TEHKUMMAH—Since acquiring the Michael’s Bay townsite property last year, many plans and projects have been developed for the site by members of the Michael’s Bay Historical Society (MBHS). And the group has plans in place to carry out a lot of work this year, including tentative plans to hold a tour of the site this summer.
“It has been 23 years since we started working on this—we have been around since 2000,” said Ed Sagle, outgoing president of the MBHS at the group’s annual general meeting last week. “First off, I would like to thank everyone for all the participation and work that has been done. We can go over some things that have been done in the past year and things we are looking to do this year.”
“The surveying of the streets has started on the west side of the river of the property. We have had most of it staked out and marked and there will be ongoing staking, so we know where the streets are,” said Mr. Sagle. He pointed out that Main Street has been cleaned up. “The area alongside the road on Sarah Street has been cleaned up and looks nice. And on Main Street you can see two other streets adjacent to it. We will be putting lines on the sides of the streets, mapping this out and then cleaning up the middle of the streets.”
“On King Street, where the bridge is, we have found some pegs, and were able to put some markers up,” said Mr. Sagle. “We put a gate up there and if members want to go in, you just have to open the gate.” He explained, “I had one person complain that he was going through the gate and was told by an employee of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry that he would charge him for trespassing if he went in there again. If someone wants to go into that area, just contact us.”
“The reason the gate was put in is that we are trying to keep people from going in there on ATVs, camping, having campfires and leaving garbage there,” said Mr. Sagle. He said the people who own property on the other side of the river have no problem opening and closing the gate for those wishing to access the property.
MBHS purchased fencing 20 years ago and it has been stored in the Tehkummah township garage. This fencing will eventually go around the five cemeteries on the MBHS property. “We will be putting the fencing around the cemetery sites,” said Mr. Sagle. He pointed out the cemetery that is on MBHS property in South Baymouth has already been cleared by Maurice Sagle and a work crew and clean up work will be carried out on the other cemeteries.
“If we get the tree lines cleaned up on the streets (of the townsite) it will open up walking areas through them,” continued Mr. Sagle.
“We also want to plot out the former buildings that were on Main Street like the school, blacksmith shop, general store, a pub, houses, a horse stable, butcher shop and others,” said Mr. Sagle. He said in reading a copy of Through the Years magazine, it published a list of names in a picture of the pub. “If anyone has names of people that used to live in the townsite property, or that they know are in buried in the cemeteries we would appreciate them letting us know.”
“Another goal we have this year to is possibly hold a walking tour of the townsite,” said Mr. Sagle. “Once we stake the old buildings and have everything cleaned up, we will be able to walk through the property site.”
“I was also thinking someday in the future maybe we could put a bridge over the falls and across the river,” said Mr. Sagle.
Maurice Sagle said his goal this year is to have all the cemetery areas cleaned up and get signs put up for each.
Ed Sagle also noted he would like to have at least one fundraising event held this year, and Ben Lentir said he would like to see some type of an open house and maybe a meal held after more work is completed on the Michael’s Bay townsite village area.
Later in the meeting Ed Sagle told the group he was stepping down as president of MBHS, and he nominated vice-president Ben Lentir, who was acclaimed for the position of president. Mr. Sagle will stay on as vice-president. Other members elected included Jane Tilston as secretary. Eleanor Lentir will take over as treasurer from Paul Bowerman, who held the position for many years. Directors of the board include Maurice Sagle, Tom Martell, Lorene Martell, Eleanor Lentir, Fred Hunter, Carolyn Hunter, Laura Middlebrook, along with executive members Ben Lentir, Jane Tilston, Ed Sagle and Paul Bowerman.
“We would like to thank Paul (Bowerman) for all the work he has done as treasurer over the years. He has done a really good job,” said Mr. Sagle.
