaol is the oldest existing government building in Kitchener. The
Gaol, together with the Waterloo County Courthouse (now replaced), was constructed
in 1852-53. The architect was Mellish and Russell of Brantford.
The Governor’sHouse was constructed in 1877-78 for the governor (warden) of the jail. The architect was D.W. Gingerich of Waterloo. It is a magnificent example of the Italianate Villa style.
Itis recognized for its architectural features including the four-storey square tower with mansard roof, rounded top windows,wide cornices, bracketed eaves, polychrome brickwork and front porch. The Gaol features are the heavy stone walls of the mainbuilding and courtyards as well as the window and door openings. Both structureshave recently been restored.
Waterloo County Gaol and Governor’s House *Designated
77 Queen St. N., Kitchener
Architect: Mellish and Russell, Brantford (Gaol); D. W. Gingerich, Waterloo (GH)
Year Built: 1852-1853 (Gaol); 1878 (GH)
The oldest WaterlooCounty structures in existence. Both heritage exteriors are designated; both interiors are adaptive reuse successes. It served its original purpose until 1978. The stately, high-Victorian Governor’s House is used for court offices and public meetings.The massive, granite Gaol houses Provincial offences courtrooms.
Both buildings have been designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1981.
CourtyardGardens and plaques
Along Queen Street North
68 Queen Street North
This Neo-Classical style residence with wide eaves, pediment and gable, decorative keystones and Doric columns exudes a sense of importance and formality as one enters the Civic Centre neighbourhood.
Squared limestone pillars At Roy Street and Queen Street
The squared limestone pillars mark the boundary of the former estate of George C.H. Lang, the prominent Berlin industrialist and leather tanner.
Kitchener Public Library85 Queen Street North
Designed in the 1960s by Barnett and Rieder-Hymmen architects. On south wall is a mural by Canadian artist John Bechtel which depicts the theme “From the darkness of ignorance to the light of truth.” This was the first mural supported by a Canada Council
Grant for art in a public space.
Grace Schmidt Room of Local History
Mackenzie King Plaque at the corner of Ahrens Street and Queen Street
Canada’s 10th and longest serving prime minister served for 7,829 days.
WILLIAM LYON MACKENZIE KING 1874-1950
Canada's 10th prime minister was born in Berlin (Kitchener) on December 17, 1874. A grandson of William Lyon Mackenzie, he joined the Canadian civil service in 1900 as a specialist in labour relations. Elected to the federal parliament as a Liberal member for Waterloo North in 1908, he served as minister of Labour under Sir Wilfrid Laurier. In 1919 he became leader of the Liberal party and prime minister in 1921. Thereafter King continued to lead the government until 1948 except for a brief interval in 1926 and the term of 1930-35. His tenure of over twenty-one years was longer than that of any other prime minister in the Commonwealth.
Kitchener-Waterloo and Area Chamber of Commerce 80 Queen Street North
This is one of Kitchener’s most dignified and attractive buildings.
The classic Georgian style residence, set off in grey stone and brick, was built in 1937 on part of the George Lang estate. For many years, it was the residence of Kitchener surgeon Dr. David M. Bean and his family.
Walk down Ahrens Street to Young Street
11 Ahrens Street
This Queen Anne style house retains its original brick and also has preserved its two-storey L-shaped verandah.
33 Ahrens Street
This house exemplifies the solid character of this neighbourhood with its generous proportions, well-situated on a city lot that was developed in the 1850s for less prestigious homes.
Boehmer House 37 Ahrens Street West
Built in 1889-90 by Carl and August Boehmer of the prominent Boehmer family,
this home is a fine example of modified Queen Anne architecture. It is designated
in order to recognize the gables with decorative woodwork, wooden brackets and stained glass window. House has been designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.
House of Birds 41 Ahrens Street West
This Victorian home was built in 1890 by Andrew Voelker. It is recognized for its
stained glass windows that depict a number of bird species. House has been designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. Note the herringbone brick pattern.
51 Ahrens Street
This house represents the best of what is missing from Kitchener’s ubiquitous brick buildings. This c1866 Gothic clapboard cottage with its front gable facing the street offers a striking contrast to the other buildings in the neighbourhood.
Woelfle House 67-69 Ahrens Street West past Young Street
This is a fine example of a "double house" in Kitchener. It was built in 1905 for
George Baltzer, an insurance salesperson. It is noteworthy for its roofline, upperstorey
balconies, two front projecting gables, window-and-door openings, front porch, rear dormers and brickwork.
In 1907, the house was purchased by the Woelfles and has remained in this family for almost 100 years. Apart from some minor alterations in 1926, the house has remained very much in original condition.
Hibner Park and Fountaincorner of Young and Ahrens Streets
HibnerPark was purchased by neighbours in 1894 and donated to the Berlin
Park Board. The neighbours called it HibnerPark after the town’s mayor, Daniel Hibner, mayor of Berlin 1894-1895. Hibner founded a furniture factory in 1887. Hibner was also a long time parks commissioner.
In the 1930’s, Hibner left money for a memorial to himself. The fountain has a decorative cage of wrought iron and contains a plaque at the top commemorating the many local citizens who helped create the park. The area is also home to the City’s second oldest park, the small but elegant HibnerPark, opened in 1894.
Walk along Maynard Avenue to Margaret Avenue
House for Sale at 22 Maynard Avenue (1914)
$449,900 | 4 bedrooms | 3 baths
Taxes $3473
11 Maynard Avenue
11 Maynard Avenue is an adaptation of the ever-popular Queen Anne style with a centre square, projecting bays and with Roman-arched windows on the first storey.
21 Maynard Avenue
This is a much later rendition of the Classical Revival style, executed in red brick with a pedimented front gable. The pediments and rusticated piers on the porch columns add elements of architectural interest.
Klippert House 25 Maynard Avenue
This fine home was built in 1872 for Berlin’s Chief Constable John
Klippert, a constable in Berlin as early as 1867 and a WaterlooCounty bailiff.
This is oneof Kitchener’s best examples of the formal Classical Revival style with the door offset in the façade of its symmetrical three bay front.is designated for historical and architectural reasons.
Architecturally, the house is a fine example of the Classical Revival style. Some notable features are the windows with shutters, gale window, front door and the front portico with Classic Greek pediment and columns.
Turn right on Margaret Avenue and walk to Queen’s Street
55 Margaret Avenue
The house was once known as the “Judges Estate” and was built c1870-1880.
Open space on the left was once large homes of business people and the houses were torn down in the 1960s for an apartment complex. The site has sat idle and only recently has new interest been awakened.
Open space along Margaret Avenue – site of former mansions
The city’s Official Plan and zoning regulations will be changed to accommodate a six-storey building containing 210 condominiums and underground parking.
Sonneck House 108 Queen Street North
This solid brick residence was completed in 1877 by Louis Breithaupt for Judge
Anthony LaCourse and has great historical significance to the community. In 1883,
108 Queen St. became home to Louis Breithaupt's son, Louis Jacob. L.J. was a very influential citizen who successfully ran the Breithaupt Leather Company, served as Mayor of Berlin, as Waterloo North M.P.P. and on numerous boards and associations. In 1896, the house was named Sonneck House which means "sunny corner" in German. The designated architectural features you will want to note are the rooflines, detailed woodwork on the bay windows, decorative brackets under the eaves, windows, the original front door and wooden railings on the second storey balcony on Margaret Avenue.
LOUIS BREITHAUPT1827-1880
Louis Breithaupt, who started the first tannery in Berlin in 1857, at one time used the services of Abraham Lincoln, then a Springfield, Illinois lawyer.The fifth generation of Breithaupts in the tanning industry, he was associated with his father in business in Buffalo. During one of his trips to Canada to buy sheepskins, he met and eventually married Catherine Hailer of Berlin. In 1861, they came to Berlin to reside and later moved into a spacious home named Waldeck. A number of their descendants became distinguished and famous citizens.
Breithaupt’s life was one of unremitting activity and indomitable perseverance. His tannery was destroyed by fire in 1867 and again in 1870 but he rebuilt and continued to develop a large business. He was called the “first citizen of Berlin” for his work in furthering the growth of the town and his municipal activities, including two years as mayor.