Residence.
Details of Site Location: Located in the area of 14 John Street.
Boundary History: The property is a normal building lot.
Current Use of Property It is presently bounded by modern apartment buildings all around. Currently, the lot serves for parking but has been zoned for commercial use.
Historical Description: Born in the Bull house on Davenport Road, Jacob Bull apprenticed with William Tyrrell, the Squire of Weston and builder of Gamble’s mill) in the 1860s. Shortly thereafter he went to San Francisco where he made his fortune in the building trades during the Gold Rush. Upon returning to Canada he married and settled into the house he built in Weston. The house remained in the family for over a century. In 1989 or 1990, the house was sold then demolished. It had been built before or by 1875 by Jacob Bull. It was a rare or unusual example of the Italianate style within Weston’s architectural history. It recalled the house of William Tyrrell at 64 King Street, albeit on a much smaller scale. Notable were its square plan and elevation, paired brackets supporting an overhead cornice, and the frieze was decorated with inset square panels. The porch had Doric piers of wood, and there were three tall second storey windows. Not original was the later roughcast stucco finish. Jacob Bull had been a member of the first graduating class of Weston Grammar School. He served as a well-known local Councillor for fifteen years, and was Reeve for eight years.
Relative Importance: This house was important because of its architecture and its builder-occupant. Bull contributed much to his Weston community and deserves to be remembered.
Planning Implications: It is recommended that a plaque commemorating Bull, his accomplishments and his house, be required of the developer of the parking lot lands.
Reference Sources: Borough of York LACAC, unpublished MS “Weston, An Architectural Survey”, 1979.
Acknowledgements: Heritage York.