Date/Time
Date(s) - 13/09/2022
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Categories
Colchester Heritage and the Colchester Schoolhouse
Perry Basden and Monica Carruthers present a discussion about Heritage Colchester, a non-profit organization, and the Colchester schoolhouse preservation project.
Presented via Zoom – Click Here to Register Here
Speakers: Monica Carruthers and Perry Basden
Monica Carruthers: Monica Carruthers has been a resident of the hamlet of Colchester since 2010 after relocating from Hamilton. Since that time, she has been exploring the local history and took a special interest in the Colchester Schoolhouse during an Open House hosted by the Town of Essex. After beginning to research her family history, she soon discovered that her Great Grandmother was born in Colchester in 1879, and the true love of the history of the village was cemented.
She is one of the original members of the Old Schoolhouse Community Garden that is hosted by the Town on the Schoolhouse property and is also interested in the Chimney Swifts that use the schoolhouse chimney.
Joining the local community in their quest to save and restore the schoolhouse, Monica is also a member of Heritage Colchester.
Perry Basden: Perry BASDEN has been a long-time resident of Windsor, Ontario. area. He grew up in Lasalle, and moved to Windsor after their marriage. retiring to Colchester in late 2019.
Perry saw an opportunity to form a Non-profit Organization through affiliation with the Ontario Historical Society when the Town of Essex, in late 2020, had intention to declare the School Section #2, Colchester Schoolhouse as surplus. Heritage Colchester was formed for the purpose of restoring the Colchester Schoolhouse. The organization officially came into being as a Non-Profit entity early in 2021 and now leases the building from the Town of Essex.
Through the initiatives of Heritage Colchester and its members, the Town of Essex has now realized the historical value of the many historical gems found in the Colchester area. The 2022 Official Plan review for the Town of Essex includes a feasibility study for designating an area as a Heritage Conservation District, not only the Schoolhouse area, but also to include the Historic Christ Church, the Church Manse, the Christ Church Cemetery and possible another structure, the former meeting hall for the Canadian Order of the Woodmen of the World. The Woodmen meeting hall, originally built on land to the west of the Schoolhouse, has since been moved further east and is now used as a church hall and is attached to Christ Church.
Heritage Colchester is currently presenting various fund-raising activities in the Colchester area and is waiting to receive our Charitable Status from the Canadian Charities Directorate division of the Federal Government. It is the intent of Heritage Colchester to restore the schoolhouse for community use, educational and historical purposes as well as for charitable purposes.
More information: HeritageColchester.ca
