- Heritage Colchester working with architect to
create plan for the Colchester Schoolhouse -
by Sylene Argent
On Saturday, Heritage Colchester hosted the first Colchester Village Country Market on the grounds of the historic Colchester Schoolhouse. As part of the event, several local vendors set up booths onsite, which offered a fun, outdoor shopping experience to area patrons.
Attendees were able to support local entrepreneurs as well as contribute to the preservation and restoration of the 1881 facility for the future.
Heritage Colchester, now incorporated as a non-profit with the Province of Ontario, is planning the schoolhouse’s restoration. Members of the group are hosting events and reaching out to the community to raise funds for the future restoration.
Heritage Essex has recently been in touch with the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario Inc. Members from the Windsor Chapter did head out to the historic building in the recent past to share thoughts and ideas about the structure’s future, Perry Basden, a member of Heritage Colchester, explained.
Members of the Windsor Chapter, Basden relayed, were most impressed with the Schoolhouse’s structure as to how solid it appears to be.
The group is now waiting for members of the organization’s Toronto Chapter to conduct an assessment on the facility.
With the advice the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario Inc. will be able to provide in the future, after an official assessment has been conducted, Heritage Colchester will be able to proceed with restoring the structure and making it a valuable facility that will be of use to the community.
This architectural group, Basden said, specializes in restoration and investigating older buildings in trying to keep them viable.
“[We will] put some ideas together on paper to see exactly what will be viable for it, what we can do to get the best value out of it, as far as maintaining as much of the original structure as we can,” Basden said, adding the original 1881 version did not have indoor plumbing. “We are interested in having it available for cultural and historic events, as well as community use and educational purposes.”
The group is looking at having the washroom in the 1952 section of the building redone and made to be accessible. In addition, accessible accommodations will need to be addressed to enter the facility.
Basden said Heritage Colchester will work with the Town and the Essex Municipal Heritage Committee during the planning process to ensure all parties are satisfied with future plans for the building.
Heritage Colchester is also working with Town of Essex staff on a lease agreement for the building, he added.
Once the assessment has been complete, and a plan is drawn up, quotes to get the work done will be solicited. He is hopeful something will be available next spring, showing movement and plans in the works.
In the meantime, the group has started a GoFundMe page, where people can donate to help Heritage Colchester generate revenue to pay for the assessment and other needs. So far, around $1800 has been raised of the $10,000 goal.
Fundraising through events and online donations are critical in helping Heritage Colchester move forward, as grant providers want two-years of financial responsibility data before an organization can apply for funding to assist with projects. To date, Heritage Colchester is only around four-months old.
To continue to garner public support, members of Heritage Colchester participated in their first off-site fundraiser at the Harrow Market in June, where old photos of the schoolhouse classrooms and former students were displayed. Information was also distributed to those who were interested in learning more about the project. The group also attended the July event.
Heritage Colchester plans to host events to raise funds for the restoration, including a yard sale later this month. Gently used items will be accepted to sell to support Heritage Colchester in its efforts. Additional Colchester Village Country Market events will be held onsite at the schoolhouse, with an additional date planned in each August and September.
The Colchester Schoolhouse was built in 1881, the same year free, compulsory education for all children was mandated.
• The current facility was not the first school. The original was built on the same lot in 1856.
• It was used until the 1960s, and sold as a private residence.
• The Town of Essex acquired the property in 2008.
• Essex Council “Listed” the Colchester Schoolhouse as having historical value in 2016 and “Designated” it in May of 2021.