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Map to Ottawa House |
Seawall Work Commences |
Everyone realizes that the Society has embarked on a substantial project to restore the Ottawa House and refurbish the museum. Although the project has now been ongoing for almost two years, people are beginning to wonder when they are going to see some substantive work occurring.
Be not faint of heart, the restoration has begun. It began earlier with the installation of the massive drainage ditch behind the building to alleviate most of the water entering the structure. This water has to be prevented from entering to stop further deterioration.
However the work now being done is not, for the most part, visible. A restoration architect has been working feverishly on two separate aspects of the restoration, examining the problem from all aspects, consulting with experts from many fields and government agencies to ensure that proper conservation methods are planned. After much work a contract has been tendered to begin work on drying the basement, and actual work will begin in the near future. Unfortunately it too will not be visible.
For those who would actually appreciate seeing something happening, you are invited to take a trip down to the Ottawa House now and watch as work on the seawall progresses.
As a part of the restoration it was accepted that there was little use in restoring the building, if it would eventually end up at the high tide line due to the severe erosion.
One of series of photos recently taken by Con Byers
The awesome power of the placid Minas Basin
Any more questions?
All one has to do is examine earlier photographs of the site to see that the lawn in front of the Ottawa House was much, much larger.
This postcard photograph is dated 1954. Where has all that lawn gone?
The difference between this and the 1954 picture is evident.
Or walk on the roadway in front of the building and note how close the edge of the drop off is to the side of the road. It was therefore determined that a seawall would be constructed.
And now, with the approval of the Department of the Environment, work has begun. The following pictures will give readers some concept of the scope of the effort.
The first step, pardon the pun, was the removal of the old stairs to the beach.
Then the heavy equipment was moved in
As you can see, this particular aspect of the project is huge, and will require much, much more work before it is complete. However all can rest assured that this is merely the most visible evidence of a group which is working diligently to ensure that the restoration of the Ottawa House, when finally complete, will have been done right.