At its September 23 meeting, Huntsville Council approved a budget variance of $30,000 for the reconstruction of the Sugar Shack at Muskoka Heritage Place.
According to a staff report, in 2022, an engineer “was brought on to help staff develop a scope of work and project budget for the restoration of the Sugar Shack,” which included reusing existing materials on the same footprint.
This year, after further investigation, it was revealed that the Sugar Shack has rapidly deteriorated, which will require its reconstruction at an additional cost of $30,000 for a total project cost of $76,000.
“Efforts will be made to salvage as much material as possible and rebuild the structure closer to the village,” according to the staff report, which also noted that by having it more centrally located within the village “it will make construction easier in addition to improving public access and visibility to the building. The building, in its current location, is difficult to monitor and has been a target of vandalism over the years…”
The report also noted the importance of the building. “The Sugar Shack is part of the museum’s collection of historical buildings and represents an important part of the area’s past and present economy. Its preservation is in line with the museum’s mandate to collect, care for, interpret and preserve a viable collection of historical artifacts, documents, photographs, archives and other materials particular to Muskoka; and to provide a uniquely historic attraction which imparts accurate, educational, historical information in a spirited and entertaining manner pertinent to the Muskoka Experience.”
Staff noted that the funds will come from the Hartley Bequest Reserve, from the estate of the late Katherine Anne Hartley which donated $162,962 to Muskoka Heritage Place in 2023.
The restoration of the Sugar Shack, expected to be completed this fall, is one of several other projects underway. Other initiatives include upgrades to the museum’s ceiling, the replacement of the porch at the Spencer’s Inn building, and the reconstruction of an open-air structure and sawmill. Pending external funding, other projects include the refurbishment of the steam engine and the creation of accessible doors.
You can find staff’s report here (pdf).
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The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Bringing a maple syrup display and activities to the Heritage place would be a benefit to the community and tourism.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
$76,000.00
No wiring, no plumbing, simple foundation, no heat, no insulation… How on earth does this cost this much?
I agree with Nancy that a sugar shack at the Pioneer Village would be a good thing to have and keep.
At one time they used to actually operate it and make a bit of syrup as a demonstration.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
I remember the sugar shack in operation. School children were brought to the site and given a ride on a horse-drawn wagon. They were shown how sap was collected from the trees and then they were taken to the sugar shack for further demonstration of maple syrup production. It was a great outdoor educational experience and important for the students to learn more about something that is happening in their back yard.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Is there enough space in the sugar shack for the individuals sleeping in tents behind Metro and McDonalds to use this winter ? Michael O’Mara
Allen Markle says
I have been associated with Muskoka Heritage Place since it was The Pioneer Village. In the mid ’90s, Tricia began volunteering there and I was volunteered and ‘voluntold’ to do lots of jobs on the site. No problem, because some of these old buildings were home to families that were contemporaries of my parents and grandparents. Families such as Maw, Hares and and Hill. It was like visiting an old friend.
I’ve fixed rooves!(from back in the day). Pruned trees. Built displays. Patched log walls. Mowed grass. Been an interpreter at the Trapper’s Cabin and the Woodshop. Whatever needed doing. Because you weren’t getting much help from any Town Council. The bare minimum. The ‘Friends of Pioneer Village’ (one of the very first ‘friends’ groups) and the ‘Friends and Company Store’ put a lot into the maintenance of the Village in both money and volunteer hours.
But we aged out. Our numbers becoming smaller and the survivors older. The town also wouldn’t allow me/us to do a lot of the work we once did. Fix a roof? Lord no!! Prune a tree or clean up a fallen one? Go up and do repairs on the Inn to keep the raccoons out. Councilors paled at the thought of a citizen running a chainsaw or climbing a ladder! Insurance you know.
I suppose that’s why work done for the Town costs the Town a hell of a lot more than others would pay. The Town presents a myriad of hoops, hurdles, and barriers for suppliers and tradesmen to navigate.
So it was refreshing to see repairs being made in the village. New lighting and ceiling for the museum. The deck on the Spence Inn was replaced (though I thought the End would come before that job finished) . The sawmill was rebuilt and the old traction engine re-housed. Looks great! If they resodded the ‘Village Green’ , that would be a nice touch. It was frozen out after the light show of a couple years ago.
And now the Sugar shack, which has been moldering for a long time. I can remember it being open back when I first volunteered there. Always had an affinity for sugaring off from when our family made syrup on the side of Carter’s Hill. Good memories. But I can imagine my Gramps would bite the stem off his pipe if I told him a sugar shack could cost $76.000.
While it’s great to see all this work finally being done in the ‘Village’, I want the council to know that these repairs and more have been waiting for a good while. Through a lot of councils and mayors. They all knew that maintenance and repairs needed done. The money being spent now is a gift from Katherine Anne Hartley. Just so councils, both past and present understand, I don’t see that they have done anything spectacular. It would have been nice if the lady’s money had advanced another project for the village and not just been used to do the repairs the Town has neglected. Just my opinion.
Katherine Hartley and I both seem to have appreciated the Village. The Town, not so much. So for her and her gift, I am most appreciative. And grateful.
Ruth Cottrill says
I agree with most of what Mr Markle has stated. Our Pioneer Village is a very important part of our towns heritage and should be maintained by The Town plus Volunteers. Our Muskoka Education System should have field trips annually to the Village and community farms for Educating our young people. Visiting Pioneer Village on school class field trips are wonderful memories!