Historical House Sign package
Your Historical House Sign package will include a sign featuring the name of the original owner or occupants and their occupation as well as the year of construction, and a print monograph including history on the home and its owners that is uncovered by our volunteer research team.
It's a great glimpse into your neighbourhood's history and the cost is only $200 per municipal address for non-members, and $175.00 for ACO members.
Please note that each property takes between 10 to 40 hours to research and is done by dedicated volunteers. Due to the popular success of the program we are only able to offer limited sales quarterly based on volunteer capacity at the time of sale. If you would like to join our research team contact us today!
FAQ
What is the cost and when is payment due?
The cost is $175.00 for ACO members and $200.00 for non-members (no HST). Become a member (using the link at acolondon.ca) and receive the member’s discount!
When is payment due?
We are a small charitable organization. Our volunteer and financial resources are scarce. We will ask for payment before assigning your house to one of our volunteer researchers.
How do I pay for my sign?
We accept payment via PayPal (or credit card if you don’t have a PayPal account) through our online store. For audit reasons, we cannot accept payment in cash or e-transfers.
If you’re a charitable organization, why are you charging for this?
The fee covers the cost of the sign, a program coordinator, and other supplies necessary to running this program.
What will I receive?
The signs measure 18” wide by 12” high. They have a terracotta border and either a pure white or cream background (your choice). Your sign will show the name of the original occupant, their occupation, and the year of your house’s construction. The photos on our website and social media pages will help you visualize the final product. Aside from the sign, we will also provide you with a detailed report featuring all the information on your property that was uncovered by the researcher.
Does this program officially designate my house in any way?
Participation in the Historical House Sign Program does not involve property heritage designation by the City of London. To read more about the City's Heritage Designation process, please visit https://london.ca/living-london/building-renovating/heritage-designations
Do I have to affix the sign to my house after the research is completed?
Yes, we do ask for a firm commitment that you will post the sign at the end of the process. This helps us to achieve our goals of encouraging people to take pride in their neighbourhood's history and architecture, as well as to raise the ACO's profile.
Will my home's information become public?
The results of house research will be shared with City of London heritage planners, plus kept on file at the London Public Library and ACO London. We may also publish high-level information (address, year built, first occupant name & occupation) on our website and/or social media pages. Your names and contact information are never shared outside of the Historical House Sign Coordinator position and the researcher(s) assigned to your home. At no time, will ACO London share or sell applicants’ personal information.
How do I attach the sign?
Please note that you are responsible for affixing the sign to your house or property. If you wish to use two-sided tape, we supply the tape and there will be no holes in your sign. If you plan to use screws, your sign will have four holes in it. If you want to hang your sign, we can arrange for it to just have two holes. This is a decision that we will ask you to make once the research has been completed.
What is the turnaround time?
The wait time right now can range from 2-6 months. Since all research is done by volunteers, turnaround times are also dependent on the volume of requests we receive.
How can I join as a volunteer?
Interested in learning more about your neighbourhood while contributing to your fellow citizens valuing their community in a new way? We would be delighted to have interested people join our helpful and kind research team. Each home takes around 10-20 hours of research and predominantly uses online resources. Please contact our Historical House Sign Coordinator via info@acolondon.ca to find out more.