INNISFAIL - The dream of acquiring the historic Sinclair home for the Innisfail and District Historical Village has received a generous boost.
Gerry and Rita Kemp, both driving forces to save the historic Dr. George/Kemp House more than three decades ago, have stepped up with a $10,000 donation last week after reading a Jan. 10 Innisfail Province story explaining that time was running out for the village to secure urgently needed restoration funding.
The Sinclair home, constructed more than 125 years ago, was the pioneer home of Isabella (Bella) Sinclair, the first Caucasian female to settle in Central Alberta. Local historians consider the structure as a critically important artifact to tell the full story of the important role pioneer women played in the earliest years of Central Alberta settlement.
"You got to restore history and keep it intact. When the article came out in the paper we decided it would be a good project to put money into," said Gerry, who is the grandson of William Kemp and chairman of the Dr. George/Kemp House Preservation Society that saved the historical structure from a demolition order. "I asked my Scottish wife, ëhow much should we donate?' She said $10,000."
The donation will go a long way to securing an approved $17,000 provincial grant that is dependent on the Innisfail and District Historical Society matching it with donations, either through cash or in-kind services. The society, which had not been able to raise any cash donations since being approved for the grant last year, has until Feb. 17 to come up with its $17,000, or face the possibility of losing the provincial grant.
Now armed with the $10,000 cash infusion, society officials are applying for a deadline grant extension to the province.
"We just have to give them a renewed outline of what we are going to do and when it is going to be done," said Lawrence Gould, treasurer of the society.
Gerry said he and Rita are now challenging the community to come up with the remaining $7,000, either through cash donations or "sweat equity," volunteer professional help that would create a foundation for the two-storey, 1,400-square-foot log structure, and repair the deteriorating roof. The long vacant pioneer home is now located on the Thomson family farm eight kilometres west of Innisfail. Family patriarch John Thomson, who at the age of 83 now resides in Innisfail, is paying for the cost of moving the house to the village.
"Having gone through the restoration of the Kemp house we know the challenges. They (society) are sort of up against a brick wall and we figured that something like this might stir a few more donations," said Gerry. "Some people might say if the Kemps can afford that much maybe we can afford some too, hopefully."
In the meantime, there is a possibility that if the remaining $7,000 in donations can be secured quickly, the Sinclair home could be transported to the village in time for Canada's 150th birthday celebrations on July 1, even if the old house is a long way from being fully restored.
"It will be without a doubt an eyesore for a number of years to come, until the work is done," conceded Anna Lenters, president of the society, who is hopeful the community will respond with more generosity. "But sometimes that creates enthusiasm from tradespeople and people in the community who maybe don't have the cash, but there is some sweat equity."
Lenters said the village has already laid out its Canada 150 programming for this year. She said one component of the programming will be paying special tributes to the pioneer ladies of the Women's Institute and the Dorcas Society, of which Bella Sinclair was a dedicated lifelong member.
If any citizen or organization wants to make a cash or in-kind donation towards the restoration of the Sinclair home they can contact Gould at 403-227-1883 or Lenters at 403-865-3736.
Gerry Kemp
"You got to restore history and keep it intact. When the article came out in the paper we decided it would be a good project to put money into."
