Cape Breton Post

Historic buildings recognized

Three CBRM structures declared municipal heritage properties

- BY DAVID JALA david.jala@cbpost.com

What do a 232-year-old church, a Second World War sailors hostel and a former main street bank building have in common?

All three structures are now registered as municipal heritage properties after the Cape Breton Regional Municipali­ty council passed a motion this week granting special status to St. George’s Anglican Church in Sydney, the Navy League Hall in Louisbourg, and a former bank and library building at 299 Commercial St., North Sydney.

Volunteers from the north end Sydney church showed up at Tuesday’s council meeting clad in early 1900s attire complete with flower-topped Edwardian hats. While council’s approval was never in doubt, the costumed women were successful in their bid to be noticed as they wanted to make sure their cause was not overlooked.

On Wednesday, the three women — Michelle Gardiner, Ann Lewis and Connie Jennings —were back at the church welcoming visitors from the cruise ship docked just a block away.

“We’re very proud of our church and it’s a popular stop for people off the cruise ships,” said Gardiner.

“It was built for a king by his soldiers and with the stone coming from the Fortress of Louisbourg you could say it is a British church built with French stone.”

Along with showing off the longest-standing building in Sydney, the volunteers are also trying to raise awareness and generate funds, as the church’s floor needs replacing, as does the building’s heating system.

The Navy League Building on Louisbourg’s Main Street was put up in 1941. It is one of the few remaining structures built during the war by the Navy League of Canada. Such buildings were used as hostels for merchant seamen and members of the Armed Forces.

Both St. George’s Church and Louisbourg’s Navy League Building are already registered as Nova Scotia Heritage Properties.

The building at 299 Commercial St., North Sydney was recognized for its masonry and a history that included time as a bank and later as the town library. Today, the building houses a sporting goods store and a café.

 ?? DAVID JALA/CAPE BRETON POST ?? Volunteers at St. George’s Anglican Church were back at the historic north end Sydney building on Wednesday, a day after showing up at a CBRM council meeting in their Edwardian attire. Council approved a motion that registers the 232-year-old church...
DAVID JALA/CAPE BRETON POST Volunteers at St. George’s Anglican Church were back at the historic north end Sydney building on Wednesday, a day after showing up at a CBRM council meeting in their Edwardian attire. Council approved a motion that registers the 232-year-old church...

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada