Catching up with the past Heritage night celebrated with several awards

Jon Keddy salvaged old barn board, gathered metal at scrapyards and used his imagination to renovate a building that is now much admired.

He was presented with a heritage award for his work on Carriage House, at 64 Pleasant St.

Awards for preservation of heritage were given out during a ceremony at the Colchester Historeum, Thursday.

“I drive through that neighbourhood fairly frequently and to say that this makes a dramatic change on that corner is an understatement,” said Ken Henderson, master of ceremonies for Heritage Night

celebrations.

Jon and his wife Kenzie received

the Robert Hilchey Memorial Award from the Town of Truro.

“The Carriage House was a large undertaking,” said Jon. “A lot of risk, a lot of uncertainties, a lot of unknowns.”

He added it was also a lot of fun and he and a friend spent

a lot of time travelling around, collecting artifacts that could be incorporated into the design.

“We wanted to do it right and make it interesting,” he said. “We want to help change the community. We’re not just here about making a dollar. We want to make a dollar of course, first and foremost, but we want to do it with pride. We want to do it with integrity and we want to be leaders for the town – for the revitalization.”

The Colchester Historical Society presented the town with an award for preserving history while creating a new library in the former Normal College building.

People recognized for preserving history through the written word were Linda and Robert Byers for their books Cottage Life on the North Shore and A Brief History of Byers Corner/West New Annan; Donald Beeler for Historic Stroll Through Tatamagouche; Rev. Robert Latimer for his history of Saint Andrew’s Church; Norris Whiston for his work on Meguma and Acadian Villages; Dianne Geddes for her study of four south Colchester communities; and Bob Taylor for his book The Milk Can Age.

The North Shore Creamery Square Society decided the Colchester Historical Society deserved an award, which representatives presented during the evening.

lynn CUrwin/TC Media During Heritage Night celebrations at the Colchester Historeum Truro Mayor Bill Mills presented Jon and Kenzie Keddy with the Town of Truro Heritage Award for the renovation of Carriage House (64 Pleasant Street).

Lynn CUrwin/TC Media Bob Taylor presented Truro Mayor Bill Mills with the Colchester Historical Society Heritage Award. The town was given the award for the work done to create a library in the former Normal College.

Lynn CUrwin/TC Media Truro’s new library combines history with modern features, and earned the town a heritage award.

Lynn CUrwin/TC Media Developer Jon Keddy was recognized on Heritage Night for his work on Carriage House.