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- - u ReadersAfr0 E-mail your letters to editonal@multoncanaiancnampion.com. St. PauI's church sanctuary indeed worth preserving DEAR EDITOR: We feel its necessary to respond to letters from members of St. Paul's Church Council that have appeared in the Champion in recent weeks. The letter to the editor from the chair of St. Paul's Church Council illustrated some of the flawed thinking behind the demolition of this his- toric sanctuary. Any long-sighted financial analy- sis would indicate that saving and restoring the sanctuary portion of St. Paul's United Church rep- resents excellence in financial decision-making as the cost of repairing and maintaining what exists is far less expensive than building new. Saving the 1891 sanctuary also demonstrates environmental responsibility within the global community and would preserve a Milton land- mark that has historical significance to the congre- gation and residents. St. Paul's sanctuary is a Rolls Royce in every sense of the word. Tossing it in the garbage bin of life because it needs an oil change is astonishingly shortsighted. The excessive maintenance costs complained about don't come froin the sanctuary but from the lift problems in the adjacent new addition and the heating system in the 40-year-old education wing. The only significant problem with the sanctuary is the roof structure. It requires some identified repairs and new roofing material. Contrary to the rumours that have been circu- lating, St. Paul's church isn't falling down. As a matter of fact, according to the heritage report pre- pared by an architect, the church building is gen- erally in good condition except for the needed roof repairs. A large portion of the estimated repair costs have been raised and are currently sitting in a spe- cial fund, the 'Raise the Roof' fund, waiting to be used for the purpose for which they were collect- ed four years ago - ta repair the roof. As a congregation, we seem to engage in finan- cial decision-making processes that go something like: We want it, so, we get it and we don't always think about what we might really need. Its our steadfast use of "sexy" decision-making practices that has resulted in the sanctuarys roof not being properly repaired in 100 years. In point of fact: • Roof shingles have fallen off because repairs, which we knew were required at least live years ago, haven't been done. Furthermore: • New buildings need maintenance. Building a new building doesn't eliminate maintenance costs. If a new building is erected will it to be torn down when it loses a shingle? • A new modem church wouldn't be built in the same manner as the current sanctuary - it was built to last. • We are already accessible. We spent $400,000 to make St. Paul's accessible by installing a lift and wheelchair access to the sanctuary • The cost of preserving the heritage items and re-installing them, if this is indeed possible, hasn't been identified. There will also be costs to rent alternate space during construction and costs related to decorating and re-furnishing the interi- or of the new church. • An architectural firm has provided an esti- mate for repairing and upgrading the entire site of St. Paul's at $1.85 milliou. To repair and upgrade only the sanctuary is considerably less than this. And while we need to do work now, we can do the necessary work over time. In contrast, we don't have a cost for building a new church, although the developer would cover the cost of putting up the walls. There are many other expenses associat- ed with building, a fact known very well by the many Miltonians who have built new homes. • An eight-storey, life-lease building with a small modem church facility isn't what most of Milton is looking for in this location. In view of the intention of the current church leadership to demolish it, the only way to ensure that its preserved is for the Town of Milton tc des- ignate it as a heritage property based on its historic and cultural significance. So, when you see a petition around town - think about what the community of Milton would lose if we allow it te be torn down. Please consid- er signing the petition. DON CLEMENTS AND TORY HANDFORD SAVE ST. PAUL'S SANCTUARY COMMITTEE PL. Robertson set to open Toronto branch and expand Milton factory 'Tine Capsules' aie gems of info- mation extracted fon past issues of the Champion anI other publications in order to provicle a w indow into Miltons past. Explanatory comment s sometimes provided to place the situa- tion in context. May 1913 PL. Robertson's Milton. industry will in future have a Toronto branch. The company has purchased the assets, plant and business of the "Toronto Wire, Nail & Tack Co.," of West Toronto, situated in the heart of the manufacturing district of the city and making wire and nails of all kinds. The newly acquired factory is well equipped and a going concern, as reported to the Champion, good for 12 tons of wire and 100 to 150 kegs of nails daily. The site is report- ed to be valuable, a bargain having been obtained through peculiar cir- cumstances. The Milton company has already taken possession and is running the business. The intention is to erect a warehouse at the Toronto plant for a portion of the output of the Milton works, and as the compa- ny will be in an excellent position to serve Toronto users of wire products and screws, it will do a large part of the selling from that end, being in a better position than any competitor to serve the Toronto market. It is announced that some building will be done here this year, new bolt works being contemplated in the near future. It is also intended to make such additions to the Milton works in the early part of 1914 as will provide 50 per cent of the screws used in Canada. Charles Jarvis, of the Jarvis home- stead, Boyne, met with a heavy loss on Saturday night by the buming of his barn and contents. He passed by the barn at 11 p.m. and saw nothing wrong. Ernest Henderson had been at a neighbour's and on his retum passed the barn about midnight. Mlton lime Capsules There was no sign of fire then, but just as he got home, ten minutes later, he saw a glare and within a few minutes the building was in a blaze. He ran back to Mr. Jarvis's and gave the alarm. Mr. Jarvis and his brother, Cecil, managed to save some cattle and four horses, but seven cows and seven young cattle and five horses were lost, also grain, implements etc. The four horses saved were badly burnt, but will get over it. Mr. Jarvis estimates his loss at $6,000. Unfortunately the amount of insur- ance was light. It is supposed that the fire was caused by tramps who had got into the barn to sleep there. There appears to be no other explanation. On account of the epidemic of measles, Miss Bowes's department, the primary class, of -the public school was closed on Tuesday when only five pupils turned up and yester- day all the departments were closed for fumigation. Miss Ellio's room bas been closed since last week on account of ber illness. Extensive improvements are being made ta the Methodist Church. The Sunday School room is being remod- - eled and decorated and the auditori- um of the church will be redecorated, the cost of which will amount to about $2,000. An effort is also being made to raise money by subscription to wipe off the indebtedness on the church, which is meeting with a good response from the congregation. This material is assembled on behalf of the Milton Historical Society by Jim Dills, who can be reached through the society at (905) 875-4156.