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The History of the Fultz Corner Restoration Society
It was only through the watchful eye of the Sackville Heritage Society, that local residents discovered the potential threat that jeopardized their link with the past. Found within the dailies was a call for the demolition of the Fultz House. In order to save the beloved home of one of the founding families of Sackville, concerned historical minds needed to act quickly, before the 120 year old residence became nothing more than a ruin of debris and a dusty reminder of what once stood there.
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The society determined that three things could be accomplished in the short-term. First, the Nova Scotia Museum was asked to come to the site with an evaluation team to conduct a review as to historical importance. Second, Parks Canada was approached to see if the Fultz House could be included in their national inventory of historical buildings. Third, society members toured the buildings and grounds. A thorough search resulted in the study of maps and records. The Fultz family was also consulted on the status of the situation to gather their opinions, and to collect information surrounding the Fultz family and the property.
Sackville Heritage quickly realized they would have to enlist the help of the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia and Heritage Canada. Parks Canada was thought to be an important partner in the preservation of the site, and the society relied on them immensely. The Sackville community could not afford to have such an important and influential government agency not on their side if the heritage campaign was to prove successful. In addition, some of community elders were approached to solicit their views over the proposed demolition of one of the oldest standing structures in Sackville. The fire in the bellies of many ignited to save the former home and property of the Fultz family.
With time came frustration over not knowing what may happen to this pillar of the community. A publicity campaign pursued. Local residents would not allow such an important issue to die. Voices of protest spread into the pages of city papers. A one Ms. Anne Merritt of 290 Kaye Street penned an editorial, which brilliantly captured the range of emotion Sackville residents felt at that time. It was because of such thought provoking editorials that the concerned stayed motivated, and this kept the issue alive. All of this came at a time when the community of Sackville awaited news from the official evaluation report as to what would become of Sackville’s charming home away from home.
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One main obstacle against saving the Fultz House was that the structure of the house was no longer original. The Fultz homestead underwent extensive alterations when the Bakers’ took possession of the home. The 1950’s represented some significant changes.
For those who raised such a trivial issue, the society fought back with other historical points that warranted the site being protected from contemporary construction. For years Fultz Corner marked the intersection of the roads between Truro and Windsor. The Fultz House signified the beginning of Sackville. Some said at the time that the Fultz House is to Sackville what the Old Town Clock is to Halifax.
The Society still wanted to find out what others were thinking, regardless of the criticisms heard and the support offered. They determined the best way to gauge public opinion was through existing organizations that reflected on Sackville’s unique population. These organizations had multiple concerns and any opinions sought from them would provide the Sackville Heritage Society with almost every possible view. As a collective they realized that in order to successfully save this historical treasure, they would have to come up with a game plan that they could all agree on. A meeting determined that an umbrella organization would have to be struck. All the service groups present sanctioned the formation of this group.
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To convince the community at large of the need for the preservation of the Fultz House a number of possible uses for the house and property were decided. First, it would act as a monument to the past. It would be a place visible at the entry point into Sackville to all passerby’s and future residents. A link could emerge between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Second, the Fultz House could service Sackville’s need for a centre to explore cultural studies, while storing, preserving, and displaying historically significant artifacts connected to Sackville’s earliest days. Third, the preservation of the Fultz House presented the possibility that local youth would have a place to come to and appreciate their shared heritage. Teachers would have somewhere they could bring their students to investigate the past, perhaps for the first time. Community youth-minded organizations like the Scouts could take full advantage of the premises. Fourth, the facility if preserved could be used as a meeting place for garden groups, seniors and a headquarters for the Sackville Heritage Society. Fifth, the site would draw tourists into a previously underutilized tourist area. This site would compliment existing tourist draws like the racetrack and drive-in movie theatre. Sixth, a public garden would be added onsite for Sackville citizens to enjoy through leisurely walks. Contained in the same space would be a showplace for drama and bandstands.
The only conceivable way the Fultz House could stay afloat would be if it received financial assistance from government grants, private citizens, and business contributions and by the support of the community as a whole. The society may have worried about the financial cost, but after lengthy talks about funding options that possibly existed between public and private partnerships, this historical society moved forth to set the wheels in motion for Sackville to have its very own residence of historical importance. At one point the organization felt that a long-term lease was in order from the government and that perhaps the society should seek a one-dollar leasing fee per year of occupation.
As the movement to preserve the Fultz House continued, the volunteers struggling to save the property felt that they accomplished what was most important: they acted as responsible guardians of the heritage left behind by the early settlers of Sackville by indicating the huge asset the site would serve if preserved.
The Sackville Heritage Society was successful in convincing the Nova Scotia Museum that the site did have a certain level of historical value. Their evaluation clearly stated that their was sufficient interest and that the Fultz House was in good enough condition to warrant saving. Prior to this conclusion, six community organizations formed as one. They included the Sackville Heritage Society, Riverview Community Centre, Sackville Jaycees, the Sackville Valley Garden Club, Xi Mu chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and the Caudle Park P.T.A. The new group became known as the Fultz Corner Restoration Society. It evolved between September and December of 1979. The Fultz Corner Restoration Society was founded in November of that same year, as an umbrella organization.
It has often been asked why so many diverse groups within one community came together to work on a project that was so different from what would have been expected from them as separate entities. The intent behind the umbrella group formation was to clearly prove to the provincial government that all of Sackville was behind such a project. The Sackville Valley Garden Club provided an informed knowledge of the earth and possessed the abilities to revitalize what some referred to as a “neglected” landscape. The Jaycees role in the whole project revolved around promoting the property. The Riverview Recreation Society offered their immense organizational skills and proven leadership to develop the Fultz site as a park and recreational area. The Caudle Park Home and School Association outlined how relevant and valuable a historic home would be to students. The sorority’s involvement in the entire project focused on how significant it was for Sackville to have a restored historic property. Together, the six groups worked to save and promote the house.
It would be in the early days of December 1979, that the executive was chosen for the Fultz Corner Restoration Society. The six groups that had shown an interest in saving the Fultz house and property, selected representatives to sit as executive members on the new society. Bob Harvey, of the Sackville Heritage Society, was appointed as the soon-to-be president of the chartered group. Ted B. Blackburn represented the Riverview Community Centre on the executive and he received the position of vice president. Sackville Garden Club’s very own Shirley McGovern was named secretary. Iris Hardy became the treasurer of Sackville’s newest organization. Her voice spoke for the Xi Mu chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. Reg Clarke, who belonged to the Jaycees and the PTA’s Carol McKinnon sat as members-at-large. By the time this election was held on Monday December 3rd, Mr. Harvey was contacted by the Nova Scotia Museum and informed that their study was complete and awaiting review by the provincial museum’s board of directors.
The Fultz Corner Restoration Society patiently waited for the Nova Scotia Museum to determine if the Fultz property contained a significant level of boards and the like from the original building to be saved or would the changes made by the previous owners mean the demise of the century old structure. It would not be official until the summer of 1980 that this historic site received an unofficial pardon from the wrath of provincial government highway crews.
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Concern grew as there was still no word on what the fate of the Fultz House would be, as both the Fultz Corner Restoration Society and the general public awaited word as to what government officials deemed appropriate. Still no word on the lease got many people thinking about what may happen next. No one knew for sure whether a campaign of protest would erupt in protest to the government’s decision or whether after the announcement there would be a congratulatory cheer of glee surrounding the signing of a lease. A lease was eventually signed in August of 1980. Sackville at long last would have a distinguished entry point into this sprawling community.
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Sackville youths were equally interested in what happened to the Fultz House. Students at Sackville High made a donation to help in the operation of the museum; in addition they gave the museum an original piece of art, painted by Jean Mosher, depicting the Fultz House as it once appeared. They too wanted to help preserve a place for which their children could come and soak-in Sackville’s rich historical past.
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Such young support did not go unrecognized. The community applauded their interest in such a once-in-a-lifetime project. Few people realized that anyone enrolled within the school curriculum would apply what they learned in the classroom to the outside world. The students wanted to breath new life into learning about our past and awaken the past hidden behind its dusty cobwebs. Sackville’s history had an interesting fan base. Young and old alike came together to support the establishment of a museum that people could come to, and learn about and discover Sackville’s extraordinary past. Before the public could come to the museum much preparation had to first take place. When all the cataloguing and sorting of information was tabulated and finalized, and ready for public display and the house open for visitation, boy, did Sackville have a story waiting to tell, as the thousands who passed through the doors of the museum in the initial years of operation learned.
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After much work and determination, the struggle to preserve one of Sackville’s oldest homes proved successful in September of the inaugural year. The provincial cabinet and then premier, John Buchanan, visited the house during Sackville Days. The rent on that day was paid for the remainder of the five-year lease. If Society members had any fears about whether Sackville residents would visit the site, their anxiety was relieved when some three hundred people visited the site in the span of eight hours.
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The Sackville Jaycees announced a program where they would “sell” special shares in the house to raise a required sum of money to refurbish the kitchen and back area of the house. Most of which was completed by the spring of 1982. Regardless of the progress, money remained a major obstacle. As progress continued on site, through the work of the Jaycees and other community- minded individuals and organizations, many in the community had ideas of what should become of Fultz House in 1981, as modifications and improvements were completed both internally and externally.
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A small museum operated on the premises throughout the summer months. Over the course of time that the house was open to visitors, some eleven hundred people signed the guest book.
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It was in 1981 that Agnes Kelly started the Tuesday coffee parties during the summer. Such an event raised much-needed dollars for the museum. All in attendance had good times. Local talent was on the scene to make the coffee parties more enjoyable and entertaining. In some cases four hundred dollars was raised to benefit the cause of the museum. The fun of learning continued for the remainder of that season. Besides being a moneymaking opportunity such an event presented society members with the opportunity to meet and greet Sackville, Bedford, Beaver Bank, Lucasville and Kinsac residents. People from these areas, while sipping away at their tasteful treats became aware of Sackville’s history and the potential uses of the Fultz House. Coffee Tuesdays came at a time when few places existed for the whole of Sackville to come together and share their recollections. At the time, the coffee parties were organized and held by the Sackville Heritage Society.
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The museum operated in a normal manner in holding events and special occasions. Besides providing valuable and insightful tours, the museum hosted heritage craft sessions for youngsters in the county recreation program. Even a wedding took place on December 19th. This was the first wedding on the property since the old Fultz house was turned into a museum. Judge Elliott Hudson presided over the ceremony in the home’s historic living room. The happy couple was Mr. and Mrs. William Arsenault. Bill Arsenault married Alison Van Snick. Maid of honour, Jennie Boudreau and best man, Pat Moran, accompanied the bride and groom. Approximately fifteen people witnessed the blessed event. The last wedding to take place at the house was likely at the turn of the century, some eighty years prior.
The Fultz Corner Restoration Society did not falter in its second full year of operation. Talent Nova Scotia appeared on the scene in August for a series of Sunday afternoon concerts. By the time the last Sunday in August arrived, a well-attended garden party was held.
When summer faded into a cold and frosty autumn, the house still had its share of visitors. Many appointments were made to allow people to tour the grounds and house. By the time the ground defrosted in the spring, the guest book had an additional five hundred signatures. The Fultz House drew many people in that year. A sparkle was in the eye of many by the time the tree lighting ceremony occurred. Success continued to shine on the Fultz House in the fall of 1981 and leading into 1982.
In time the society would shrink to five organizations. Caudle Park left sometime over the course of late 1981 or early 1982. This organization accomplished what its membership set out to do and no longer believed that the Fultz House restoration project fitted into their respective mandate. Caudle Park’s representative on the
Board of the Fultz Corner Restoration Society, Linda Townsend, remained active up until her organization chose to pursue other interests.
As the Fultz Corner Restoration Society grew smaller in membership, others within the community helped the Fultz House meet its needs, ensuring that priorities were met and that the museum operated as if nothing had changed. For instance, local councillor Malcolm Mackay ensured that a stonewall the premier had promised would be on site by the fall to be placed on the side of the property facing the Windsor and Cobequid Roads.
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The arts blossomed in the winter of 1982. The Fultz House Players were formed and by May of that same year they presented a delightful rendition of “Anne of Green Gables.” Under the leadership of Terry Davis and Lynn Ritchie, the May 19th and 20thperformances netted the museum a remarkable sum, fifteen hundred dollars. Terry Davis and Lynn Ritchie were seen in the local paper presenting a cheque to Bob Harvey, president of the society, for the full cheque amount of a little over fifteen hundred. The sum of the money was made available to preserve and beautify the historic building. This group disbanded shortly after their inaugural production.