Heritage Designation Given to Aylmer Street Building Dating Back to 1923

By Scott Arnold

A 1923 building on Aylmer Street with a connection to Peterborough’s electrical history is being designated as a heritage property.

The Sherbrooke Street Substation at 235 Aylmer Street North was constructed in 1923 and is being designated for its architectural, historical and cultural heritage value. (photo by scott arnold)

Peterborough City Council approved the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee’s recommendation to designate 235 Aylmer Street North under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Known as the Sherbrooke Street Substation, the building was constructed in 1923 to assist in providing a more stable electrical connection as Peterborough’s electrical system expanded.

The property was determined to have cultural heritage value because of its architecture, its history and its connection to Peterborough’s reputation as the “Electric City.”

A Connection To The Electric City

The building has a direct connection to Homer O. Fisk, who held several key positions in Peterborough’s electrical field.

Fisk was the manager of the Peterborough Light and Power Company and later became the first Managing Director of Electricity for the Peterborough Utilities Commission.

The heritage report notes that Fisk oversaw several updates to Peterborough’s electrical system, including the change to tungsten lights in the city’s streetlamps in 1915.

The Sherbrooke Street Substation was constructed in 1923 and contributes to an understanding of the history of electrical production in Peterborough. The building remains in use by a public utility provider.

The “Peterborough Utilities Commission A. D. 1923” lettering is one of the heritage attributes identified in the designation of 235 Aylmer Street North. (photo by scott arnold)

Why The Building Is Being Designated

The City describes 235 Aylmer Street North as a landmark and a representative example of industrial design with Neoclassical influences.

Despite its utilitarian purpose, the two-storey red-brick building features decorative elements including a cornice, recessed and rounded windows, decorative stonework and voussoirs with keystones.

Another piece of its history is built into the building itself, with the words “Peterborough Utilities Commission A. D. 1923” displayed on the property.

The heritage report also says the property helps define the southern end of Peterborough’s downtown as the city’s historic industrial centre. It is historically and functionally linked to other industrial buildings and to current and former railway lines, including the former Peterborough Street Railway.

What Heritage Designation Means

Under the Ontario Heritage Act, heritage designation is intended to protect a property’s identified heritage features.

The City’s report says designation “prohibits unwarranted demolition and controls alterations that might harm specific heritage features.”

For 235 Aylmer Street North, the heritage attributes identified for protection include the two-storey red-brick construction and one-storey addition, flat roof, cornice, recessed and rounded windows, voussoirs with keystones, sills, decorative stonework, entrance and surround, concrete features, the “Peterborough Utilities Commission A. D. 1923” lettering and concrete steps.

The report also notes that heritage designation may make property owners eligible for preservation grants and tax relief and provides access to professional expertise and advice.

The property had been identified as a priority for designation in 2025. Peterborough Utilities Inc. was notified of the recommendation, and City staff met with the utility to address questions and concerns about the implications of designation.

Council’s approval moves forward the heritage designation process for 235 Aylmer Street North, recognizing the building’s architectural and historical significance to Peterborough.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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