Built as an interdenominational mission church, it was the social centre for over 40 pioneer families; its gorgeous country setting has been used in recent years for services, weddings, concerts, Christmas celebrations, corn roasts, readings, art and puppet shows, youth groups, and for many other happy gatherings. It is the hub of our resilient community, where the exchanges of moral support, goods and services are on-going, as they have been for 125 years. In 2004, the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation gave its award to this monument of the local community spirit for its now 125-year history and for the past community labour and enthusiasm dedicated to saving it. Ontario Heritage News was so impressed by the scale of the efforts and the historical merits of the building that it published an article entitled "Holy Trinity Newholm: the pioneer spirit rekindled." By rebuilding the church as our secular welcoming hall, the community can keep it as its visual and spiritual memorial to those ancestors buried in the graveyard around the building, and can preserve its recognized architectural significance as the last authentic pioneer building still in situ in the area. By restoring, we will rejoin the spirit of our pioneer ancestors. We will celebrate and support the lives of their descendants and those of generations of our neighbours. We have received tremendous moral and some material support from the larger arts and business communities of Huntsville, from Claude Doughty, Mayor, the Town Council, Tim Withey, Councilor, and the Brunel Committee, Gunta Towsley and the Architectural Conservancy of Muskoka and Ontario, the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation and Association members, the Muskoka and Ontario Heritage Foundations, The Huntsville and Area Historical Society, Robert Thaler Surveying Ltd., David Thoms LLB and Glen Smith LLB, who have volunteered successively to be our pro bono lawyers, Norm Miller MPP (please see attached letters to and from Mr. Chan), and commitment by Sondra Read and Tony Clement MP to help with eventual matching Canada Heritage Legacy funding. We have received the advice of Jocelyn Latter of Heritage Wood and Stone and Paul Brunskill, P.Eng. Local crafts and trades people have offered their services. With its deep roots, the Newholm Community Heritage Centre & Friends of Holy Trinity Newholm will uniquely enable individuals and groups to achieve their potential, share experiences and expertise, overcome existing barriers, share goods, and build an integrated, resilient and supportive local community :
* Offering learning, recreation, support and information opportunities
* Assisting in the development of Community Projects
* Supporting existing and new special interest groups
* Providing a meeting and market space for groups in the local community
* Providing affordable, local, quality alternatives for people to participate in activities
* Actively encouraging members of the community to participate in the running and restoration of the Heritage Centre
* Assisting people to develop responses to issues that affect them and their local community
* Granting every person the right to equal access to services, information and resources.
* In an energy economic age of increasing transportation costs, the Newholm Community Heritage Centre fosters proven healthy adherence to the local community, and will be responsive to its needs with the goal of long-term resilience. At the Town of Huntsville Public Infrastructure and Protective Services Committee meeting, April 15, 2014, the Committee passed the following resolution:
DEPARTMENT: Parks and Cemeteries
REPORT # PI-2014-15
Confidential: No
To: Public Infrastructure and Protective Services Committee
From: Colleen MacDonald, Manager of Parks and Cemeteries
Date Prepared: April 6, 2014
Meeting: April 15, 2014
Subject: Newholm Community Heritage Centre and Friends of Holy Trinity Newholm
RECOMMENDATION:
Requires Action
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT: Report, Reference No. PI-2014-15 dated April 15, 2013 prepared by Colleen MacDonald, Manager of Parks and Cemeteries, regarding “Newholm Community Heritage Centre and Friends of Holy Trinity Newholm ” be received;
AND FURTHER THAT: staff be directed to begin process for the Town of Huntsville to take ownership of the entire property at 2443 Brunel Rd;
AND FURTHER THAT: staff be directed to make application to formally close the cemetery found on this land;
AND FURTHER THAT: staff be directed to sever parts 1 and 2 identified on the survey and transfer ownership to Newholm Community Heritage Centre and Friends of Holy Trinity Newholm through the Sale and Disposition of Land Policy – Schedule “B” section C. CONCLUSION
Staff be directed to begin process for the Town of Huntsville to take ownership of the entire property at 2443 Brunel Rd;
Staff be directed to make application to formally close the cemetery found on this land;
Staff be directed to sever parts 1 and 2 identified on the survey and transfer ownership to Newholm Community Heritage Centre and Friends of Holy Trinity Newholm through the Sale and Disposition of Land Policy – Schedule “B” section C. Disposal for nominal consideration.
___
The above action is the culmination of almost three years work by our Board, and is most gratifying news indeed! The entire Newholm Community will soon own the land and building, which are rightfully both part of our rich heritage and our resilient future together.
