Woodchester Restoration To Start Soon; A Story To Relate

GOOD NEWS ABOUT WOODCHESTER VILLA RESTORATION THIS MONTH - HARD ON THE TAXPAYERS

     I WROTE AN EMAIL TO THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE A FEW YEARS BACK, WHEN COUNCIL WAS DEBATING WHAT TO DO WITH THE WHITE ELEPHANT MUSEUM ON THE HILLSIDE, OVERLOOKING THE MUSKOKA RIVER. IT WAS THE PREAMBLE DISCUSSION, ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD COST TO GET THE HISTORIC OCTAGONAL BUILDING REPAIRED AND RE-OPENED. EVEN IN THE EARLY GOING OF THIS DISCUSSION, THE DOLLAR ESTIMATES WERE FRIGHTENING. THE ORIGINAL RESTORATION OCCURRED FROM THE LATE 1970'S INTO THE EARLY 1980'S, BUT IF MEMORY SERVES, IT WAS WELL SHORT OF A MILLION BUCKS. HAVING TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER MILLION, TO CORRECT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VICTORIAN ERA, FORMER HOME OF BRACEBRIDGE INDUSTRIALIST, HENRY BIRD, OF THE BIRDS WOOLLEN MILL, WAS VEXING COUNCILLORS, AND TRUTHFULLY, IT INSPIRED ME TO OFFER A FEW SUGGESTIONS IF THEY WERE TO GO AHEAD WITH A PLAN OF RESTORATION, AND POTENTIALLY, A CHANGE OF PROPERTY USE. THIS WAS PRETTY RADICAL FOR ONE OF THE CITIZENS WHO HELPED FOUND THE BRACEBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, LAUNCHING PLANS FOR THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF THE BUILDING AND ITS RESTORATION, TO CREATE THE TOWN'S FIRST COMMUNITY MUSEUM. ADMITTING FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE GOOFED, WHEN WE FORGOT TO LONG RANGE PLAN, FOR THE SITE'S ECONOMIC FUTURE.  WE HAVE TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY, AS FORMER DIRECTORS, FOR BURDENING THE TOWN WITH A MUSEUM THEY DIDN'T WANT IN THE FIRST PLACE. I CAN REMEMBER FORMER COUNCILLOR FRANK HENRY, TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR NEW SIDEWALKS FOR TOWN, MORE THAN AN EXPENSIVE, MONEY-PIT ON THE HILL. FRANK ALWAYS WAS ASTUTE ABOUT SPENDING TAX DOLLARS WISELY, AND I WISH I COULD TELL HIM, JUST HOW CORRECT HE WAS BACK THEN. BUT THEN WE, THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE FLEDGLING HISTORICAL SOCIETY, WERE ALL PART OF A MOVEMENT THAT SEEMED SO EXCITING AND FULFILLING. THE ROTARY CLUB PURCHASED US THE BUILDING, AND THE RESTORATION AND COLLECTION-BUILDING COMMENCED, WITH INCREDIBLE DEDICATION OF VOLUNTEERS. AT THE TIME, THERE WAS A GREAT DEMONSTRATION OF GENEROSITY, NOT ONLY OF VOLUNTEER LABOR, BUT FOR ARTIFACT DONATIONS, INCLUDING THE FAMOUS ALVIN KAYE COLLECTION OF FARM IMPLEMENTS AND VINTAGE TOOLS.

     IT MAY HAVE SEEMED BLASPHEMOUS TO SOME OF THE HISTORICAL PURISTS OUT THERE, BUT AS ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF WHAT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE SOMEWHAT OF A LATTER DAY DEBACLE, I OFFERED THE TOWN A NUMBER OF IDEAS FOR REDEVELOPMENT AND RE-DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY USE, TO SHIFT IT FROM A MUSEUM OPERATION, TO AN EXPANDED ARTS AND CULTURE FACILITY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GOOD WORK ON THAT HILLSIDE, OF MUSKOKA ARTS AND CRAFTS COMMUNITY. THE REASON I MADE COMMENT ABOUT THIS, WAS THE SIMPLE REALITY, AND CHRONICLE OF THE SITE ITSELF, THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHAPEL GALLERY ORIGINALLY, WHICH TOOK SHAPE IN THE LATE 1980'S, WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF A FAILURE OF THE MUSEUM MISSION, TO AT THE VERY LEAST, BREAK EVEN. I KNEW THEN, AS OPERATING MANAGER OF THE SITE, THAT WE COULDN'T CARRY ON WITHOUT MAJOR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, AND WITH MUSKOKA ARTS AND CRAFTS, AT THE TIME, LOOKING FOR A PERMANENT GALLERY SITE, I JUMPED AT THE CHANCE TO BROKER A DEAL BETWEEN THREE PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE AND THE BRACEBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. IT TOOK ROOT, AND I REMAIN PLEASED THAT IT HAS WORKED OUT WELL FOR ALL THESE YEARS. FOR THIS REASON, I THOUGHT THE TOWN SHOULD KNOW, THAT ONE OF THE FOUNDERS HAD CHANGED HIS MIND, ABOUT THE BEST USE OF THE WOODCHESTER PROPERTY. AND YES, I DO BELIEVE, BASED ON ACCOMPLISHMENT, THE ARTS AND CRAFTS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS……AND HAVE PROVIDED AN EXCEPTIONAL CULTURAL CENTER, BRINGING THE  MOST VISITORS TO THAT PROPERTY, SHORT OF THE MUSEUM'S FIRST YEARS WHEN MAJOR EVENTS, LIKE THE STRAWBERRY SOCIAL DID ATTRACT LARGE CROWDS. THE "CHAPEL GALLERY," HAS BECOME OF NOTE INTERNATIONALLY, AND ACCOMPLISHED MORE FOR SITE RECOGNITION, THAN WOODCHESTER DID, HAVING A TEN YEAR HEAD START.

     WHEN I READ THE EDITORIAL IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE OF "WHAT'S UP," I WAS, OF COURSE, PLEASED TO READ THE NEWS ITEM, THAT THE RESTORATION OF THE BUILDING WILL COMMENCE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I HAVE A SOFT SPOT FOR THAT AMAZING OLD HOMESTEAD, AND I SPENT THOUSANDS OF HOURS GUIDING TOURS AND HOSTING MAJOR EVENTS ON THE GROUNDS, LIKE THE CHRISTMAS IN JULY WEEK OF PROGRAMS, AND OF COURSE, THE CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE, WHICH WAS OUR FAMILY FAVORITE. I OFTEN GET FRUSTRATED BY THE WAY THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE PASSES ME BY, ON THE ISSUE OF WOODCHESTER, FOR WHATEVER REASON (I'M GETTING USED TO MUNICIPAL SHUNS), SO WHILE SUPPORTING, AND BEING ENCOURAGED BY THE CONTENT OF THE EDITORIAL, I WAS STILL LEFT WITH THE QUESTION……"SO WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL ME…….BECAUSE I'M PRETTY AVAILABLE…..HERE DAILY ON THE MAIN STREET OF GRAVENHURST?" THE PUBLISHER AND EDITORIAL WRITERS ARE AWARE OF MY EXISTENCE, SO WHILE THE EDITORIAL RAISED LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS, I DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO LET THEM KNOW THAT CURRIE IS READY TO TALK. IF THEY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT WENT WRONG WITH WOODCHESTER, WELL SIR, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT NEED CLARIFICATION. FOR EXAMPLE…….WHILE THE TOWN DOES LOOK AWFULLY BAD IN THIS SITUATION, CONSIDERING THE YEARS OF NEGLECT, THE MUSEUM WAS SET UP TO FAIL……BUT MANY OF US DECIDED TO AVOID THE CRITICAL APPROACH TO ITS OPERATION, BY LIVING FOR THE MOMENT. AS A BOARD, WE SPENT ALL OUR TIME TRYING TO GET THROUGH THE VERY NEXT MONTH, LET ALONE COMING UP WITH A TEN OR TWENTY YEAR PLAN OF OPERATION. FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, WE DID JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING TO HERALD OUR OWN IMMINENT FAILURE, INCLUDING OUR MUTUAL TRUST IN ONGOING GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOREVER. THE ONLY PROBLEM, WAS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE TRAINED STAFF OR THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES, TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE FUNDING PARTIES……SUCH AS THE MUSEUM OPERATIONAL GRANT APPLICATIONS, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE MOST DREADED EXPERIENCES OF THE MUSEUM YEAR.  IT WAS ABOVE ANYTHING WE HAD PLANNED FOR, AND WITHOUT UPGRADES AT THE MUSEUM, SUCH AS IN THE AREA OF HUMIDITY CONTROL, WE COULDN'T SATISFY THE ASSORTED MINISTRIES THAT WE WERE DOING SCHEDULED DUE DILIGENCE.

     AFTER ONLY A FEW YEARS OF OPERATION, I WAS AT A GENERAL MEETING, WHEN IT WAS DECIDED, AND VOTED UPON, THAT I SHOULD BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOR THE COMING YEAR. THE BOX OF DOCUMENTS WAS PUSHED DOWN THE TABLE, LIKE A JUG OF BEER IN A TAVERN, FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER, AND WHAT THAT ACTION MEANT, FROM THE PAST PRESIDENT, TO THE NEW PRESIDENT, WAS "THANK GOD THAT ORDEAL IS OVER." THERE WAS NO CEREMONIAL HANDING OVER OF THE GAVEL. SUZANNE HAD A LOOK OF FEAR ON HER FACE THAT I SHALL NEVER FORGET. AND AS HISTORY SERVES, IT WAS JUSTIFIED. SHE WOULD SPEND MANY HOURS FILLING IN FOR VOLUNTEERS WE COULDN'T SECURE, AT A TIME WHEN THE TOWN DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT OUR SHORTFALLS.  IT WASN'T THE FIRST DOMESTIC SITUATION THAT WAS THE DIRECT RESULT OF THE WOODCHESTER EXPERIENCE, WHICH DEMANDED VAST AMOUNTS OF VOLUNTEER TIME, FROM ONLY A SMALL GROUP OF SOCIETY MEMBERS. AS THE WORKLOAD INCREASED, THE VOLUNTEERS BEGAN TO DISAPPEAR. THE FUN OBVIOUSLY, HAD BEEN IN THE INITIAL PARTY ATMOSPHERE TO OPEN THE TOWN'S FIRST MUSEUM. WHEN THE BIG SHOW WAS OVER, AND THE BURDEN OF RUNNING THE PLACE PAINFULLY OBVIOUS, THERE WAS NO WHERE TO GO BUT DOWN.

     I WAS HAPPY TO HELP BROKER A DEAL WITH MUSKOKA ARTS AND CRAFTS, AND THAT HELPED THE MUSEUM SURVIVE FINANCIALLY, UNTIL THE DECKING CAVED IN A FEW YEARS BACK. THE TOWN SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THE STATE OF THE BALCONY AS FAR BACK AS 1988, AROUND THE TIME WHEN WE WERE NO LONGER ALLOWED TO TAKE PEOPLE ON TOURS AROUND THE HOUSE, ON THE SECOND FLOOR WRAP-AROUND DECKING. SO AS FAR BACK AS 1988, THE TOWN ABSOLUTELY KNEW THE BRACING WAS FAILING, AND WOULD ONLY LAST A FEW MORE YEARS. IT DID BETTER THAN THAT, AND IT TOOK A HEAVY NEW CENTURY SNOWFALL TO BRING IT DOWN TO EARTH. THIS PART WAS THE TOWN'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX, BUT WITH A FAILING HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND A GENERAL LACK OF ENTHUSIASM FROM THE CITIZENS GENERALLY, IT WAS ALLOWED TO SLIDE…….JUST AS I KNEW IT WOULD, WHEN I LEFT AS OPERATION'S MANAGER IN LATE 1989. THE MUSEUM, AT THAT POINT, NEEDED A TOTAL OVERHAUL, BUT THERE WAS NO WILL, ON THE PART OF THE TOWN, TO MAKE PROFOUND CHANGES. THAT'S WHY I'M HOPING TODAY, OVER THE NEXT YEAR, THE TOWN PARTNERS WITH SOME ARTS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TO ENHANCE THE PROPERTY'S USE…..BECAUSE I'M GOING TO OFFER ONE BIT OF UNDENIABLE REALITY……..THAT THE POOR ATTENDANCE WE HAD FROM THE OPENING, RIGHT THROUGH THE 1980'S, IS WHAT THE TOWN CAN LOOK FORWARD TO, AS HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF. IT NEEDS TO BE MUCH MORE THAN A MUSEUM PROPERTY. IF IN THE FUTURE, THE TOWN WANTS ITS OWN COMMUNITY MUSEUM, IT SHOULD BE CONSTRUCTED NEW, WITH ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES OF WHAT MUSEUMS REQUIRE TO MAINTAIN AND CONSERVE COLLECTIONS, AND SERVE ALL VISITORS EQUALLY, WITH A LOCATION THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. WOODCHESTER IS NOT AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE SITE, AND REQUIRES LOTS AND LOTS OF ADVERTISING……AND THAT TAKES MORE MONEY. THE ARTS COMMUNITY HAS A TRACK RECORD OF GETTING PEOPLE TO THE TOP OF THAT SUBSTANTIAL HILLSIDE, AND TO ME, THEY HAVE THE FORMULA FOR WHAT WILL WORK ON THAT HISTORIC PROPERTY. AS FOR A COMMERCIAL USE……IT'S HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE TODAY, WITH ALL ITS PROBLEMS, SO I'D BE A HYPOCRITE TO DENY THAT I'VE THOUGHT THE VERY SAME THING ABOUT WOODCHESTER……TO RECLAIM SOME OF THE EXPENSE OF RESTORATION.

     I AM NOT A FAIR WEATHER FRIEND. AS I BEGAN THE BID TO SAVE THE HOUSE IN THE LATE 1970'S, AND BECAME ITS GUARDIAN FOR A DECADE, I WOULD BE WILLING TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE REQUIRED, TO MAKE SURE IT HAS A FUTURE……WHERE IT ONCE LOOKED AS IF NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO SAVE THE LEGACY OF HENRY BIRD AND HIS FAMOUS OCTAGONAL HOMESTEAD.

     FOR MORE ON WOODCHESTER, AND OUR OWN FAMILY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS OPERATION, YOU CAN ARCHIVE BACK THROUGH THIS BLOG-SITE, FOR MORE ENTRIES.

      YOU KNOW WHAT? SINCE I FIRST BECAME INVOLVED IN WOODCHESTER VILLA, WHEN IT WAS ALL BOARDED UP IN 1977, I HAVE HAD MONTHLY DREAMS ABOUT THE PLACE EVER SINCE. IT'S AN ALLURING HOUSE THAT'S FOR SURE……AND EVEN A LITTLE HAUNTED, OF WHICH I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT AS WELL. NOTHING SCARY HOWEVER. JUST THE SPIRITS OF FORMER RESIDENTS, WHO LOVED THE PLACE SO MUCH, THEY'RE STILL IN RESIDENCE. FOR THE NUMBER OF HOURS WE SPENT THERE AS A YOUNG FAMILY, IT MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BEEN OUR HOME AS WELL. I'M PLEASED THAT IT WILL LIVE ON….BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF IT WAS CELEBRATED IN THE SPIRIT WE INTENDED FROM THAT FIRST RESTORATION. WE JUST FELL A LITTLE SHORT ON LONG RANGE PLANNING. IT DOESN'T MEAN TO SUGGEST, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE RESTORED THE HOUSE IN THE FIRST PLACE…….BUT WE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN SOME ADVICE FROM OUR CRITICS AS WELL, LIKE FRANK HENRY, WHO AS HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR AT THE TIME, WOULD HAVE OFFERED US SOME TIPS ON STAYING RELEVANT…….AND EASING FUTURE DEMANDS ON THE TAXPAYER.

     IT CAN'T BE SAID, THAT THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE IS WITHOUT THIS CHRONICLE OF WHAT WENT WRONG…….AND SHOULD NOT BE REPEATED, FOR THE GOOD OF THIS SAME TAXPAYER…..WHO IS LOOKING PRETTY BURDENED THESE DAYS.

     THANKS FOR VISITING TODAY'S BLOG.

     AS A CONTINUATION OF MY MUSKOKA THEME……I DID LIKE TO SNEAK INTO HENRY BIRD'S OFFICE, IN THE HOUSE, OVERLOOKING THE MILL AND THE RIVER, TO WRITE IN THE LATE AFTERNOON, WHEN ALL THE VISITORS HAD GONE, AND WE WERE ABOUT TO CLOSE-UP. I WOULD OFFER TO DO THIS MYSELF, TO AFFORD A FEW QUIET MOMENTS IN HIS COZY LITTLE CORNER OF THE FIRST FLOOR. I WROTE MY FIRST BATCH OF MUSKOKA AND BRACEBRIDGE HERITAGE SKETCHES, FROM THAT TINY OFFICE, WHICH WERE LATER PUBLISHED AS A WEEKLY SERIES, IN A PAPER KNOWN IN THE 1990'S AS THE MUSKOKA ADVANCE. SO WOODCHESTER WAS VERY MUCH A PART OF MY MUSKOKA EXPERIENCE….AND I'M INDEBTED TO IT, FOR SO MANY KINDNESSES BESTOWED.