[thistleclub]

That this building still survives is a minor miracle. Hopefully it goes on to become one of the area's great preservation success stories.

Historic Dundas building sits vacant
(Hamilton Spectator, July 1 2013)

Dundas's oldest building, which provided shelter to soldiers during the War of 1812 and was home to the town's first post office, has been officially declared vacant.

The stone structure at 2 Hatt St., built around 1804 by Richard Hatt, will now be inspected for compliance with property standards and maintenance bylaws at least four times a year. It has been unoccupied for more than three months.

The structure is approximately 209 years old, but is not designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. City of Hamilton bylaw services manager of enforcement Glyn Wide said the building was visited by an enforcement officer on May 22, just after it was added to the vacant building registry.

Home to Folkes Lighting for more than 40 years, the building was sold to Andrew and Barbara Galbreath of Chelsea, Que., for $240,000 in October 2004. Before vacating the building earlier this year, Galbreath received a heritage award for maintaining the building in 2009.

Now that 2 Hatt is registered as a vacant building with the city, the owner must pay a one-time administration fee of $240, plus annual registration fees of $600 a year to cover the cost of additional staff and resources for inspections.

In the early 1990s, there was some question about the stability of the building due to its curved south-facing wall and bowed roof. A construction crew working nearby could not understand how it was still standing — and worried work across the street might bring down the structure.

Hatt originally built the structure as a store and office next to his business, Dundas Mills. The community of Dundas developed around the mill and store, the mill eventually disappeared. The stone structure was used as a post office, blacksmith shop and by the 1940s was a private residence before Folkes Lighting moved in during the early 1960s.

In the fall of 1813, 7,000 British soldiers, native warriors and their families descended on Dundas seeking shelter, food and medical care. One of the buildings that provided shelter was 2 Hatt St.