There were probably a few nostalgic tears shed this week for the Mountainview Hotel.
That’s not including the folks at the local branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, who were likely gnashing their teeth over council’s decision on Monday night to accept a bid to tear down the building — some of which dates back to Collingwood’s beginnings.
I have no doubt the building is a mess inside, and the word is aside from mould and asbestos, someone got into the place and stripped it of any copper pipe and wire.
Essentially, the interior has been pretty much destroyed.
on that basis that I agree with council’s decision to rip it down rather than find a way to preserve it. It is a tough call, but quite frankly, I don’t see any other way around it.
However, there is still some historic significance to the property, and that’s what I’m urging councillors not to ignore.
The land is the site of one of the town’s original hotels, where the meeting of local residents wanting to separate from then-Nottawasaga Township was held. After that building came down in the mid-1860s, either by design or by fire (we’re not sure which), the Globe was built, the first commercial building of brick construction.
So while we can forget about an architectural assessment, an archaeological assessment is completely appropriate.
And given the rules under the Ministry of Culture, I’m kind of surprised the environmental assessment for First Street didn’t require it.
The property is within 300 metres of water, and it’s in close proximity to an historic transportation route, the railway — which, by the way, was the first long-distance rail line in British North America when it was built in 1855.
Architecturally, it’s not worth much right now. But who knows what kind of historic treasures could be squirrelled away within its walls or floors.
I know of a couple of local builders who specialize in restoring historic buildings, and often come across interesting finds — photos, coins, letters — that have been tucked into walls or hidden alcoves of older homes. Who’s to say those same items couldn’t be stashed away into the dark recesses of the Globe?
I hope the deal to tear down the building includes a requirement the demolition crew takes care as it goes through the building, and not willy-nilly wielding a wrecking ball through the place.
It’s sad enough we’re losing the architectural history. Let’s make sure we don’t destroy any other history in the process.
