Telling a story

Is like knitting a sweater. It's constructed one stitch at a time.

I wasn't there when Petch's cabin was lifted from it's foundations and parked at the side of Leslie Street . The development company committed to re-locating it with a new foundation wherever the town chose.There wasn't a place or use for it then and there isn't one now.

The cabin was one of a pair. The twin was a chapel. It was sold privately, transported , re-constructed and restored to use in cottage country by one, Van Nostrand of Vandorf.

He makes a business of salvaging old buildings. I think that's an art and a labour of love. All power to Van Nostrand of Vandorf.

The modest little building ,too far gone to begin with, has perched forlornly in full view on cinder blocks for more than six years. A great hole clawed open in the roof by generations of raccoons which lived and died there. The clapboard siding that originally protected the boards almost all gone and six years of hurricanes and blizzards saturated the building inside and out throughout the seasons.

Every year it's fate would be discussed. Every year $100Ks. tax dollars, to restore the building would be included in the budget. An anonymous donation of $8Ks swelled the pot.

In 2009, Van Nostrand, at no cost, examined the interior of the building and gave an authoritative opinion .

It could no longer be moved in one piece. It would have to be taken apart and the rot cut from corners. Already a small structure, the size would be reduced considerably.

Feces and carcases, floors and walls smothered in mould, made it impossible to determine the extent of interior damage.

Van Nostrand's advice was not accepted.

A second opinion was obtained at a fee of $2,900.

Again: the building could not be moved in one piece. It would have to be taken apart. Vintage boards would be needed as replacements. Cost of restoring was estimated at $400Ks.Even without knowing the condition of the interior.

Councillor MacEachern, the Mayor's right-hand and the town's representative on the Conservation Authority had persuaded staff and Chairman of SLSCA, to accept the cabin at Sheppard's Bush. As long as no trees needed to be removed for access..

I often find myself in a quandary. If I put forward a motion, it will not receive support. Because it was mine. So sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. It makes no never-mind.

After some debate, a motion was moved, seconded and approved to obtain still another opinion spending no more than $5Ks.

Mine was likely the only negative cast.

The point of the story is, the motion passed. The vote was in favour of spending still more money for another report.

Except it never happened. Months passed. Despite Council direction , no further report came forward.

Some Council Agendas had little more than previous committee minutes to approve. Hardly worth a meeting. Yet the direction given by Council on the Petch house was not followed.

On the one hand, the majority publicly decided on the side of the angels. In fact, the decision was not implemented.

Clearly a different decision was made by persons unknown outside the public eye.

Because the project was not completed in 2009, $105Ks. continues to show in 2010 budget

Despite the fact the last estimate was $400Ks. and no location or use has been identified.

The plan for a ball diamond identified a concrete structure to store equipment at a cost of $17Ks. The item was excluded to reduce cost out of consideration of the taxpayers.

The last discussion at the council table talked about locating the diminutive Petch House at a cost of $400Ks. as a facility at the ball diamond.

Mr. Petch was clearly a religious man. He built a chapel for worship. What would he think I wonder, about the cost and proposed re-use of a cabin he built more than a century ago which has served its purpose well.







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