Feds award $6.2M toward Thorold museum’s new home in old fire hall
Thorold’s soon-to-be retired downtown fire station is getting a $7.8million makeover as Thorold Historical Museum and Cultural Centre prepares to move into the building this summer.
The federal government announced is investing more than $6.2 million through its Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program and the City of Thorold is investing nearly $1.6 million to update and retrofit the firehall at 16 Towpath St.
A modern firehouse will open at 1600 McCleary Dr.
The museum board for the past few years had been searching for a permanent home in which to amalgamate its collection of more than 40,000 artifacts that date back to the mid-19th century.
Museum president Mal Woodhouse said the collection is now scattered across the city.
“We’ve always been looking for a home capable of handling the collection. In this case, we want to have a home that not only does that, but also interacts with the community,” he said.
“We don’t want a museum that is just a museum of displays; we want it to be interactive with the community, with children. We want it to be a learning place.”
Woodhouse’s vision includes adding an atrium to host a hose reel from 1880 on the front, a stainedglass window to “tell the story of Thorold from the Indigenous people forward to where we are today” on the north side, and extend the south side to ensure space for collections.
“I want it to be a building people understand when they see it, and when you walk by (it), it tells the story of what’s on the inside and what the community’s about,” he said.
“It’s going to be a big chore and be very expensive, but we’re (optimistic) we’re going to get donations from folks and make it happen.”
The old fire hall will be transformed into a cultural hub highlighting Thorold’s history. Building upgrades will include an elevator and barrier-free modifications, new insulation and a state-of-the-art HVAC system for heating and cooling.
Mayor Terry Ugulini said the project will help to draw more people to the city centre.
“This is going to complement what we’re doing downtown, and it’s a great place for it to be with … the events we’re going to be holding in the park,” he said.
“This is going to bring it all together and give a community focus, but it’s bigger than that, too, because this will be utilized for programming. You’ll see schools coming here and other different events that will be held here.”
During Friday’s funding announcement, Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey said projects of revitalization and repurposing improve community and build places people want to call home.
“It connects our communities and gets all of us out from work, school and home to be together in facilities like what we’re announcing today. It makes our communities appealing, places where people can live, work and raise families,” he said.