Village Squire, 1978-05, Page 4Letters
DEAR EDITOR: On page 41 of the March
1978 issue of your Village Squire, I found
an upsetting article about the Blyth
Summer Festival. I was glad to hear that a
much needed back stage addition is being
approved. but am most critical about the
architectural elevation shown of the
proposed addition.
I am disappointed to see the facade of a
sterile industrial cube set beside an
historical landmark, The Blyth Memorial
Hall. Was this a decision of the board of
directors or architects Hill & Borgal?
Many Canadians holiday in England or
Europe to see the authentic architecture of
the past ages which has been preserved or
restored. In Canada there are thousands of
excellent examples of our own architectural
past. If we do not acknowledge this now, by
preserving and integrally adding on to the
existing structures of Canada's earlier
years, we risk losing a living record of a
major architectural period of Canada's
history.
The magnificent pine woodwork within
The Blyth Hall was stripped of its paint and
restored to a natural finish. When this was
done I felt that the Blyth Summer Festival
was showing a much needed thrust toward
preserving a fine aspect of our architectur-
al heritage. After seeing the elevation of
the proposed addition I am not so sure
about the intentions of this group.
The addition should be faced with a brick
that matches the brick of the existing Hall
then covered with a gable roof at the same
pitch as the existing roof or a hipped roof to
match the small addition on the left of the
hall. Windows could be easily matched as
existing ones are only standard double
hung windows. If this were done then the
proposed addition would be an architectur-
al compliment to this fine Hall, not a polar
contradiction of the past and present.
I write this letter as an architectural
technologist who is disturbed about the •
present rapid demolition of Canada's
architectural past. I do not want to see the
timeless peacefulness of the Blyth Hall
over run by modernization when next to no
difference in cost is needed to compliment
this building. Being a native of Brussels,
Ontario many of my feelings are towards
maintaining the character of rural
South -Western Ontario. If this addition
proceeds as shown I feel and hope that
many people would share my opinion.
YOURS TRULY
JOHN RUTLEDGE
76 WELLINGTON STREET, REAR
LONDON, ONTARIO N6B 2K3
ED. NOTE: The elevation we chose to use
in the article perhaps gave a false
impression of the view of the addition
designed by Hill and Borgal which is
actually located well back on the building.
not near the front. In addition the design is
a preliminary rendering subject to many
actual changes if indeed funding is found
to go ahead at all.
PG. 2. VILLAGE SQUIRE/MAY 1978.
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