Moving to the site of our COBOURG & AREA MUSEUM
It was in the midst of pouring rain and lightening flashes that the 1870s cottage was moved from its Illahee location to a temporary location at “the barracks” site on Orr Street. After a not entirely uneventful journey the building was set down on temporary wooden cribs just a few feet to the east of the “barracks” end wall. The final phase of the move took place after the permanent foundation was built. At that time the building was rolled sideways on steel beams and lowered onto its final resting place at the far east end of the future Cobourg & Area Museum.
The cottage now serves as an administrative office for the Centre as well as providing meeting rooms, a washroom, exhibit space, our library and a gift shop.
It took a host of people to get us this far, particularly Kevin Doble who was developing West Colony Bay on the Illahee property. He generously donated the cottage and the cost of the move to the Museum Foundation. As the cottage moved though the streets of Cobourg it bore signs acknowledging the contributions of others who provided necessary services such as site preparation and the raising of wires along the route. Those who donated their services were Bell Canada, COGECO Cable, Lakefront Utilities, Cobourg Fiberoptic Networks Inc, Skratts Tree Service, Jim Doubt Architects and Engineers, and Behan Construction. Total value of the move was approximately 45,000 dollars, all at no cost to the Foundation.
Former Foundation Vice President, Keith Oliver acted as project coordinator, and with the help of Board Members Stanley Isherwood and Don Pirie, prepared the building for its move.
A second building, a wooden drive shed, was moved at the same time and found its new home on the neighbouring “Calcutt” property just to the south of the cottage.