I read with interest the article A vision for the village, PNR, Feb. 8 2013.
Some 45 years ago when I moved to Saanichton, there were four buildings standing that could have qualified for heritage status.
The Agriculture Hall, situated on the old fairground site, the veranda style general store on the South West corner of East Saanich and Mt. Newton, the old leaded window post-office on the North East corner of Wallace and East Saanich, later known as “Johnson Digins“ and finally the Stone House, on Prosser Road.
Sadly, all have been demolished and been replaced with condominiums, town houses and stores.
The cry from would-be developers, is, ”they were rotten, rat infested” … whatever argument needed to allow the bulldozer to flatten them into the ground and render them dust and rubble.
I have video of the Agriculture Hall in Saanichton being smashed to pieces by a giant wreaking ball.
The huge timbers that held it up were solid cedar, not a wormhole in sight.
What a center point the hall would have made for the village and, yes, a tourist draw too.
On the mainland in Langley a similar hall has been given a new lease on another 100 years. It has been lovingly restored, and is a delight to visit.
Yes, we need to move forward and provide dwellings for newcomers; but conserving the anchor left by pioneers long ago is the adhesive that will bind a community together.
Margaret J. Jestico
Saanichton
