by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION — A long-time volunteer, who is also well-known in the community, was honoured by Whitewater Region council at its meeting last night.
Mac Coughlin was recognized for his long-time dedication to the former Ross Museum and Historical Society, now known as the Whitewater Historical Society.
“This is absolutely exciting to present this to Mac,” said Mayor Hal Johnson.
Thirty years ago, Mr. Coughlin and others started this society in Foresters Falls.
“Through the years, this little museum, which is in the log building that used to be the church that was beside my place…but Mac has worked tirelessly for 30 years and brought this whole thing forward,” the mayor said.
It’s been a pleasure to work with Mr. Coughlin as a member of the historical society board, Mayor Johnson said.
“It’s been exciting to see what happens in a small part of the municipality of the county that has so many things that are part of history,” he said.
Mayor Johnson said volunteers do great work.
“This council has chosen to honour our volunteers for their long-time service and to recognize how hard they’ve worked,” he said.
While it’s difficult to see Mr. Coughlin retire from the society, the mayor noted, throughout life you leave one thing so you can do another.
“It’s with a little bit of sadness I say thanks and welcome to the future and enjoy yourself,” Mayor Johnson said.
Current historical society president Clare Stoppa attended the meeting to stand with the mayor as he presented the scroll to Mr. Coughlin.
“It’s been a lot of fun, but a lot of hard work,” Mr. Coughlin said. “A lot of the guys who helped me out are not here anymore.”
However, he warned, if there isn’t changes to how the museum operates, in a few years, there will be no one around to operate the museum.
“We have no volunteers to run the museum,” Mr. Coughlin said.
It cost a lot of money and time to build the log house and continue to operate the museum as it has grown over the years, he said.
The museum should be under the structure of the municipality, Mr. Coughlin said.
“It needs to be run as a business,” he said. “Without money from the township, the work that has been done wouldn’t have been done.”
It was hoped that once the name changed to the Whitewater Historical Society, people from throughout the township would volunteer, he explained. That did not happen, he added.
Mayor Johnson said council has heard his thoughts, and believes it’s time for a new direction for the historical society.
“A system that we have put in place over the last year, a very good organization, our council and our staff, is just wonderful and we will move forward,” he said. “We will definitely be discussing that.”
Following the meeting, Mr. Coughlin said the society was criticized for bringing in the old log building – and now it’s used as a backdrop for photos, including weddings.
“It’s a popular spot now,” he said.
He complimented Joanne Pratt who takes care of the many gardens around museum.
Mr. Coughlin believes the structure of the society needs to be revamped with the council taking it over to make it more businesslike.
“If something doesn’t change, we’re going to go broke,” he said. “There isn’t enough donations. The municipality helps us out a lot, and if it wasn’t for what they do for us, it would be closed now.”
He noted there are only about five or six dedicated volunteers, which isn’t enough to continue the operation of the society.
