The intention when funds were provided from the Hydro reserve fund was for both to happen at the Church Street School.
It was decided forty years ago the building would be saved. Even before the last $2. 6 million contract. several million dollars had been spent just to keep it standing.
The museum has not been in place for a number of years.The collection was stashed in boxes waiting to come back to its rightful place.
The museum was a well used program by schools . Families donated precious artifacts knowing they would be treasured and cared for and used for enlightenment about the community's history.
$750K were raised by the fifty-nine member Historical Society to restore the building. Generous donations are always a sure sign of community support.
The town has provided a $50K grant to the Historical Society for at least thirty years to help provide a curator for the museum. In turn, heritage research services were provided to the planning department and a summer camp program augmented the leisure service department's summer and special events programs.
Between the town and the historical society, the community was well served at reasonable expense with invaluable volunteer support.
Funds from the hydro reserve fund seemed a good use of part of that asset. A fine facility was planned which would undoubtedly be appreciated in the community,operated by volunteers at minimal cost with financial support towards the salary of a curator.
Cultural events were also envisioned in the building. I certainly never envisioned taxing property-owners to pay for them.
It seemed to me the agreement with the Historical Society was the best kind of co-operation with the town to enrich the community with the finer things without incurring a tax burden.
Something went wrong. It doesn't matter how. What matters now is we get things back on the right track.
If the Historical Society doesn't want to follow through with their original commitment,I'm sure there are enough Friends of the Museum in Aurora, prepared to take up the cause. I would certainly be receptive to any organisation willing to step up to the plate.
No-one should expect I won't be ready to fight for the museum collection to be where it was intended;in a controlled environment, on display at the Church Street School for the continuous enlightenment ,enjoyment and appreciation of people fortunate enough to be to-days residents of a fine little town of Victorian vintage which acquires ever greater antiquity as years go by.
Don't tell me a community's history is not relevant to its culture.
What's with this sense of entitlement people seem to have with this Culture Crap , since when does the Town owe it to anyone to keep this pig fed and watered, in the face of a near 7% tax hike , Doling out public funds to a bunch of wannabees is not my idea of fiscal responsibility , If you want culture then pay for it , join Beacon Hall , Timber Lane ,Club Link, Theatre Aurora or better still head south and mingle with the Yorkville set , Don’t expect the public purse to suck up this nonsense !!!
ReplyDelete