The Sault Star, January 12, 2010
The Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site Heritage Discovery Centre is a step closer to reality.
City council approved a resolution Monday that will see the city loan the Historic Sites Board project funding not secured by federal or provincial funding applications.
The money would be paid back over a long period of time.
The move also authorizes the city to enter into an agreement with Canadian Heritage Cultural Spaces for $1.8 million towards the project. The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. is contributing $1 million.
The move means a request for proposal for architectural and engineering services for the heritage Discover Centre project can move forward.
The project includes the development of a visitor centre, a summer kitchen re-design and site accessibility.
The visitor centre, or Heritage Discovery Centre, as it will be called, will include a legacy gallery marking the War of 1812.
The entire project is estimated at about $4 million.
A target completion date has been set to have the centre open prior to the 200th anniversary of the Ermatinger Old Stone House, the 100th anniversary of the City of Sault Ste. Marie and the commemoration of the War of 1812. All occur in 2012.
The Historic Sites Board is expected to contribute about $200,000 and the City has committed $500,000 to the project.
A further application to Fed- Nor, Industry Canada for the remaining $500,000 is in the works but if the application is not successful, the money would be borrowed from the city.
Ward 2 Coun. Susan Myers, a strong proponent of the project encouraged city council to support the loan, if needed. Myers, a member of the Historic Sites Board, said an exciting aspect of the project is that it will move the historic site from a seasonal to year-round attraction.
"There is a lot of investment opportunity for us as a legacy project from the War of 1812," Myers said. "It's a great opportunity for us to expand our facility and capitalize on the funds available because there is a desire from the province and feds to do this project."
The Ermatinger Old Stone House is a restoration depicting the life of Charles Oakes Ermatinger and other prominent residents and visitors to the house between 1808 and 1870.
Also on site is the Clergue Blockhouse, the one-time home of Francis H. Clergue, which was relocated to the site in 1996.
The historic site collects, preserves, researches and interprets artifacts from 1808 to 1870.
Source:The Sault Star