February 20, 2016
2484
How many of you have visited the Walker House Heritage Museum at the corner of Harbour Street and Huron Terrace? If you haven’t, you are missing out on a true gem. The work that has gone into the restoration of the oldest standing wooden hotel in Bruce County, is truly remarkable.
From the ashes of a fire in 1995, the Paddy Walker Heritage Society has rebuilt the hotel to replicate what it would have been like back in Paddy’s day. The variety of displays, both upstairs and down, provides a view into the past and the development of Kincardine.
There was a great deal of interest in the restoration project 20 years ago and lots of people came out to rebuild. The talented craftsmen who worked on the building did a wonderful job. It was slow going in the beginning as people worked to fund-raise to cover the costs associated with materials needed to rebuild. The craftsmen did their work for the love of the project with no monetary compensation.
Ten years ago, with the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion on the horizon, there was a push to finish the restoration so the Walker House would be ready for the celebration. The Municipality of Kincardine provided the funds to finish the reconstruction.
As the 2018 Reunion looms on the horizon, the Walker House is in need of both volunteer and financial help. The Paddy Walker Heritage Society is almost entirely dependent on donations and fund-raising to finance the operation and upkeep of the building.
Our volunteers have come and gone and the few remaining are running out of ideas to raise money. Graham Mahood and his gang have produced some splendid performances but Mahood's contributions take a while to produce. We need some fresh faces and minds to help us come up with new exciting projects.
Over the years, there have been numerous fund-raising events: Robbie Burns Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Heritage Dinner and Play, Pub Nights, Fall Feast, Cash Calendars and Honey and Heritage Baskets. While these events have done well for us, public interest has waned.
We need more people to help us in the following areas: building and yard maintenance, display development, fund-raising, event organization, cleaning, multi-media promotions (Facebook, etc.) and grant applications.
Please, if you have any interest in volunteering at the Walker House, please forward your name and area of interest to me at dhorr@hurontel.on.ca. We are also in need of three board members at this time. We meet the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Walker House. Don’t be shy, we don’t bite!
If everyone who ever purchased a cash calendar, sent us the $20 they spent it would help us immensely. I am making this plea to you as treasurer of the Paddy Walker Heritage Society and of my own accord.
It is heartbreaking to try to pay the heat, hydro and property taxes with what little money we have. It doesn’t bode well for the upcoming tourist season. Everyone who has a connection to Kincardine should visit the Walker House for a $5 tour.
Sincerely
Helen Orr
Kincardine
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