by Sylene Argent
In recognition of the importance of preserving and promoting the area’s rich history, the Town of Essex and its Municipal Heritage Committee present Heritage Conservation Awards every year during Heritage Week.
An important component of Heritage Week in Essex is recognizing individuals and organizations who are dedicated to researching and protecting local history with a Community Heritage Preservation Award.
During the Council meeting on Tuesday, February 21, four recipients were awarded for the 2023 edition of the award.
Sebastian Schmoranz and Rena Rabheru, owners of 15 King Street West in Harrow, were recognized for redeveloping the historic site.
This was the location of the former Harrow Antique Shop building, which was listed on the Heritage Register, because of its architectural and historical significance, Rita Jabbour said, who is the Manager of Planning for the Town of Essex and staff liaison for the Essex Municipal Heritage Committee.
“Built in 1883, it was one of the oldest building blocks in downtown Harrow, Jabbour said, noting when Schmoranz and Rabheru bought the property in 2021 to open their law firm and dental office, the building was, “in a dire state of disrepair and required a controlled demolition of the building to facilitate the renovations.”
The plan was to protect the original brick façade, because the building is often used as a landmark for individuals arriving to Harrow from out-of-town. Due to the state of the building, this was not possible. Schmoranz and Rabheru instead recreated the façade at their own expense as a promise to the community.
“Although a historical building cannot be replaced, and although we recognize this is not the original, Sabastian and Rena’s voluntary contribution ensures that residents and visitors to Harrow have a new building that is sympathetic in defining the historical character of the downtown of Harrow,” Jabbour said.
Receiving the award was unexpected, Schmoranz said. “We did our best to try and make sure we put something back up that looked very similar to what was there before. And we have to say, we have received a lot of positive feedback from the residents of Harrow. I think we have been somewhat successful in trying to honour the legacy of what was there before.”
Former Editor of the Essex Free Press, Laurie Brett, was recognized for the recent publishing of her book, “The Rising Village: An Early History of Essex, Ontario.”
Brett, Jabbour said, was selected for a Community Heritage Preservation Award for her efforts in chronicling the early history of Essex, before it was a town or village, and prior to the railway becoming the defining landmark.
“The Rising Village,” Jabbour said, “Fills a crucial gap in the understanding of our local history.”
Brett thanked the Town and the Essex Municipal Committee for the award, and noted its staff liaisons do a wonderful job in going above and beyond to ensure committee members and the broader community are aware of local history initiatives.
“Today, we tend to think Essex Centre is defined by two catastrophic events…the 1907 railcar explosion and 1980 natural gas explosion. But, our settlement history goes back to the 19th century; a time of deplorable dirt roads and toll gates, unsanitary conditions and dangerous drinking water, limited policing and fire service, and fly-by-night business ventures.”
She said she hopes her book fills the void in the knowledge of early Essex, and helps readers develop appreciation of all modern municipal services taken for granted.
“I also hope my book inspired others to dig into our past, because I’m fascinated by it,” Brett said.
Pauline Baldwin was awarded a Community Heritage Preservation Award for her many years of dedicated research and service as a volunteer board member of the Harrow Early Immigrant Research Society (HEIRS) for over 23-years.
“Her passion for genealogy and local history stem from her childhood days, beginning with her own research of her grandparents and great-grandparents,” Jabbour said, noting this led her to researching her 83 first cousins and their families.
Baldwin has spent countless hours researching, cross-referencing, and reading through genealogical files confirming dates of births, deaths, and marriages for many Harrow and Colchester South families, Jabbour explained, and enjoyed the challenge of looking for the information.
Ever since she retired, Baldwin said it has been a mandate of her life to dig into genealogy, which she loves to do.
“It has been wonderful,” she said.
In addition to presenting Community Heritage Preservation Awards, the Town of Essex’s Heritage Week activities includes events, such as a heritage talk and book signing with Brett, which was postponed to Saturday, March 4 at the Essex Railway Station, due to the freezing rain last week. Reservations are required.
“This year, we celebrate two significant milestones,” Jabbour said. Essex Centre was settled 150-years ago, in 1873. In addition, 125-years ago, Harrow became a Police Village, in 1898.