One of 91原创's oldest memorials to its war dead will be roped off behind a temporary barrier for now, and repairs are likely to take place later this year after Remembrance Day.
On Monday, July 21, council approved part of a plan to start the restoration work on the Fort 91原创 cenotaph, a marker built in 1920 to remember locals who died in the First World War.
The cross-topped cenotaph, located in the Fort 91原创 Cemetery, has begun leaning slightly, and a crack appeared in the cross on top of the monument.
Council is holding off on approving the full funding for the planned restoration until the Township's Heritage Advisory Committee can give any possible input. Staff has put forward a plan for $17,500 for repairs, and $2,000 for a temporary barrier so that people will be kept away from the fragile structure.
Councillor Barb Martens is on the heritage committee, and noted that they haven't had a chance to meet since the repair plan was formulated. Since the repairs can't be done until after Remembrance Day this year anyway, she asked for a brief delay in the vote on approving the plans.
The Heritage Advisory Committee members will be making a site visit to the cenotaph on Aug. 19, Martens said.
In the meantime, council approved the $2,000 for funding for the barrier, which will be decorative bollards and chain, marking out an area around the cenotaph.
Right now, there is no barrier keeping people away from the cenotaph. It has become traditional on Remembrance Day for visitors to the annual ceremony to leave their poppies on the monument itself.
Council was unanimous on delaying the final vote on the restoration plan, which is now likely to take place this fall, and won't impact the timeline for any fix. A final decision will likely be made this fall.
The report did warn that there is a chance that the monument's removal could result in the cross breaking.
"One suggestion that came forward form the community was that, before we embark on that, if we could do a cast on the cross," Martens said.
Municipal staff will review that idea with their consultant.
Fixing the cenotaph will require disassembling it, removing the cross from the site, and then stress-testing the stone, coring, pinning, and using epoxy to stabilize it for the future.
There is another, identical cenotaph in Murrayville Cemetery. The two monuments were built at the same time, and both were later updated with names of the war dead from the Second World War, as well.
