Former President’s response to resignations at Cottonwood Mansion
Since the posting of Jill Morison’s letter to the editor in the February 29th issue of The Haldimand Press there have been a lot of rumors circulating and I would like to make it clear the problem had nothing to do with Cottonwood itself, but rather with an internal problem created by one of its trustees. I had hoped the issue would rectify itself and the three trustees who resigned plus myself would be able to come back in and continue with our volunteer duties; however, this is no longer a possibility.
Ever since Larry Hamilton purchased the property in 1988, he and so many others worked tirelessly to restore the house to its original condition and it has always held a soft spot in my heart. Consequently I’m saddened to see my involvement come to an end; particularly since the last three years as president I have witnessed such an upswing in its popularity as one of Haldimand’s leading attractions.As I close this era in my life I would like to express my appreciation to the local business people and the many others I have had the pleasure of working with. I would also like to give particular thanks to Debbie Van Dalen, Peter Jaycock, and Jane Van Dalen for supporting me during a rather troubling period in my presidency.
Clayt Spears, Selkirk
Dunnville’s Central Park needs an airplane
What I would like to see: I think that the 70-year-old wading pool has got to go and I think that, what I believe is a Harvard airplane hidden by trees from the #3 near the library, should be moved over to where the wading pool was and be put where it belongs with the War Memorial and the cannon.
When a town has something as rare as a mounted World War II vintage aircraft it should be displayed in a prominent place for local and people travelling through Dunnville to see.
Some people will say that a splash pad should be put there, but it belongs up by the swimming pool not in front of a war memorial.
As I am limited for space I will tell briefly how things allegedly happened in the early 60s. Mr. Frank Lahlor was killed in a car accident and left his mansion on #3 to be made into a library, but for reasons I won’t say about Mr. Lahlor which are accepted now, the ‘powers that be’ that seem to pop up when money is being spent and had the library built downtown. I can’t remember when the airplane was put there and a fountain was erected in Thompson Creek Park, in the early 60s I believe when I was in high school, and the uproar it caused as the plane should have been in the Thompson Creek Park and the fountain beside the library, which would have been the seemingly logical thing to do.
I am asking if any of the few organizations left and our Council would consider my idea to right an old wrong and display our airplane in a place of prominence instead of being half hidden down a side street.
Thank you,
Doug Wadel, Dunnville