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THE OAKVILLE BEAVERA8 f Wednesday October 13, 1999 H alton M useum to get $2 m illion facelift B y Ire n e G e n tle SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER For more than 30 years, the Halton Region Museum has been hiding in plain view. Even an eight-foot sign has­ n't been able to keep its drab buildings from being eclipsed by its magnificent Kelso Park setting, said Paul Attack, man­ ager of heritage services at the museum. Increasing the facility's visi­ bility is one of the thrusts behind a proposed $2-million museum rehabilitation project, Halton's administration and finance com­ mittee heard recently. "About 100,000 people go to the beach each summer and they don't know the museum is there," said Attack. "The brown buildings just don't have any impact." For the past 10 years. Attack has been trying to bring the once-proud museum up to stan­ dard. A solid plan began forming after the Region partnered up with Conservation Halton (CH) in 1997 to address the issue. The marriage made sense, since the museum buildings are leased by the Region, but owned by CH. Concerns about the buildings first surfaced in a 1983 archi­ tect's report. It stated that the site was plagued by a leaky foundation, small washrooms, no insulation, air conditioning or fire sprinkler system, and limited wheelchair access. Something had to be done to save the museum's 35,000 arti­ facts which range in scale from Indian arrowheads to carriages. "You are supposed to control the environment so there aren't temperature extremes and humidity," said Attack. "We have really struggled with that. We are not doing as well as we could." The site is steeped in history. The buildings were once a part of the Alexander homestead, a farming family of Scottish her­ itage who worked the land since Santa Parade pays tribute to new millennium The theme of Oakville's 51st annual Santa Claus Heritage Parade on Nov. 20th is "Millennium 2000...the past, present and future." Deadline for entering a float in the parade is Fri. Oct. 29th. In addition to the floats, over 10 marching bands will also be featured. Any business or community groups interested in participat­ ing in the parade should call the Oakville Parks and Recreation Department at 845-6601, ext. 3154. 1870. 'They were well known for having a water turbine on site. They were very inventive," said Attack. 'They harnessed the springs off the escarpment and made their own electricity for the farm." When the Alexander's relin­ quished the land to CH (then the Halton Region Conservation Authority), the buildings were snapped up by what was then Halton County. A 99-year lease was signed, which was simply handed over when Halton Country was absorbed into Halton Region in the 1970s. The museum documents the effect the passage of time has had on the region. 'There was almost no one here a little over 200 years ago. It was all trees," said Mr. Attack. The Huron and Iroquois nations had largely disappeared due to smallpox and the European settlement didn't begin until the 1700s. Work on the museum buildings will be completed in stages, said Attack. Recently, the committee approved a $525,000 rehabil­ itation plan to add air-condi­ tioning to the main barn structure and bring the wash­ rooms and the kitchen up to standard. If approved at council, the money will be taken out of the 1999 budget. The Region is also being asked to carve $665,000 from the 2000 budget to pay for added fencing (to increase visibility), a visitors centre and a play area for kids. The play area would include hay bales, water troughs and sand pits. An additional $800,000 to complete the project should be supplied by the museum foundation, said Burlington Councillor John Taylor. N E W L O C A T I O N 1 6 5 0 D u n d a s S t . E a s t U n i t 1 5 , M i s s i s s a u g a M anufacturers W arehouse Sale 70% OFF S U G G E S TE D RETAIL P R IC E Q U A L I T Y B I D A B A T H P R O D U C T S W a b a s s o S p r i n g m a i d / W q m s u t t a T l V M a i >K 1 0 0 % C o t t o n / P e r c a l e / M u s i i n • B6D IN A BAO • CABflt • BHAMB • QOMFOBTBNS • BBDSKIBTS • BALLOON CUBTAINB • W INDOW VALANCBB • BATH FASHION ACCBNT KUOS O FABBIC BY THB MBTRB C A S H SORRY, ♦ D e b it C ards NO c h e q u e s Sale On Now Until December 12" H O U R S W e d . 9 a m - 5 p m T h u rs . 9 a m -9 p m F r i . 9 a m -9 p m S a t. 9 a m - 4 p m S u n . 1 0 a m - 4 p m D u n d a s S t . ■o [ "" ■ D d n w y n n ■1 C e n t r e £ Q u e e n s w a y b X CINEsums Can 825-TIPS or 1-800-668-5151 Teens hijacked vehicle On Mon, Oct. 4th, at approxi­ mately 12:30 p.m. a 30-year-old male was stopped in his vehicle at a red light at Sixth line and Upper Middle Road when a teenage male and female entered his car. They demanded to be driven to Burlington and suggested they had a gun, although it was not seen. The vic­ tim talked with the suspects and offered $20. The victim then exited his vehicle, which set off the car alarm. The sus­ pects took the money and ran off leaving the vehi­ cle. The suspects are described as female, white, 16 years old, with a slim build, long brown hair past her shoulders, brown eyes, and she has a mole on the right side of her nose. She was wearing a blue jacket, white hooded sweat­ shirt, black pants, and silver snake ring which was on her right pinkie finger. The male was white, 16-17 years old, and had short brown hair, a crew cut, slim build, and was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and baggy jeans. If you have any information that leads to an arrest in this or any other case, you may be eligi­ ble for a cash reward. You need not give your name, and your information can be taken with c o m p l e t e anonymity. 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