Historical Society proposes new plan

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

There may be a way that the Western District Historical Society (WDHS) can keep the old Anglican church situated on its present site.
The church was to be renovated for use as a historic museum and a visitor’s information centre. WDHS representatives, appearing in Strathmore council on Sept. 16, said there has been some opposition from the community about moving the church. They were pleased to announce that they had a new opportunity to keep the church on its original foundation. The Anglican diocese has consented to sell the lot under the church and there is an interested party looking to purchase the land not utilized for the museum site.
The society won $5,000 in the town-sponsored ‘Let’s Make a Pitch’ event and it planned to utilize that money to move St. Michael’s Anglican Church to a new location near the new farmer’s market buildings, situated next to the HiHo gas station.
The benefits to leaving the church at the existing site are no moving costs, putting some of that money to site development, qualification for larger restoration grants and contribution to the downtown revitalization effort; and the proximity to Wheatland Trail still allows for easy access to its role as a visitor’s centre. Councilor Denise Petersen gave her support to the historic effort.
“The desire to commemorate the remarkable history of this community has been demonstrated throughout the last 40 to 50 years,” said Councilor Denise Petersen. “Last year the effort was renewed when the Western District Historical Society was formed.”
Council directed administration to look into researching the cost to the purchase of the lots, and if feasible after approval of the lot purchase, negotiate with the interested party for resale of the unused portion of the property.