Sir: This is in response to Jim Comiskey’s letter of Aug.16 in which he expressed concern for the condition of Stanley Avenue, and as a corollary, the fate of the old courthouse.
I would like to add some more information about the avenue.
I too lived for many years on Stanley Avenue, from 1970 to 1991.
In those years, there were two variety stores – who can forget Golaphut’s? – one high school (the late lamented C.C.I), an elementary school (Victoria Park), a pub, a mill, the registry office, the armoury, a nursing home, the oldest cemetery in Chatham, the Cultural Centre, and the courthouse.
This area is the oldest residential area in the city of Chatham, containing many beautiful old homes – my former brick home at 39 Stanley was built in 1869 – and also a very eclectic population.
Moreover, this area is also unique in the sense that some form of water must be crossed to access it, either the Thames or McGregor’s Creek.
Since I left there in 1990, virtually all of the places I have named have been shut down or destroyed.
Perhaps that is why the municipality has been so neglectful of the road conditions there, and seemingly could not care less about the deteriorating condition of the historical courthouse.
This area is a very special one in the development of Chatham, and should be treasured and nourished and cared for, instead of being allowed to sink into obscurity and asphalt.
In the 1970s, when the school board was moving out of the three buildings they occupied, we formed a committee to protect the area from high-rise development, and threatened (jokingly) to secede from the city and set up borders at the water crossings.
Perhaps it is time to revisit that idea!
Sharon Jubenville
Chatham
