Donation of cottage to help Yarmouth County Museum

Looking to give up the cottage – and given his family’s long-time involvement in the Yarmouth County Museum and Archives – Goudey opted to turn the cottage over to the society, which then could sell it and use the sale as a fundraiser.

The property – Northwood Cottage – has been appraised at just under $100,000.

Goudey presented the deed to the society Sept. 5 during the organization’s regular meeting.

He recalls going to the museum as a youth, back when it was in the northern part of town, before its relocation in the late 1960s to its present site in the former church building on Collins Street.

Referring to his family’s involvement in the museum, he said, “It goes back quite a ways.”

As for the cottage, which is winterized, he notes that the original structure was designed by his mother and built by his father.

Today the cottage includes a downstairs apartment.

“I figured that an enterprising person with a small business, an artist or whatever, can really make use of this place,” he said.

Officials with the heritage society are thankful for the donation.

“We’re very appreciative of John and (his wife) Dorothy’s gift,” said Yarmouth County Museum director Bruce Bishop. “He has been involved with the museum for quite some time and has been a long-standing supporter of the historical society. We also know of his expertise in the field of engineering, so we’re positive that this is a fine building in terrific year-round working order.”

Mary Eldridge, the society’s treasurer – who, with her husband, Peter, has a cottage near the Goudey one – expressed similar sentiments regarding Goudey’s decision.

“His mother, Frances Goudey, was involved in the museum, as John said, for many years and she was still involved when I first began to work with the museum so I knew Frances well, “ she said. “And I knew her as she used to live out here in the summer and I’d visit her, so we’re familiar with the cottage and it is, indeed, a very generous donation that John and (his) whole family have agreed (to make),” she said.

Citing just an example of who might make use of the cottage, she said it would be a nice place for people with adult children who perhaps have children of their own.

“The grandparents could stay in one part and the other family could live in the other part,” she said.

Said Bishop, “Hopefully there’ll be a new owner there soon.”

He hopes too that the property’s new owner will realize that by purchasing the cottage he or she – or they – will have made a major contribution to the museum.