KIRKLAND LAKE - Even though a provincial agency is committing over $700,000 for repairs at a historic château in Northern Ontario, the municipality remains committed to ending its lease agreement.
Even with the repairs slated for Kirkland Lake’s Sir Harry Oakes Château, the mayor said it doesn't impact the town's decision to pull out of the facility.
The château was built by Oakes, an eccentric prospector who was later murdered in the Bahamas, and also houses the Museum of Northern History. A group of concerned residents are still investigating a not-for-profit charitable status to save the museum and its artifacts.
The OHT confirmed it is funding about $740,000 in repairs at the chateau this year.
“The château’s unique log construction and its association with Sir Harry Oakes and the development of Kirkland Lake is significant, and the trust continues to be committed to the long-term conservation of the site,” OHT’s David Leonard, senior marketing and communications specialist, told TimminsToday.
In March, Kirkland Lake council received an OHT-funded building condition assessment that revealed significant repair costs totalling $1.2 million. At the time, the town said there was a shortfall of approximately $950,000 for the essential repairs, noting that sustaining operations at the château was untenable.
At the meeting, the town ended its lease agreement for the château with the OHT. The Museum of Northern History is open to the public throughout the summer, with operations ending on Sept. 1. The town is leaving the property by the end of the year.
SEE: It may be your last summer to visit the historic Oakes château in Kirkland Lake
RELATED: People rallying to save Kirkland Lake's historic château
Leonard said there will be work done to repair and stabilize elements of the front porch, rear balcony, north retaining wall and selected hard-scaping, as well as repairs to areas of the roofing and water goods, like the gutters and downspouts. The work is expected to be done by the end of 2024.
The project has been in development since 2022, said Leonard. It was tendered earlier this year and was awarded to Roof Tile Management who are working under the supervision of Stevens Architects.
“Conversations are ongoing with Kirkland Lake regarding the property,” Leonard said.
While the town is pleased about the repairs, Mayor Stacy Wight said “it doesn’t change the conditions set out in the leasing agreement.”
“We look forward to seeing the relationship develop between concerned community members, their corporate partners, and the OHT,” she said.
Town staff will continue to help during the process, Wight said.
The building is nearly a century old and was built by Oakes, who became a multi-millionaire during Kirkland Lake’s gold rush. He built the home in 1929 to use during visits to his mining properties. His permanent home was in Niagara Falls.
In 1934 Oakes moved to the Bahamas as a protest against the Canadian tax system and was knighted by King George VI in 1939. Four years later, Oakes was murdered at his Bahamas home. The crime remains unsolved.
RELATED: One of the world’s best-unsolved crime stories started in the North
The Town of Kirkland Lake has overseen operations of the château through a lease agreement with the OHT since 1981.
Concerned residents have created a group called The Oakes Project: Heritage, Arts and Tourism (TOPHAT) to save the museum.
SEE: Kirkland Lake woman fighting to save museum her grandfather helped build
One of TOPHAT’s members, Martha McSherry, said the group is investigating a not-for-profit charitable status.
“Corporate discussions are in the very early phase, but so far positive as our mines support mining heritage and see a fit with their environmental, social, governance commitments,” she said.
“We're also in discussions with the town on their role or part going forward. We're committed to a win for each partner involved, understanding each perspective and negotiating the preservation of Kirkland Lake’s gem of a museum.”
