Personal memories sought for Assumption’s heritage centre

WINDSOR, Ont. - People from across the country who may have had an association with Our Lady of Assumption Church in Windsor are being asked to contribute personal stories or artifacts about what is one of Canada’s oldest parishes.

The memorabilia will be featured in a heritage centre that will be part of a major restoration of the church, which has now officially begun.

Assumption is the oldest Catholic parish west of Montreal. It was established by the Jesuits in 1761. The current church dates from 1845 and was the major Catholic institution in its era in Upper Canada.

Pat Malicki of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario told a recent news conference here that when heritage properties are restored it’s not just the bricks and mortar that are important, “it’s also the associated history, the story.”

Malicki said those overseeing the restoration, including her, are “looking for the aboriginal stories, we’re looking for the French stories, we’re looking also to see if there’s any connection with the Underground Railroad” which smuggled black slaves to Canada before the U.S. Civil War. Windsor was a key railroad destination since it is only a couple of kilometres across the river from Detroit.

Malicki said the memorabilia could include letters, photos and other items that may have fallen into private hands over the years.

Meanwhile, officials with the Assumption Heritage Trust National Foundation said that they are almost one-third of the way to reaching their fundraising goal of $9.6 million to restore the church, a Windsor landmark on the Detroit River and adjacent to the Ambassador Bridge crossing to the United States.

The foundation’s “honorary cabinet” includes former Prime Minister Paul Martin, a Windsor native, along with other high profile former Windsorites like author Richard Rohmer and Richard Peddie, president of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The church’s significance as a river gateway got a major boost Oct. 13 when a local charitable group donated $175,000 for the restoration. The money will be go toward a new front entrance to the site linking the church grounds more directly to Windsor’s riverfront parks. The donor, the Windsor Essex Community Foundation, was originally created decades ago to help restore Windsor’s riverfront, so the project “really ties us into” that overall new Assumption vision, executive director Glenn Stresman said.

Other foundation funding has come from corporate, community and individual donations. A public campaign is to be launched next fall after which organizers expect to reach the halfway mark of their fundraising efforts.

Restoration work began this summer with asbestos removal and a start on the heating and cooling overhaul. Windsor architect Jason Grossi, who was married in the church, said the next step is to convert the antiquated steam heating to current technology while keeping the ”beautiful” floral-designed radiators.

“They will become part of the visual historic fabric of the interior of the church,” he said.

Other work done to date has been masonry and mortuary testing and soil-boring analysis for a building that will be a new heritage centre. Archeological work has also begun because the site was among the earliest settled in the region.

Next spring, restoration of the church’s east wall, which has been affected by crumbling masonry, is expected to begin.

The overall restoration will include new public gardens and an amphitheatre.

Those interested in contributing their personal stories can e-mail the foundation at [email protected]. For more information on the project or to donate to the foundation’s web site visit www.assumptionheritagetrust.org.

(Stang is a freelance writer in Windsor, Ont.)