One of the oldest cemeteries in the city is eyeing a renovation to help bring its administration building back from the dead.
The board of directors for the Cumberland Street cemetery, a fixture in the city since 1889, has prepared plans to renovate the large house that sits on the property. The house was originally home to the cemetery caretaker back in the late 1800s but now serves as an office building for administrators.
Peter Hickey, chair of the cemetery's board, said the $24,000 renovation project, which will include a new facade and improvements to the roof, windows and doors, is being covered partially by a Heart of the City grant - about $12,000.
The balance is being collected through a fundraising campaign currently underway.
"It's basically to preserve this building," he said in an interview. "If it gets too much worse it's going to cost more money to complete renovations."
The administration building was built in 1892. The cemetery is the final resting place for thousands, said Hickey, and annually there are countless requests from genealogists looking for information.
The hope is that $12,000 to $15,000 can be raised and that renovation work can begin in the spring. Heart of the City has given Woodlawn until next October to collect the money. If it's unsuccessful with reaching its goal, Woodlawn can request an extension, so long as it is making progress.
But Hickey doesn't want to see it get that far.
"We'd like to get going on this and get it done,"
For more information, or to make a donation, contact the cemetery at 613-932-2635. Donations can be mailed to the cemetery at 540 Cumberland Street, K6J 4J5.
