By Alex Soloducha

Crowdfunding project aims to revive historic Melfort building

Dec 2, 2015 | 11:03 AM

People with a soft spot for historic architecture will be happy to hear of a new funding project for the original Melfort post office.

This Place Matters allows non-profit groups like the Main Street Melfort organizers to create crowd-funding projects. 

So far, they have raised $850 in less than 10 days, with about three months more to go. On top of that, RBC has pledged to match every dollar, up to $25,000.

Teri Scaife, director of community services and Main Street board member, said the crowd funding site is the first of its kind, put together by the National Trust for Canada—a historic preservation society throughout the country.

Scaife said they’re hoping to reach their goal of $40,000.

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“I think it’s a wonderful initiative and I hope lots of people across Canada actually take part in it,” she said. “Crowd funding is one of the up and coming fundraisers for a lot of small communities and it gives us the opportunity to step outside the means of grants and sponsorships and that kind of thing.

“It has worked in smaller communities of our size and we’re very positive that it will work in Melfort.”

The Melfort historic post office is a three storey, brick and stone building with a metal roof and clock tower.

When it opened in 1912, it was a post office on the first floor, a customs and revenue office on the second and a caretaker’s office on the third. The basement was used as an armoury for the Department of National Defense—and included a gun range.

In recent years, Melfort’s Main Street organization has worked on restoring portions of the exterior.

Now, they’re ready to take the renovations one step further.

“It’s a landmark within our community and definitely needs some restoration on the interior,” said Scaife. “We’ve already made great strides to do some minor repairs on the exterior but we’re hoping to revitalize the inside to make it a viable community building.”

The crowd-funding project is specifically for the renovations on the second and third floors.

Currently, there are no accommodations within the downtown area of Melfort.

The group plans to install corporate or “boutique suites” for people who are visiting the downtown core. This may include travelling professionals like government officials, lawyers, judges or accountants who may be in the city on a short term basis, whether that be for a week or a month, said Scaife.

Up to 10 suites could be established with a bed, living space, kitchenette and washrooms.

Scaife said they haven’t yet discussed the main function of the first floor, but know it will house the Main Street office.

According to the write-up on the This Place Matters website, the group wants to keep the renovations in line with the era of the architectural style and fixtures, while adding modern elements.

The post office is almost identical to the original post offices in Humboldt and North Battleford. The three buildings are the only ones left in the Prairie provinces.

“The historical value of that building, being that there’s only three left in the Prairie provinces, with that type of architecture, is very intricate. And as most people know, a post office used to be the hub of a community, and it still is,” said Scaife. “So for me, I believe that we need to make every effort to … bring back some life to it.”

Partners of the project include the Main Street organization as well as the City of Melfort.

“I’m just hoping that people donate to this wonderful cause and help us revitalize this wonderful landmark,” said Scaife.

asoloducha@panow.com

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha