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Huron Expositor, 2007-09-19, Page 10Page 10 The Huron Expositor • September 19, 2007 News Van Egmond Foundation looking for volunteers as historic house becomes more popular destination Susan H u n d e r t m a r k As the Van Egmond Foundation continues to find ways to turn the historic home into a more popular local attraction, members are wish- ing their volunteers were as plenti- ful. "We do need more volunteers. I wish we could get some younger people interested because none of us on the board are getting any younger," says president Pat Saundercock. "We're hoping that the more visi- ble we get, the more people will want to get involved," she says. The Van Egmond Foundation has been making gains recently as a tourist destination. Saundercock says the foundation recently toured a bus of 40 tourists from the Toronto area through the house after serving them coffee and muffins. The stop at the Van Egmond House was part of a tour arranged by the Goderich Chamber of Commerce as part of a tour of Huron County attractions. "Huron County tourism has been great for us - it's given us a lot of publicity," she says. A school pioneer program for Grade 3 students was launched in June and the foundation is still pro- moting the program to local schools, hoping to offer another program sometime in the new year. Saundercock says the Van Egmond Foundation also has a busy fall planned. Events include a vol- unteer supper on Sept. 22, p.m., a harvest turkey dinner on Oct. 20, a roast beef dinner for the Huron County Historical Society on Oct. 26 and a gospel night fundraiser at the Egmondville United Church on Oct. 27. While the Van Egmond House's haunt- ed tour will not be revised this year, Saundercock says the house will be open to trick -or -treaters this year at Halloween. "Kids like coming here at Halloween. They knock very tenta- tively like they're afraid someone is going to jump out at them," she laughs. Saundercock adds the foundation board is looking at how to offer something for children at Halloween again and is hoping a larger event could be planned for next year. The foundation is also in the process of fixing up the house's display cabinets. "Some of them getting old and have to replace glass in them," says. A new donation of a set of dishes, originally owned by Martha Van Egmond, Col. Anthony Van Egmond's grand- daughter, will also require a new display case. "The set was left to Jack and Gladys Van Egmond's daughter Susan who donated the 50 pieces to the house. Martha and Edward were important citizens of Egmondville with a farm implement business in the early 1900s," says Saundercock. She says the display case will likely be placed in the upstairs hall - 'We're hoping that the more visitors we get, the more people will want to get involved,' -- Van Egmond Foundation president Pat Saundercock are we the she Parrish & Heimbecker Limited WE ARE READY FOR HARVEST RECEIVING • White Beans • Soybeans • Corn WIT Walton Elevators Also - Off -farm trucking available at reasonable rates Everything you need for Preharvest Now is the time! I'arri.h A Hrlmhra Arr Preharvest Glyphosate tmltr., FOR WHITE BEANS, SOYBEANS, ALSO WHEAT STUBBLE with a 120' Boom - makes Tess tracking crovcar• WILMAR EAGLE - 120 FT. BOOM Good supply of Wheat Seed available • Soft White • Soft Red • Hard Red Walton 519-887-9261 1-800-786-1476 way near the portraits of Martha and Edward. The foundation is also still looking for financial help to replace the roofs on its three buildings and is applying to the Trillium Foundation and the Farm Credit Corporation for grants. "We're hoping to get it done next year before the roof leaks and wrecks everything," says Saundercock. She adds that since roofs on the Van Egmond House and the car- riage house have to be historically accurate, the project will be expen- sive. "We need red cedar shingles that have to come from B.C. and it's very pricey," she says. Foundation member Vivienne Newnham agrees that there are plenty of opportunities for more vol- unteers to get involved at the Van Egmond House. "This historic house is only there because of volunteer help since 1971. It was going to be knocked down and turned into condos but local people put up their own money to save it and it's -always been vol- unteers to run it," she says. Newnham says students looking for volunteer hours will find plenty of tasks waiting for them from help- ing at community meals to doing some physical labour around the grounds. "Our members are getting quite senior and we always need some muscle to help us out," she says. Story idea? 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