PARRY SOUND – They got what they wanted – a heritage designation for the Old Waterworks Pump House.
With no discussion, town council passed a resolution to protect the 86 Waubeek Street building after a handful of residents appealed to council for a heritage designation.
When it was constructed in 1892, the building was a technical marvel of its time, providing protection to Parry Sound residents in the form of clean water.
Ann Bossart made a deputation to council in November, as a representative of the town’s former Municipal Heritage Committee; she submitted a formal request for the designation.
Following the approval, Bossart said she was delighted with council’s decision.
“Our heritage buildings play an important role in defining our identity in this era of homogenous architecture,” said Bossart. “Council would like to sell the property and this designation will provide a guide for the buyer in restoration and adaptive re-use. The recent move of Festival of the Sound into the CP Station is another example of how Heritage Conservation is supposed to work and I look forward to seeing a new chapter in the story of our old pump house.”
Aside from the pump house building itself, other aspects to be protected under the designation include: the adjoining Victorian residential home and its bay window with arched centre light and raised string course of brick, similar to that of the pump house façade; all openings (doors and windows) in the masonry (brick and stone walls); and the two-storey brick masonry rectangular structure, with patterned cedar shingles in the gable end walls.
The cost to the town for the designation is approximately $700.