In a village with a lot of old and historic buildings, one stands out as the keystone of the community, but it could use a bit of work. The Keillor House Museum in Dorchester, N.B., is in need of urgent restoration. Parts of the stone walls have significantly deteriorated over the years, and specialized restoration is required to stabilize and preserve the 213-year-old Georgian mansion. Westmorland Historical Society president Judy Morison said the stone has shifted in the rear walls. “And with that passing of time it’s become more urgent,” said Morison. The Westmorland Historical Society is a volunteer-based organization that operates the museum and tries to preserve the history of the Tantramar region. The group has initiated a dollar-for-dollar matching campaign in hopes of raising $100,000 before the end of the year. An anonymous donor will contribute $100,000 if their gift can be matched, which would generate up to $200,000 toward the masonry repairs needed. The matching donation is in memory of George and Ruth Stanley, longtime supporters of Keillor House and the society. “This is a real challenge for a small volunteer organization because we need to do this by December 31st – that’s three months,” said Morison. They’re leaning on the support of the community and do plan on applying for government grants, but Morison said there’s no guarantee of that. The full restoration project will be in three phases, take at least three to four years and will cost around $700,000. But Morison and the society were not caught off guard: they knew this was coming. The front wall was restored in 2005, and they were told at the time the other walls would need significant work too. Now they know it can’t be put it off any longer and they’ll be putting the building at risk if the work isn’t done soon. “It’s one of the oldest buildings in the province. It’s about 213 years old. It along with the Bell Inn are probably two of the oldest stone buildings,” she said. The museum offers a glimpse of the social, political, and domestic past of the province through artifacts, archives and stories. Victorian Christmas dinners, garden parties, spinning and weaving workshops and walking tours are a few of the many events the society hosts at the museum every year. There’s even a fully functional hearth with a space for baking pies and bread. Morison called the building and the grounds a special place. “It’s very unique, because it’s the identity almost of the village and the area. It has a large historical presence. It’s kind of a cultural centre,” said Morison. If the money can’t be raised and the work doesn’t get started in the new year, Morison doesn’t even want to think about the possibility of closing the museum’s doors. “I am not even considering that. I just am more optimistic,” said Morison. She knows they’ll gradually get there and the work will get done, but it just may not be as fast as she’d like. Donations can be made through Canada Helps. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
