WIITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1985, PAGE 3 To Cullen Gardens.... Society votes to move Lynde House lp p -olud ue qtiit-P tnw orkUout abo By JAN DODGE Free Press Staff The proposal to move Lynde House to Cullen Gardens split the mem- bership of the Whitby Historical Society (WHS) and other groups interestedl in historical preservation at a general meeting of the societylastTuesday. According to society president Philip Lakas the meeting, which drew about 70 people, was for information. At a meeting prior to the general meeting the executive had passed a motion presented by a subcommittee "that the executive of Whitby Historical *Society ac- cept the proposal by Mr. Len Cullen to provide a site for Lynde House at Cullen Gardens, subject to obtaining the necessary financial support, and subject to favorable negotiations with Mr. Cullen." Of the vote, Lakas later said, "One ab- stained; one was un- decided; the rest were in favor of the motion." After hearing Cullen's proposal, the two sides presented their arguments. Speaking for the move were Centre Ward Coun. Marcel Brunelle, the mayor's designate on the WHS, and Fred Cane, a director of the society, as well as various members. (Both Brunelle and Cane were members of the society subcommit- tee which investigated the proposal. The other members were Sybil Sterling and Debra Filip.) Opposed to the move were Rod Angevaare, president of the Durham branch of the Architec- tural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) which he represented, and Vera Hugel, chairman of the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee, (LACAC) who spoke as a concer- ned individual, and members of the WHS. Those in favor of the proposal argued that a greater number of people would learn about Whitby's history and there would be an opportunity to take in more money. Those opposed said the museum would lose historical significance if moved, and might in fact face greater costs. Aware of hostility to his proposal, Cullen began by assuring the group that what he had to say was just a proposal. "This is not lifeand death with me." He said that were Lynde House located at Cullen Gardens more people would get the op- portunity to learn about the history of Whitby. He said he did not hope to make môh-ey from the move. The museum would still belong to the WHS. "I'm not - in- terested in running your museum." Cullen displayed an architecturl drawing which showed Lynde House in a corner location near the parking lot and adjacent to a restaurant, general store, and bakery. He said he plans to change the gate arrangement so that people could enter this area at no charge. He would expect the society to be responsible for partial moving costs (Cullen has pledged $20,000 assistance for moving) installing a full basement, heat and air condition, all- electrical the land for up to 30 years, provide free elec- tric power, complete landscaping including walkways and outdoor exiting, continuous maintenance of the surrounding area, washroom facilities, and a parking lot in- cluding snow clearance. In a question period he said he would provide also prepared to provide some on-site storage for the museum's reserve collection. Cullen said he was agreeable to the plan- ned building of the summer kitchen on the back of the house, but there was no space for futher expansion of the building. He said he didn't think the society would be in costume, Cullen said it was not a must that museum staff be in costume. Margaret Boyce, former secretary of the society, asked, "What would happen if the museurm were on your property and the Historical Society did not fulfill its respon- sibilities?" and "What ?ftIYMUSEUM - ,nuiX M& " À-s- À -. '-'À---- Lynde House - seen here in a pen and ink drawing by Free Press cartoonist and local artist Ken Len- nox - will be re-located from its present site at Dundas and D'Hillier Sts. to Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village sometime in the forseeable future. The Whitby Historical Society made the decision to move the house as the best way to preserve it over the long term. work, maintenance of the building and staffing the display during regular Cullen Garden hours. It would be closed throughout January, February, Marh and most of April. He also suggested the society could have a donationsboxdorhcharge an admission to defray costs. Cullen would include the museum in its ad- vertising and would pay the society, out of its own admission, 2times the income collected at the museum door in 1984. (He had originally offered 10 times the door collections, but when he heard they were so low - $360 was mentioned by one member - he raised the amount.) He would also donate authentic planting around the house after studying what had been used at Black Creek Pioneer Village. He was would want to alter the building. Although the garden's staff in stores planned for the museum area would happen if your sons decided to change the theme?" Cullen replied that both sides would need egai auvce to wur the details before going ahead. "As long as I'm alive it will happen. In my will I'il try to make it happen." If the society were unable to carry out its responsibilities he guessed the gardens would have to lock the museum doors. Boyce was concerned ut the increase in hours for the volunteer staff at the new location. Presently Lynde House is open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays plus holiday Mondays, a total of 16 to 20 hours. Cullen Gardens' hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a CONT'D ON PG. 15 DR. H. DAVID STONE IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE OPENING OF HIS OFFICE FOR THE PRACTICE OF FAMILY OPTOMETRY AT THE PRINGLE CREEK CENTRE 728 ANDERSON ST. WHITBY 666-4848 EVENING AND SATURDAY OFFICE HOURS BY APPOINTMENT APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE Cali SNow 831-105 Z1735 Ba* yStreet (Jst a-t of &ucRd) Pickering J- >- 1' ýEj '79