Informs Prime Minister of Kentville roundhouse importance

Kentville resident Ruth Nickerson sent the following letter concerning the Kentville railway roundhouse to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Dear Prime Minister Harper:

May 20th I read an article in the Kentville Advertiser regarding the imminent demolition of the roundhouse in Kentville. This building is the last remaining roundhouse of its kind in Nova Scotia and one of only a few in Canada.

The building was built in 1916 of brick and is still in restorable condition. The inside of the building is constructed of massive Douglas Fir post and beams. The building now looks pretty deplorable, but once restored it would be a showpiece for the town of Kentville.

The town acquired the building several years ago in a deal with CP. It has been rented to the adjoining Great Valley Juices for storage until late last fall. Since then the building has remained empty.

The Town of Kentville has no municipal by-law for heritage properties. They have succeeded over the years to demolish almost all historic buildings in town. There are, to my knowledge, only two other buildings left in town that represent the heritage of the railroad. They are both privately owned.

The town over the years has declined offers of locomotives, cabooses and entire collections of railroad memorabilia, and now refuses to listen to our cries to save the Roundhouse.

This massive building of approximately 20,000 square feet once restored, could have a multi-function use. It could house an arts centre, meeting rooms, convention centre, train museum, library, restaurant or a community center for the Town. The building could also be used as a year round farmers market showcasing agricultural products from the entire Annapolis Valley.

The restoration of the building would supply much needed employment in the area. Once restored it would bring tourists from around the world.

Instead, the town council and mayor in their wisdom want to demolish it. They say they are willing to save the post and beams and brick for the new library. They want the new library to be made into a replica of the roundhouse. This, to me is absolutely ridiculous and morally unacceptable. How can you rip down a building, destroying your heritage and then build a caricature of what you have destroyed forever.

At one time the railroad employed nearly one third of the total population in Kentville. It is what made Kentville a town.

The Town has never had a public meeting to discuss the demolition with the citizens. The first most people heard about it being destroyed was when it was published in the local paper and aired on the local radio station.

They have never discussed its historical value in any council session. We have supplied them with sources of funding, made presentations at their Council meeting on June 13.

All were met with rudeness, ridicule and disdain. We have presented letters from the Heritage Canada Foundation, NS Railway Heritage Society, Heritage Trust, Industrial Heritage of Nova Scotia, Kings Historical Society and Premier MacDonald's office. These were poorly presented by council. We also have had four esteemed knowledgeable people from the Heritage Property Program assess the building. It is fully restorable and sound. Andrew Powter who recently worked on the restoration of Vimy Ridge has viewed the building and is anxious to work on the restoration.

We presented Council with a petition of 667 names with approximately 200 of those being from citizens of Kentville, all wishing the roundhouse not be destroyed. We had signatures from as far as way as Sweden and Germany, along with signatures from across Canada and the United States.

Now, the mayor says we have to "show him the money" before July 1 or he will continue with the demolition plans soon thereafter.

He wants the money guaranteed by the provincial and federal governments by then, for restoration. The mayor and town council have never made any attempt to search for sources of funding. They have never asked the province for funding for restoration nor have they ever attempted to have it designated an historical site by the province. We sent them sources for funding three weeks ago and they said they are not interested.

They are not willing to give the building to us to get it restored. They are not willing to sell the building. They want to demolish it and pave it over for a road.

I ask of you and your Heritage Minister to intervene for the sakes of the citizens of Kentville and Nova Scotia. This building is not just an historic building in the town of Kentville. This building serviced engines from seven different counties in the heyday of the railroad. Many, many men have been in the roundhouse over the years while working for the railroad. Many of their children remember the roundhouse with fond memories of their childhood. Their children recognize it also as where their grandfathers, uncles and fathers worked at one time.

Please, sir can you not help us save this worthwhile building?

It will be demolished after July 1 if nothing is done.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Yours sincerely

Ruth Nickerson

Citizen of Kings County, Nova Scotia

Member of RAG (Roundhouse Action Group)