Two of four resigning trustees speak out on decision to leave Cottonwood Mansion Preservation Foundation

SELKIRK—It’s taken decades of hard work to restore Cottonwood Mansion, but after months of what some are calling “perpetual toxic behaviour,” four board members resigned from their roles on the Preservation Foundation Board last week. 

The three remaining members have filled the seats with interim members and updated the website’s list of directors.

Supporters and stakeholders of Cottonwood Mansion, shown above, have been questioning why four board members resigned from their positions last week. —Haldimand Press photo by Jillian Taylor.

Former president of the foundation, Clayt Spears, said that the escalating behaviour of one board member led to the resignations.

“(They) were not a team player, would not communicate with the rest of the board, and would take initiatives as they saw fit,” said Spears, adding that the member heavily criticized others’ actions without offering countermeasures. 

“It was unnecessary and perpetual toxic behaviour,” continued Spears. “It was finally too much for the others and they all stepped down, and I with them.”

Spears’ business background, together with decades of rolling his sleeves up for the county, has entrenched his name as part of major volunteer muscle since 1965: he’s been a Lion for 58 years, ranging from Past Deputy District Governor, past president for Cayuga (four times) and Fisherville; he was involved for decades with Community Living Haldimand; he’s been a hockey team manager, a Sunday school superintendent, and inaugural president for CayugaFest. He’s also been Cayuga Citizen of the Year, Haldimand County Volunteer of the Year, and a Queen’s Diamond Medal Recipient.

“Cottonwood has been a part of me from the get-go,” he said, describing early years of arriving at Haldimand and getting “drawn in by Larry (Hamilton)’s vision for the site.”

Spears would be a regular ally to the project, rejoining Cottonwood Mansion Preservation Foundation in 2020, becoming president in 2021, helping it to rebuild and get back on financial track. Spears credited Brittany Van Dalen, who is now a National Historic Site Administrator at Ruthven, as part of a greater vision pulling the site back into a tourism frame.

“She deserves a lot of credit for starting the ball rolling on activities like the Victorian tea, and that credit has been largely absent so I want it mentioned here,” said Spears, who also praised the long-time volunteers and members who stepped down – Debbie Van Dalen, former Vice President; Jane Van Dalen, former Treasurer; and Peter Jaycock, former trustee.

“I felt that as president I supported their decision, and what could I do but step down as well in solidarity, because these are excellent people. The situation had become unbearable because of one person, and Cottonwood is losing,” said Spears. “These are people who held Cottonwood’s heart as their own.”

Another resigned board member – who asked not to be named for concern of retribution – said they’d never volunteer for another board again.

“It’s very, very, very unfortunate that things went this way. There was no need for it and now it’s all down to the people left on the board,” they said. “The children own the candy shop now, so they will have to make their way forward.”

They said the situation all boiled “down to nepotism, this is the real problem and we share the blame.”

“We went into this good heartedly. There was no reason we couldn’t have had a good relationship, or continuing a good relationship, but people were accused of things I knew were not correct and unfortunately, it was just a toxic situation,” they said. “I’m sorry it’s gone that way because this should have been a very happy time for us.”

The former member mentioned the foundation’s gratitude to supporters, “because it costs money to run a museum.”

“I wish Cottonwood to continue on because I think you can’t look at Cottonwood as an enigma,” they said. “I really hope Haldimand people will continue to rally around Cottonwood because it’s a piece of history stretching back to some of Haldimand’s early Upper Canada history.”

Spears has been experiencing anxiety since the resignation, including heart palpitations and sleepless nights. He has also been receiving a barrage of support, reading from letters from Mayor (and Selkirk resident) Shelley Ann Bentley offering assistance, and from Joyce Hamilton, who purchased the property in 1988 alongside her husband Larry and was part of the mansion’s restoration until his death in 2004.

According to her letter she too had been receiving numerous calls and she expressed concern for Cottonwood’s reputation and legacy, asking the remaining board to consider the ramifications of the incident, to have the members return, and to have Cottonwood’s legacy top of mind.

Museum Manager Iona Whatford recently went on maternity leave. The remaining trustees are Andrew Spearin, Whatford’s husband, Faye Whatford, her mother, and Laura Stinson, a friend to Whatford.

Interim museum manager, Casey Monkelbaan, said the remaining members could not provide comment within three days, but instead issued a general press release bidding polite farewell to the outgoing board members while announcing replacements – Kateryna Kolotylo, Bob Gibson, and Cherilyn Gibson – and showering positivity on the future.

“Since 2022, under the capable leadership of Iona Whatford, Museum Manager, Cottonwood has positioned itself as a successful wedding venue, hosted popular local events such as Afternoon Teas, Ghost Walks, and the Victorian House Guest Experience; she has also brought in several grants to purchase new onsite equipment and enable the museum to begin restoration projects,” stated the release.

“Cottonwood is thriving both financially and structurally, and we have already recruited several interim board members from our highly committed volunteer pool,” it continued. “We are excited about 2024’s upcoming events and are looking ahead to a bright future. Signed, Cottonwood Mansion Preservation Foundation.” 

Cottonwood Mansion is on Treaty lands for Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. It was the estate of William Holmes Jr. built between 1860-70 on farmland north of Selkirk. The 6,000 square foot site would be lived in until 1911, and it became derelict until 1988 when Larry and Joyce Hamilton purchased the property and began its careful restoration. Now a living museum, the mansion is open for tours, educational programs, weddings, and rentals.

A public meeting will be held at Cottonwood Mansion (740 Haldimand Rd 53, Selkirk) on Wednesday, March 13 at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.