Dear Editor:
We read Clare Stoppa’s comments in last week’s Whitewater News regarding Ross Museum with alarm.
Perhaps many new to the area are unaware of the Museum in Forester’s Falls preserving and documenting the Whitewater area’s history.
The Historical Society was established in 1989 with 12 charter members. Their objectives included establishing a Museum as a permanent home for artefacts and files relating to the history of the area. Their dream of a Museum was fulfilled with the hard work and determination of countless volunteers over the years and the support of Council, the Cobden Sun, donations, fundraising events and eventually grants.
Ross Museum opened July 1, 1996. The history of the Museum is well documented, the move from Bill and Iva Oats basement to the log house donated by Jack and Janice McLaren, dismantled log by log in 1995 and reconstructed by volunteers on land in Forester’s Falls donated by Roy and Bette Anne Dittburner. In 1996 the Society restored the vacated Township Fire Hall next door to exhibit a variety of displays, again by volunteers and opened in 1997. In 1999 the gardens around the museum and the area behind were cleaned up, steps to the creek installed for a picnic area and Heritage Gardens, opened in September 1999. In the spring of 2000 a drive shed was constructed to house larger displays. In 2001 after the amalgamation of Whitewater Region the former Township office was shared by the Forester’s Falls library and the Society providing the museum with a much-needed Resource Centre with office space, archival and library space, a vault for safe storage of papers and shared kitchen and wash room facilities. The Forester’s Falls library was in the former St. Aidan’s Church down the street and in 2004 it was restored by the Society as a Church and opened in 2006.
The Museum and Historical Society continue to preserve the history of Whitewater Region township, but as members age new volunteers are needed to take up the reigns. No experience is necessary, nor does it matter how long you have lived in the area. It is a great opportunity to help preserve the history of the area for all future generations.
Do not let this special place be closed and the work of so many be lost forever.
Dixie and Murray Dittburner,
Former volunteers who now reside in Kingston, Ontario
