City council has told staff to make an offer at "fair market value" for the King Street property listed for $374,900.
The purchase of the property and possible exhumation is being spearheaded by Councillor Brad Clark, who told a battlefield citizens' advisory group this week about the city's plans.
The King Street lot that has been the subject of a growing outcry to bury the British and American soldiers properly before the 200th anniversary of the battle in 2013.
There is mention of the Heritage Green Community Trust as making an unspecified financial contribution to buying the property and contributing to the renovation and repair of the site, an archeological assessment and "disinterment and reinterment of any human remains situated thereon."
Both the federal and provincial governments are deciding whether to toss in money for the project.
Local philanthropist Chris Ecklund has said that he would pay whatever governments would not because he says the situation is a "national embarrassment."
More information here http://www.thespec.com/article/683022 and here http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/780920
Are you supportive of Clr. Clark's efforts? Do you agree with Mr. Ecklund that the present state of affairs is a national embarassment that needs to be addressed?
Yes, I definitely support this and support the continuance of efforts to help in the financial outlay from other levels of government and private sources.
ReplyDeleteIn my mind there is no question that the soldiers deserve a proper burial - and the deceased may be, and probably are, not just American soldiers but soldiers from "our" side as well.
The property could later be resold or used to enhance the monument area.
With the 200 anniversary of the War of 1812 on the horizon, this would be an appropriate and educational effort.
I know that the tourism promotions of all War of 1812 sites in Ontario will be strong and Hamilton will benefit from that increase in tourism on that Bicentennial year.
While the sum may seem substantial, compare it to what the near invisible Integrity Commissioner has charged and will charge for doing little of worth.
A National Embarrassment? I do not wish to diminish the repect we owe to our nation's fallen and that they deserve recognition for their ultimate sacrifice, but what about Randle Reef? Is this not a national, or for that matter, an international embarrassment of the highest magnitude? IT seems to me that our dwindling resources would be more appropriately applied at this time, in any effort to preserve the health and welfare of those living and for future generations to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteThese brave men fought and died for their country, to make it safe for their children and grandchildren and look what we've done to it. We have defiled their their legacy and I am quite sure that when we meet them at the Pearly Gates we will have more to answer to than the fact that we didn't dig up their old bones and give them headstones.
With so much mismanagement of public funds these days, I wouldn't be surprised if these old soldiers called us all a bunch of cowards for not standing up in our own lifetimes to fight for what was right when we had the light of hindsight guiding us through the night.
Brad and Chris can go fly a kite, our fallen heroes can wait until the timing is bright.
Brian...I agree with you except I do not believe the land should be resold. More peaceful parkland should be created on the space. I am sure the city can find the money for this from the increased parking meter revenues they voted in this year.
ReplyDeleteI think Brad Clark is doing a good thing. Keep it cool
ReplyDeleteElvis P.
Could there be some clarification please. This lot where these people are supposed to be buried, is it to be sold for development and these bodies to be moved to a different location.
ReplyDeleteBecuase if that is the case that is so wrong, in my eyes. But then the push for development has disturbed many other burial sites.
I don't think that there's is any question that this was a mass burial site, with an unknown number of fatally wounded soldiers, possibly of both sides, quickly buried after the battle.
ReplyDeleteTo my knowledge, there are no plans for development of the property after the possible excavation - that was only my suggestion as a way of mitigating the cost.
I fully agree with Tom that it would be best to leave the property in public hands as a park addition to the Smith's Knoll monument.
I believe that there is a substantial Parks Development Fund (money from the development charges for subdivisions, the portion dedicated for parks).
It would be interesting to learn what plans there are for the remains. I would bet that there are plans but what they are I don't know - reburial, properly, on the same site certainly would be an option.