It was music to their ears.
Volunteers and Friends of Newholm Community Heritage Centre, a group made up of dedicated volunteers who have been working hard for more than two decades to preserve the historical and cultural value of a pioneer church and its lands located at 2443 Brunel Road, got a green light from members of Huntsville’s General Committee on February 24.
Archaeological assessment required to ensure no other grave sites
The support came following a presentation by Manager of Parks and Cemeteries, Colleen MacDonald. She told Committee that in order to proceed with the intended closure of the cemetery and the severance of the remaining lands containing the building, which would in turn be sold to the group for a dollar, an archaeological assessment would be required to ensure there are no unmarked graves in other parts of the property. The cost of that assessment would have to be borne by the municipality at an estimated cost between $7,555 and $18,930 plus HST, depending on the extent of the assessment required. If excavation is required, the price would be at the higher end of the quote, but MacDonald said she is hopeful that will not be necessary.
We’re going to work to keep those costs as minimal as possible.Manager of Parks and Cemeteries Colleen MacDonald
MacDonald said the hope is that by providing the consultant with background historical information, which the group has copious amounts of, it will help bring the cost down.
The land and 127-year-old church is currently owned by the Anglican Diocese of Algoma, which is willing to divest itself of the property provided it does not incur related expenses in the process. The Town has hired a lawyer in order to finalize the legal documentation required to transfer the lands minus the cemetery. Legal costs are expected to run between $2,500 and $3,000, which will come out of a $60,000 corporate legal budget set aside for 2016, according to Town CAO/Clerk Denise Corry. “I don’t anticipate we’re going to be spending excessive amounts this year so we certainly will be okay with charging it to that budget,” she said.
Plans for the area will require numerous fundraisers and community support
The board and friends of Newholm Community Heritage Centre, which is what the group is calling itself, is hoping to convert the property into a community hub and plans to raise funds in order to build a new foundation for the building. It is hoping to create a skating rink on the property and a place to display art, host a market day with artisans and vendors, as well as other community events such as a sports court in the summer. Their work will begin in earnest once the property has been deeded to them, John Rivière-Anderson, board member and long-time proponent of the project, told Doppler.
The group also conducted a land survey of the property at its own expense, noted MacDonald, adding that the group has already expended a great deal of resources on the project.
“The friends of Newholm Holy Trinity are a very dedicated group of volunteers and they’ve got plans in place to refurbish the building and use it as a community hub,” said MacDonald. “I know that this will be the right end-use for the building, for their community, and their local group.”
It was also noted that the owner of the property is no longer maintaining it and the Town has taken over monitoring of the property and mowing the grassed area. Once the property is sold to the community group, they would be taking over the maintenance of the building and lands.
Committee unanimously approves expenditure
Although Councillors like Karin Terziano and Bob Stone initially expressed some concern with the cost in unbudgeted funds that will have to be expended by the Town to support the project, in the end, Committee gave the project its unanimous stamp of approval.
“I know this group has put in thousands of hours in community time in making it a community hub right now,” said Councillor for the area, Dan Armour, adding that he is 100 per cent in favour of the project.
Rivière-Anderson, who was present at the meeting, said the project is in tune with the protection of heritage and cultural values in the community.
“It is the last standing in situ pioneer building between Huntsville and Baysville. It’s been there for 127 years,” said Rivière-Anderson, who thanked committee for its support.
Note: All Committee recommendations get ratified by Council at its next meeting, except for the Committee of Adjustments; its decisions are binding.
My husband, Colin Oke, is the great-grandson of William Morgan, who built the Holy Trinity Church at Newholm. He is also the great grandson of pioneer Charles Rumball, (Rumball Corners) who donated the property the church is built on. I have been writing a family history of the Rumball and Morgan family, and I have been searching for the baptismal font William built. My understanding is that it was last located at the Grassmere St. Paul’s Church, which has just recently been dismantled. I was told it was taken to All Saints in Huntsville, where William Morgan also created the beautiful arched ceiling. It is not there.
Last fall we took some MacInnes and Conroy family offspring to see the Newholm church and gravesite of the Morgans. We could no longer locate the gravestone, and are wondering what happened to it. Please let me know if you know anything about either the whereabouts of the font, or the gravestone. Thank you. – Wendy Oke
Delighted that a group from Newholm has finally come together to revamp a treasure in their community. For years dedicated volunteers from within the church community invited their neighbours to come and join them to watch a puppet show, sing karaoke or buy treasures at their yard sales. My mother and I travelled from Stisted every week to participate in the many events offered whether there were four of us or more attending.