MELDRUM BAY—Unless a miracle occurs, it looks as if the Net Shed Museum in Meldrum Bay is on its last legs as a building and with its future operation.
“The best thing that could happen is if someone wants to buy or take over the museum building, and maybe use it as a summer place the building could remain open,” stated Dawnmarie Wickett, president of the Net Shed Museum. If not, the building could be permanently closed and the equipment inside and outside the building would be given back to those who have donated items to the Net Shed over the years.
“No, it doesn’t look good for the future of the building,” said Ms. Wickett. “I’ve had concerns with its condition for awhile.” She investigated having someone undertake an inspection of the building and an inspection was carried out last November by Peter Rankis last November.
“The museum hasn’t been open the past three years,” said Ms. Wickett, noting, “COVID was a blessing in that sense. We have a very small community and only one other lady and me were looking after it. I had to shut down the museum because only myself and Rose Van Every were running it. Joseph Millman built the structure on the shoreline in 1902 and the building was donated by Edna Millman for use by the community.
Ms. Wickett said there is no longer a Net Shed Museum board. A meeting had been held last year and only one other person showed up. “We voted to close the museum.”
She said rent is paid to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and she has been paying that. All other accounts relating to the building have been shut down.
“The building is on its last legs,” stated Ms. Wickett. She said over the years not much was done to the building, occasional patching up and a new window installed but not much else. “One side of the building is buckling and the floor used to be flat but has sagged.”
“No one is coming to me and saying they want to help to keep the building open,” said Ms. Wickett.
In his report Mr. Rankis, of Peter Rankis Architect reported in January of this year, “I have been requested by Dawnmarie Wickett to assess the condition of the present Net Shed Museum infrastructure located at 30 Water Street, on the eastern shore of Meldrum Bay. I was able to visit the property and premises with Ms. Wickett on November 30, 2022 at 3 p.m. in relation, to which, my observations are as follows.”
“At the time of my visit, electrical power on site was not active. Recognizing that the previous 30 months of imposed lockdowns presented challenges for every type of operation in Canada, the fabric of the property and building, displayed a general condition of deterioration and neglect that, in some ways were to be expected,” wrote Mr. Rankis.
“The foundation and superstructure of the enclosure has suffered settlement, resulting in disalignment of horizontal and vertical building elements, and open gaps in the walls, between, inside and outside are visibly apparent,” continued Mr. Rankis. “The present siting of the building perimeter imposes stress upon the stability of the foundations that are vulnerable to the dynamic ebb and flows of the shoreline. Noticeable deterioration is plainly visible.”
“While the present condition of the structure appears to be stable, under normal conditions, restoring alignment will be, in the writer’s opinion, more costly than completely rebuilding the enclosure,” continued Mr. Rankis.
“Under the provisions of the Ontario Building Code, the building is ‘single-story combustible’ construction and comes under the safety requirements of A2 Assembly Occupancy class,” wrote Mr. Rankis. “Significant expense is required to achieve present day code compliance, even under the more lenient provisions of part 9 that makes accommodation for the restoration of existing and historical structures.”
“If the interest and means were available to restore the structure, a modified budget allocation of $250,000 at least, would be needed to address the deteriorating condition of the basic building fabric. In its present condition, the impact of the water line will impose perpetual threats of deterioration, making an alternative location for the museum the most sensible option to consider,” added Mr. Rankis.
