Judge German’s desk donated to Vic Hall

A rare collection of Bartlett drawings and an antique part- ner's desk, once owned by county court judge J.C.M. German, were donated to Victoria Hall Thursday by Marjorie Pewtress.

The approximately 155 drawings of distinctive Canadian towns and scenes make up a complete set.

Cobourg is the only municipality in Canada to be in possession of such a collection.

Three of the drawings were stolen some years ago, and it was only recently that a hunt to replace them ended with suc- cess.

Some of the drawings are already framed and in perfect condition. Others will have to be sent to Ottawa for restoration purposes.

The retail value of the drawings is anywhere from $4,650 to $23,250, according to John Taylor, director of the Art Gallery of Cobourg.

It is still not decided whether the collection will hang in the council chambers or elsewhere in Victoria Hall.

The desk was designed for law partners, with two end drawers and a matching inkwell. It was purchased second-hand several years ago, and the town will probably bring in experts to determine its age and origin.

The desk will probably help furnish a room in Victoria Hall, honoring James Colborne, our own Father of Confederation.

The desk will eventually have a plaque put on it in memory of the former county court Judge J.C.M. German who purchased it.

Judge German graduated from Osgoode Hall in 1917. He had an extensive litigation practice in Toronto for several years.

He was county court judge in Cobourg from May 28,1942, until he resigned in 1947. With a law partner, he then set up a practice here-German, Ritchardson and Clarke.

He practiced law in Cobourg until 1961. He died in 1963.