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Devitt Uttley Traditional Builders receives Heritage Award

(L) Saugeen Shores Mayor Mike Smith, Matt Weichel (Tim Weichel absent), Jenny Amy and former Heritage Commitee Chair, Joyce Johnston

The award is presented in recognition of heritage minded individuals within Saugeen Shores, who are nominated by the public.  The nominees are individuals who are involved in conserving heritage either by protecting original buildings, surroundings or through educating others.

The Committee received nominations in late spring and used the following criteria in making its recommendation. It considered individuals who:

1. Voluntarily promote the importance of preserving significant heritage structures;

2. Show leadership in restoration and preservation of heritage buildings, sites, etc.;

3. Acknowledge individuals for long standing service in an organization dedicated to maintaining heritage locations;

4. Show appreciation for personal collections of local artifacts, heritage photographs or memorabilia – which they share with the community to promote appreciation of heritage.

For the year 2010, Gary and Cheryl Gray nominated Matt and Tim Weichel, from Devitt Uttley & Company. For more than 20 years, the Weichel brothers have shown leadership to restore and preserve heritage cottages and homes in Saugeen Shores.

The Committee discussed giving the Award to a business that gets paid to restore homes however, it  determined that Matt and Tim Weichel go above and beyond requirements and have a passion for saving older buildings within their Community.  Their workmanship invariably complements the original architecture and seamlessly ties in older historical elements of  structures with new additions thereby encouraging restoration and preservation.

In addition, they also developed a new subdivision, known as “Summerhill Road”.  Even though the homes are new, they architecturally reflect  the “Turn of Century Ontario Architecture” found throughout the area with its historical homes.

Former committee member, Jenny Amy, also commended the Weichels based on personal experience.

Amy and her husband, Don, Devitt Uttley Traditional Builders to undertake renovations to their home in 2000 in order to operate a Bed & Breakfast business.

"We wanted to keep the flavour of the historic home, built in 1907," said Amy.  "We had floor plans from a 1987 renovation that had created an apartment on the second floor by removing walls and doorways, but plans for the original home did not exist. We worked with an architect to lay out floor plans to change the second floor from an apartment into four bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms.  Matt and Tim Weichel then worked with us to match existing baseboards and door frames by creating these in their woodshop. They saved doors and hardware wherever possible, and took care to remove some of the old wood flooring."

As the work progressed, the Weichels made suggestions to safely save what could be salvaged and replace others with renovated and custom-crafted pieces. Today, guests of the bed and breakfast, Chantry Breezes, often compliment the Amys on the historic flavour of the home and are surprised when they learn that there have been extensive renovations.

"We value the attention to detail and the respect for our building and its character that Tim and Matt provided," said Jenny Amy, "and have recommended them and their company to others who are renovating or adding to older homes in Saugeen Shores. The efforts they have taken to restore the built heritage of our community, and assist owners to renovate in keeping with the period of their homes is much appreciated."

Our Municipal Heritage Committee accepted the Gray’s nomination," added Johnston,  "as we believe that Matt and Tim Weichel deserve to be recognized with the 2010 Heritage Conservation Award for their ongoing dedication spanning two decades to help restore, preserve and promote the heritage structures of Saugeen Shores.

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Wednesday, February 16, 2011