Garden Awards 2009

This past weekend saw the presentation of our Home & Garden Awards. Thanks to our partnering sponsors POWELL RIVER BUILDING SUPPLY/RONA  and SPRINGTIME GARDEN CENTRE. This year’s winners were:

1. Grand General Home Award:   6290 Oak
2. Grand Heritage: 5600 Marine
3. Most Improved Home: 5483 Maple
4. Best Overall Garden: 5468 Laburnum
5. Best Containers: 5426 Laburnum
6. Most Improved Garden: 5483 Maple
7. Best Kitchen Garden: 5772 Willow
8. Best Garden Structures: 5776 Maple
9. Best Commercial/Institutional: Arbutus Apartments

Congratulations to all the winners and we look forward to next year’s competition as we prepare to celebrate our centennial.

Tours

In the last couple of weeks we’ve had the opportunity to host two large groups through tours of the Townsite. The Elder College class from VIU and a group from the Vancouver Heritage Foundation came up on a Saturday.

Some of the comments we have received from tour goers when asked what were the highlights of the trip were:

 ‘I think the planning was excellent, from the transportation arrangements to the meals.
Both Peter and Ann of the Townsite Heritage Society obviously put a big effort into arrangements and welcoming us
and making the day very worthwhile. They were generous to a fault.

 ‘Gaining insights into what life in the Powell River company town was like
and the fact that we could do this based on the extant buildings and through the efforts
of the hospitable Townsite Heritage Society.’

 ‘The verbal presentations at lunch about the history of the org and the history of PR + the great handouts – very comprehensive.’

I have include a link under “Friends & Relations” on the left side that is titled “Townsite Tour”

Foundation Work Complete

Well the foundation is almost complete……. We still need to backfill and the concrete pads need to be set for the front and back porches. Hopefully this will take place this coming week and before the rain comes. See our Flickr site for the latest photos.

The Summer that never seems to end!

This past weekend saw the conclusion of our 2009 major outdoor events. On Friday the skies cleared and we had another popular and successful shortcake booth at the Blackberry Street Party (Thanks Ann & Susan). On Sunday afternoon we participated in Townsite Day held at Henderson Park. I was shamefully hawking memberships, books and calendars as well as bringing people up to speed on the Henderson House project.

Speaking of which….. We had the big concrete pour of the footings first thing Monday morning…..Stay tuned for pictures on our Flickr site.

Foundation Work commences @ Henderson House

These last couple of weeks have been busy around the THS office as work has started on replacing the foundation at Henderson House. You can go to the Flickr button to see the latest pictures of the project.

Also this past weekend saw THS do something different as we participated in Sea Fair by selling fresh berry shortcake complete with mounds of whipped cream. See our booth under the Volunteer tab.

Paint-Up 2009 Awarded

Rona Building Centre has awarded this year’s Paint Up package to Larry & Sandra Lacelle who are residents of Marine Ave. Look for the “before & after” pictures to be posted on our Flickr site.

Flickr

We have updated some of the articles with photos on Flickr. Another work party was held Monday June 15 to prepare the backyard for removal of the concrete slabs surrounding the house. Check out the latest photos on the Flickr link.

Work Party!

We’re having a party! Saturday May 23, we’ll be taking off the old porch at Henderson House and we’re looking for able bodies to help with that. If you have a strong arm and pry bar, please meet us at Henderson House Saturday May 23 at 10:00am. There might even be refreshments in it for you, as well as some high self satisfaction levels

Please check our Volunteering page for upcoming opportunities as well.

Henderson House saved from demolition!

Dr. Henderson’s house has been under threat of demolition for years. With expansion plans for the property cancelled by Catalyst Paper Corporation, the Townsite Heritage Society of Powell River boldly moved forward to purchase the property from the mill in May 2008.

With support from the community, including mill management, the dream of restoring and protecting Henderson House for future generations is moving forward.

The house is one of the most historically significant buildings in the Historic Powell River Townsite, declared a National Historic District by Parks Canada in 1995. Besides being the first house built in the company-owned town in 1911, it was home to Dr. Andrew Henderson, who served as the town’s first doctor. He became a pivotal figure in the history-making era of the early twentieth century in this remote, rugged British Columbia coastal industrial town.

The early Arts and Crafts bungalow has a bellcast roof line; second floor balcony; front verandah with unique paired pillar detail; diamond-shaped muntins on dormer windows and original brick chimneys. The exterior cladding is finely sawn local cedar shingles, and the three additions made to the building between 1911 and 1928 faithfully incorporated design elements contained in the original structure.