A heritage home with a rich history in Chatham-Kent will soon be reduced to a memory.
A recommendation will come before Chatham-Kent Council on Monday to remove the home at 315 Elgin Street in Wallaceburg from the Municipal Heritage Register, to allow the municipality to move forward with the demolition of the property.
The home was destroyed by a fire on February 17 that also claimed three lives. The home was being used as a multi-unit dwelling at the time of the blaze, however, the history of the building dates back almost 100 years.
The property contained a building known as Glouaster Place, which was built in 1926 by Arthur St. Clair Gordon. Gordon was a Wallaceburg mayor, an Ontario MPP, and a notable entrepreneur.
The dwelling was also visited by many notable personalities throughout the years, including Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent, Olympic Gold Medalist Barbara Anne Scott, and Ontario Premier Mitchell Hepburn.
The Gordon family sold the residence in 1954 to James Burgess, a local war hero, and member of parliament.
CK Council added the home to the Municipal Heritage Register in January 2010 due to its perceived cultural value and interest in the municipality. According to an excerpt from the register, the home was the only dwelling of its size and architectural style in all of Wallaceburg.
The Municipal Heritage Committee has been consulted regarding the removal of the property from the register and will be given an opportunity to provide comments during Monday’s council meeting.
