I witnessed something sad and pathetic today.
For over 40 years the Marine Museum at Kingston (formerly known as The Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston), has been acquiring the historic documentation of the marine heritage of Ontario’s Great Lakes Communities. There are thousands of ship drawings photos & correspondence of ship yards great and small, records of the fishing and timber companies, details of the life of port communities, accounts of those that used the Lakes for business and pleasure. There are the War years from both world wars, and the lean years of the depression. There is the story of the pleasure craft and the families that owned them. Then there are the photos rich in detail about life as it has been. Ships long gone and the lives of those associated with them.
Where was this amazing collection housed but in the historic buildings where ships were once conceived. The 1890 drydock still exists as does the original steam pumping machinery that once operated it. A climate controlled archival center (the Audrey Rushbrook Library), funded by donation was added in the 1980’s. Indeed the entire museum is run by voluntary effort and donation. Situated on Federal lands you would be led to believe such a cultural history would be cherished and protected.. It was after all Kingston’s own Sir John A. MacDonald who opened the Federal drydock, one of his last prime ministerial acts. It was Kingston’s own Flora MacDonald that opened the museum some 90 years later.
It took another conservative Prime Minister to put into motion the museum’s destruction. An ‘economizing’ Government offloaded the entire site to the highest bidder — developer Jay Patry — for $3.1 million dollars, some 3.8 acres of Kingston waterfront property. Even at this late date it was hoped that some arrangement could yet be made. It is not to be. A 120 day eviction notice has been served, to come into effect on August 23rd 2016.
So as a member I made my way to Kingston today to help in the packing of thousands and thousands of items. For myself it is the drawings that attract me. No CAD here- just inked lines made with drafting ducks and batons and a skilled hand.
Dave Overholt
Almonte
