TO CONSERVE — NOT RESTORE
by Marilyn Havelka, CAO, Ruthven Park

You may ask the question why conserve and not restore the heritage buildings at Ruthven Park.

One of reasons for the site having national significance is that one family of five generations, the Thompsons, owned Ruthven from 1845 - 1993. By not restoring the buildings or landscape to one particular time, we can demonstrate the evolution of the site and the changes that the five generations made. Another reason is that the sense of age and patina of weathering is an important part of the appearance of the mansion and outbuildings.
As President Betsy Smith mentioned in her message, Ruthven Park is currently in it's fourth year of a five year conservation project in partnership with Parks Canada (Department of Canadian Heritage) in the cost share program.

As a National Historic Site the Mansion and the group of nineteenth century out buildings are recognized as 'level one' cultural resources which indicates they are significant nationally. All repairs must be made at the highest possible standards. We are guided by international charters, standards and principles for conservation and the Ontario Heritage Foundation Easement.

Removing paint from the Carriageway

Also within in the scope of work for this year is the selective repointing and repair of stonework on the exterior of the facades of the 1845 Mansion and it's 1884 addition, including the building foundation. Prior to excavating the foundation, investigative archaeology was undertaken at selected locations around the Mansion. A total of five units were exposed to assist in determining the condition of the foundation prior to finalizing the extent of the work required to be undertaken. As a site holding Ontario Heritage Foundation easements, archaeological investigation and monitoring is a mandated activity. Most of the windows of the Mansion, and frames, are currently boarded up with plywood. The windows have been removed for repairs and will shortly be returned to the Mansion. The wood, believed to be red pine, is in remarkably good condition. This fourth phase will complete most of the work on the Mansion building envelope.

The red brick Carriageway will be stabilized with the rebuilding of the roof structure and the brick work will be selectively repointed. The Carriageway and the estate Gate House, both built in 1867, will undergo repairs, replacement and repainting of the exterior woodwork. The schedule for this fourth phase of conservation work will extend into the spring of 2003. If you are in the area, drop in to see the progress of the project.

Parging foundation wall

The work is guided by the Conservation Building Committee, made up of community volunteers. The Architects, Edwin Rowse and Lindsay Reid, of ERA Architects Inc. and Ruthven Park Chief Administrative Officer Marilynn Havelka manage the project on a day to day basis. J.D. Strachan Construction Ltd., the contractors, are carrying out the work. The architects, CAO and contractor have worked extensively on heritage conservation projects. We are also guided by the Ontario Heritage Foundation, who pre-approve the methodology for the project as per our agreement in the easement. Sean Fraser, the Property Administrator for Easements for the Foundation, recently visited Ruthven to review the progress of the conservation work.