HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-12-06, Page 8Page 8
Times -Advocate, December 6, 1995
ADVERTISING Ili F
New Olde Town Hall centre of community
Exeter and District Heritage Foundation recounts Olde Town Hall project from start to finish
EXETER - "The Olde
Town Hall in Exeter
should be torn down as it
serves, and indeed could
never serve any real use-
ful purpose... The prop-
erty the town hall sits on
could be put to use in any
one of several means.
First, 1 would propose
the area be paved
and used for the
much needed
downtown park-
ing..."
Are the pre-
ceding com-
ments from a re-
cent editorial in
the T -A re-
garding public
reaction to
council's de-
-cision to pro-
ceed with its
plans to ren-
ovate and ex-
pend the build-
ing commonly
referred to as
there merit in having the building
restored?
It became a rather contentious is-
sue in the early months of 1976,
with both sides arguing their cases
effectively. Council eventually vot-
ed to stay demolition plans for the
building and turned the restoration
responsibilities over to the newly
formed Exeter and District Heritage
Foundation.
The organization was successful
in raising money and securing fund-
ing grants to cover the $128,000
cost for restoring the building.
With renovations com-
pleted and.a source of
rental income secured,
the Olde Town Hall
once again became a
vital part of Exet-
er's downtown
streetscape.
Let's fast for-
ward to 1994
where history is
about to repeat it-
self. Two events
took place that
conspired with
each other to sat-
isfy the long-
term goal of
members of the
heritage founda-
tion, namely the
return of Olde
Town Hall man-
agement to coun-
cil. The events
included the de-
parture of a long-
term tenant from
posts were de- the . hall and
resemble the council's lease
Hall bell tower. expiring on the
building which
housed the municipal offices and
chambers.
At the same time the future of the
Olde Town Hall was being con-
templated, council was deciding on
the future direction for the com-
The newel
The Olde Town signed to
Olde Town
Hall?
In reality the com-
ments are excerpts from a letter to
the editor, written almost 20 years
ago (Feb. 19, 1976) at a time when
Exeter's Town Council was faced
with a similar dilemma - should the
town hall be torn down, or was
munity of Exeter as a whole. A
town meeting, held in May, 1993,
gave the public an opportunity to
offer suggestions as to what they
felt Exeter should be offering its
townspeople.
Proposals were varied but there
was a strong indication develop-
ment of a "civic square" should be
considered incorporating the Olde
Town Hall, the library and perhaps
the vacant police station. This
square would become the focal
point of civic, social and com-
munity services as well as cultural
activities. Was the idea econom-
ically feasible?
Enter the Canada/Ontario Infra-
structure Works program. With an-
nouncement in early 1994 by a
newly -elected federal government
of funding to be made available to
municipalities for infrastructure
programs, its was decided a com-
mittee should be formed to de-
termine if indeed, a new civic
square could be developed on the
north east corner of Sanders and
Main Streets, contingent on gov-
ernment funding being secured for
the project.
This comer cominittee as it was
eventually named, was comprised
of local politicians, representatives
from the library board, the heritage
foundation, business, youth, sen-
iors and members from the com-
munity at large. This committee
was given a mandate to review all
options for revitalization of the
area in question including the Olde
Town Hall, library and the former
police station. Architects from sev-
eral firms were invited to present
designs for the proposed multi -
phased project and after much dis-
cussion with regard to the scope of
the revitalization proposals, it was
decided by the committee renova-
tions and expansion of the Olde
Town Hall should be made a prior-
ity.
This recommendation was pre-
sented to council. After debating
the issue at a meeting and taking
into account public opinion both
positive and negative, council vot-
ed to proceed with the project if
funding was available through the
infrastructure program. Final ap-
proval of council's application was
received in the fall of 1994.
With funding in place, the corner
committee engaged the services of
architect firm Garrett and Mark-
levitz, from Stratford. Along with
committee members they worked
on a suitable design for the build-
ing, fulfilling the space re-
quirements for relocating staff
from the present municipal offices
to the Olde Town Hall, while stay-
ing within budgetary constraints of
the infrastructure financing.
Once accomplished, tenders were
called in the spring of 1995 and
construction began soon after.
Progress on the job site could be
monitored on a daily basis by inter-
ested townspeople as the new addi-
tion to the town hall was con-
structed and renovations to. the
existing structure were undertaken.
The expanded facility will now
house the office of the mayor,
clerk -treasurer, town administrator,
building inspector, receptionists
and office staff. The newly ren-
ovated council chambers, located
on the upper floor in the former au-
ditorium, will be accessible by an
elevator. A public gallery can ac-
commodate at least 50 people. As
well, a second meeting room on the
upper level will be available for
public assembly as well as com-
mittee meetings.
The exterior of the building of-
fers a blending of old and new with
the addition complementing the
1887 structure. Every effort has
been made to maintain and pre-
serve the historical integrity of the
building.
On Friday Dec. 8, the Olde Town
Hall will hold its official opening
ceremonies. Local, provincial and
federal representatives will be in at-
tendance. Residents of Exeter and
surrounding areas are welcome to
take the opportunity to attend this
function to appreciate the con-
structive changes made to the site
of Exeter's new municipal offices -
the Olde Town Hall. In the past it
,was sometimes the centre of con-
troversy. In the future it 'will be the
centre of our community.
An arched interior window in the renovated Olde Town Hall
looks out on the original architecture.
he Town of Exeter extends
sincere appreciation to all
those who have played a part
in creating this beautiful new
building.
Evolving from a meeting of
taxpayers where the project
transformed from an idea to
reality.. to the completion of
the project, the building will
become a valuable asset to
and a focal point for our
community.
As well as housing the
administrative offices for the
town, The Olde Town Hall
will be a meeting place s `�
for community
o many co y
groups.
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