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Historic map of Kincardine restored By Liz Dadson |
Kincardine council To Comment on this article Click Here |
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 Vern Fry (L) and Jane Rigby of Heritage Kincardine stand with an old map of Kincardine which has been restored | ||||
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A
piece of Kincardine's history has been restored, thanks to Heritage
Kincardine, and was on display at the Kincardine council meeting last
night (May 19). A map of the former Town of Kincardine, dating back to 1855-56, before it was incorporated into a town, was offered to Heritage Kincardine about four years ago. Vern Fry, chairman at the time, agreed to purchase the old map for about $200, sight unseen, after being assured it was indeed "old" and would be a good purchase. "It turned out to be better than we expected," said Jane Rigby of Heritage Kincardine. The map is very old, with the first third of it attributed to a survey made by John Denison, provincial land surveyor, in June of 1855 and June of 1856. It is hand-drawn on silk, backed with paper and was rolled on a small wooden dowel. It shows the Mill Blocks but not the salt blocks because they were not discovered until 1868. It refers to "Kincardine" and "Penetangore" which were used interchangeably until Jan. 1, 1858, when the town was officially incorporated as a separate entity from Kincardine Township. The designation of "Canada West" indicates the map predates Confederation in 1867. Rigby said it sems that there were three different hands contributing to the map. The first was by Denison, the second and third are unknown but the last was dated 1874. "The map is of great importance to Kincardine today because it shows the original plan for the area and locates mill sites and other topographical elements long lost and forgotten," said Rigby. "It also shows what has not changed." She said it took six months to restore the original map. Irv Mills of C&I Graphics in Kincardine is going to make a facsimile of the map which will hopefully hang in the municipal office. Heritage Kincardine is unsure where to keep the original because the committee is reluctant to send it to the Bruce County Archives. Rigby told council that the facsimile should be on display where people can see it. "You could put it up in the lobby or here in the council chamber," she said.
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Deputy mayor Laura Haight suggested hanging the copy of the map in the
Scougall Gallery at the Kincardine Arts Centre, and sending the
original to the archives. "We think the original should stay here," said Rigby, "same as the old map we have of Inverhuron. It means something to us here, not at the Bruce County Archives. We're considering the main floor safe in the arts centre." She said if the copy were on display in the municipal office, it would make a wonderful historic document for people to view during the Doors Open weekend. Chief administrative officer John deRosenroll said there was another town plot map that was sent to the Bruce County Archives to protect the document. "This map could be sent as well and 'entrusted' to the archives," said mayor Larry Kraemer, "so the municipality doesn't lose ownership of it." Heritage Kincardine will look into that, said Rigby. It will also work with the municipal staff and consider options for hanging the copy of the original map, with a recommendation to council at a future meeting. In addition, Rigby told council that Heritage Kincardine has received old drawings of the George Conley house (formerly owned by Dr. Rick and Mary Jane Mann), at 880 Huron Terrace, built in 1924-25. The drawings, which are pencil on paper, were donated by Mary Jane Mann when the house was sold in 2007, and have been stabilized and sealed so they can be handled safely to prevent further damage, said Rigby. "Their importance is great," she said. "They show the capabilities of Conley as an architect and his meticulous attention to the last detail. He built this house for himself, and of course, wanted it perfect. He designed the exterior and every detail of the interior." The house was on the Doors Open tour in 2006.
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