WMAG: BELLE VUE HOUSE 1816
The “beautiful view” is one of the finest remaining examples of domestic Georgian architecture in Canada. Construction commenced in 1816 and was completed in 1819. It was built by Robert Reynolds, the commissary officer to the Garrison at Fort Malden. Belle Vue was also the home of his sister, Catherine Reynolds, an accomplished landscape artist, who was among the earliest known artists in Upper Canada. Over the years it has housed a convalescent hospital after World War I and a Ukrainian Catholic Church.
Today it is viewed as one of the most at risk, major heritage properties in Canada, due to “demolition by neglect,” because it was left vacant for years and suffered from lack of heat, vandalism, and deterioration. Unfortunately, the powerful July 3rd storm has made things worse. The storm damaged a part of the roof, exposing the interior to the elements. A large blue tarp is now on the roof but that is definitely not a long term solution.
WHAT MAKES AMHERSTBURG GREAT: CONTINUED
The town of Amherstburg took over the property ten years ago. Limited restoration work has been completed and there has been much discussion about potential options, but today there is
no clear path forward. Demolition by neglect continues. Restoration of Belle Vue will be very expensive and risky to any investor. And time has proven new investors are not lining up. Today the town is not in a good position to demand tough conditions during negotiations. If they want to protect / restore the property, they need to be very accommodating and financially flexible. The new council needs to sell it at lower price with few restrictions on heritage property renovations.
We hope a future Belle Vue will once again be another example of what makes Amherstburg great, but unfortunately today it’s difficult to remain optimistic.
WHAT MAKES AMHERSTBURG GREAT: UP NEXT
Critical municipal elections will be on October 26th. Who we elect can help make Amherstburg even better or set us back for decades. Please educate yourself, and please vote.
RIVER BOOKSHOP HALLOWEEN EVENTS
The Ghost is Back!
River Bookshop wonders if you dare,
to write a poem you would want to share.
About the ghost who loves our books,
Or hides within the shelves and nooks.
It can be silly, creepy, and full of fall fun,
It can even include a riddle or pun.
We invite 6-18 years olds to give us a fright,
And we can't wait to read the poems you write.
This month, take part in our Kids Poetry Contest (send your poems to us any time!), and join us later this month for a Pumpkin Carving Contest, Witches Walk trick-or-treating & Costume Contest, and a Poetry Reading for the winners.
Events start at 2PM on October 31st. Save the date!
MARCUS CUTLER STORY TIME SUNDAY
Have you ever met the writer or illustrator of your favourite Story Time books?
This Sunday, October 18th at 11AM, Author/Illustrator MARCUS CUTLER returns to Story Time to read and draw a few of his favourite book creations with us.
We hope you will come and join us for this creative and interactive visit.
PEDDIE’S PICK FOR OCTOBER: ON BOOK BANNING
On Book Banning by Ira Wells
In 1933, pro-Nazi University students burned thousands of books in 34 towns and cities across Germany. When I visited Berlin I stood in the Square where the main event occurred. Today the square is empty, but if you look closely through a small glass opening, you will see into a windowless white room with many empty bookshelves. It gave me the chills!
A warning in 1821 by German poet Heinrich Heine ultimately came true:
“When they burn books, they will soon end up burning people.”
Today in Canada, the drive by some to ban books is definitely here. While it’s not nearly as bad here as what’s happening in the United States, we are not immune to an escalation of attacking the
reading of many books.
When I think about it, I’ve been a bibliophile probably since I was a young child when I read books by Thornton Burgess. Later, as I went through my business career, books were my mentor. Opening River Bookshop and championing reading was simply a natural progression.
So of course I am concerned about book banning in Canada, and we oppose it aggressively at River Bookshop. Biblioasis has published an excellent book on the subject: On Book Banning: Or, How the New Censorship Consensus Trivializes Art and Undermines Democracy by Ira Wells. After reading it, I decided it was a perfect choice for October, especially since we treat October as Banned Book Month (being against the practice, of course). If you were to see my personal copy of this book, you would see that I have marked up numerous passages.
“books have always been challenged, but the current eruption of censorship feels like something new”
“their target is public libraries in which all taxpayers have a stake and especially school libraries, which can be uniquely vulnerable due to chronic funding shortages”
As Wells points out, reading books is already under stress. Fewer people are reading books and it’s starting at an early age. Chapter two, “Banning Books to Save Children,” is full of examples of how book banners are distorting the facts to make parents afraid of so many books. At River Bookshop, we take the opposite approach. One of our major goals is to get kids reading. We believe that if kids read books, they have a better chance of growing up to be better adults
Also book banning definitely isn’t new. Wells has a chapter on its long, long history: “the history of censorship is older than the novel, older than the printed word, older than democracy, older than history.”
PEDDIE'S PICK FOR OCTOBER: CONTINUED
If you aren’t following what books are being banned, you will likely be shocked. For a while we had a display of books at our cash desk, which are banned in parts of Alberta. Shoppers constantly stopped to voice their shock. If you wonder what books are being banned in Florida and Alberta, here are some of the crazy choices:
Florida has reported over 2300 book bans in recent school years while Texas recorded more than 1700, including:
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez
Parts of Alberta are no better: 1984 by George Orwell The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin The Book of Genesis, illustrated by R. Crumb
Ira’s book is a very interesting and easy read. We would have loved to have him in town for a book talk, but we could not get our calendars to work. But, to recognize banned books this month, we’re offering 15% off all banned book merchandise from Out of Print, featuring hats, bookmarks, pins, and more, extended until October 31st.
Next month:
My November pick will be a timely choice of remembrance
Richard
Last Sunday, local Author Nathan Christopher joined us at Story Time to read his latest book, WHEN THE WITCH WROTE BACK! Huge thanks to Nathan and all our families who attended the super fun reading. Stay tuned to the BUZZ Newsletter, because Nathan Christopher is returning soon to read WHEN SANTA WROTE BACK.
So much to see and do in Amherstburg!
We hope to see you downtown this weekend.
The River Bookshop Team