ST. RAPHAEL’S, Ontario – South Glengarry’s Heritage Committee is considering a plan from the Glengarry Fencibles Trust who want to demolish a part of the historic Bishop’s House.
Built in 1808, the house is one of the oldest structures still standing in the province. An assessment made of the building in 2005 recommended that the North and Eastern sections of the building built in 1939 be demolished.
The report stated that these sections were poorly constructed and included a large area that was not built on a foundation. These sections also have asphalt roofs that are badly deteriorating.
“By getting rid of all of this we are going to be able to improve the drainage in the back,” said Brenda Baxter of the Glengarry Fencibles Trust.
The Trust hopes to make the demolition in the fall.
They have raised $450,000 for the Bishop’s House improvement projects. So far, $250,000 has been spent on fixing the roof and removing unsympathetic alterations to the building.
The Heritage Committee will send a recommendation to the Township of South Glengarry Council on the proposed demolition, the council will then either approve or move to block the project.
