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 Introduction     CMHS Background      Board of Directors           Interpretive Approach      

Program Ideas for Heritage Centre        Naming Opportunities              Donation/Pledge Form

CHESTER MUNICIPAL HERITAGE SOCIETY

LORDLY ESTATE

RESTORATION CAMPAIGN

WINDOWS ON THE PAST - OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE

August 1, 2009

Dear Supporters,

The Lordly Estate is the last remaining, large, original heritage property available to our community. Its parkland is varied and accessible. The Chester Municipal Heritage Society has both a vision and a plan to restore the Estate for all to enjoy.

We are proud of the success we've had in acquiring this valuable property and developing the park for community use. It has taken a number of years, the efforts of many dedicated volunteers, and assistance from donors.

We are now taking the next important steps to restore the original buildings of the Estate so that they can be used for year round programs and activities. Lordly House is a Georgian architectural treasure and Maple Cottage carries its own historic story. The genealogical material in our Archives is outstanding. There are many resources in the community for the development of programming. These significant assets should be saved for all as a reminder of Chester's famous past and a gift to our community for the future.

We are encouraging our local citizens, key businesses and community leaders, and all levels of government to support this endeavor. Over the last year the Heritage Society has increased the number of members, has developed a groundswell of support from community organizations, and has received a positive response from government funders. The Heritage Society Board and the Restoration Campaign Team members have all made individual cash contributions to the restoration effort.

We are asking you to help with the lead giving that is at the heart of making this campaign a success. While all our stakeholders are contributing to this endeavor, it is the leadership of major gifts that establishes the basis for all our other asking, and brings confidence and energy to our campaign.

Members of our campaign team are eager to speak with you about the role that your gift can play, and the opportunities we have for recognizing your generosity.

We thank you again for your kind consideration,

Sincerely,

Carol Nauss Chair,

Chester Municipal Heritage Society   

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CHESTER MUNICIPAL HERITAGE SOCIETY

LORDLY ESTATE

RESTORATION CAMPAIGN

WINDOWS ON THE PAST - OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE

BACKGROUND

The Chester Municipal Heritage society (CMHS) was established as a not-for-profit society in 1980, through the perseverance and hard work of a small group of dedicated volunteers. During the past 28 years, the Society has enjoyed numerous successes, including presenting its very popular Chester House and Harbour Tour and the annual Auction. The Heritage Society also purchased and preserved several important heritage buildings and properties. One of these properties is Lordly House, a rare example of virtually unchanged, 200-year-old Georgian architecture, and its adjacent grounds.

As part of its new plan, the Heritage Society recently completed the renovation of Lordly Park, with the support of many groups and individuals. In anticipation of the launch of a capital campaign to raise the necessary funds to restore Lordly House and operate it as a Heritage Centre, the Chester Municipal Heritage Society has approved a new mission.

MISSION

The mission of the Chester Municipal Heritage Society is to create opportunities for residents and visitors to Chester to discover and experience the diverse cultural, political, social and natural history of the Municipality of the District of Chester.

HERITAGE RESOURCES

Lordly House: Built circa 1806, by Captain McCurdy, Evergreen Hall is now known as Lordly House after Charles Inglis Lordly, the first Municipal Clerk for the Municipality of the District of Chester 1879 to 1889. Charles Inglis Lordly and his wife Margaret McCurdy Lordly were but two prominent residents of Lordly House in its two hundred year history, during which time it has been almost continuously occupied. After Charles Inglis Lordly's death, the house was occupied by his son, Edwin Lordly, the second Clerk­ Treasurer for the Municipality, from 1890 to 1919. This Georgian style home is largely unchanged, retaining most of its original architectural features.

Maple Cottage: (Government Cottage): Located behind Lordly house, this small building served as the first town hall and the office for the Municipal Clerk.

The Estate Property: Lordly Park includes almost 4 acres of property located in the centre of Chester. The property is part of Lordly House's original estate and consists of recently renovated open spaces, treed areas, heritage orchards and provincially designated wetlands.

Artifacts and Archival material: The CMHS has a growing collection of artifacts, photographs, letters, genealogical resources, and historical materials which will provide the basis of some of the exhibits in the Heritage Centre

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INTERPRETIVE APPROACH

The Lordly House Heritage Centre will operate as a community heritage centre, using various rooms in the house to present thematic exhibitions on different aspects of the region's history including:

The Municipality of the District of Chester - Welcome to Our Home. This exhibition will provide visitors with a general overview of this history of the area, starting with the original inhabitants of the area, the Mi'kmaq, followed by English and German settlers, and later settlers from New England and Loyalists.

Drawing on the history of Lordly House as the residence of the first two municipal clerks and Maple Cottage as the site of the first municipal office, this orientation exhibit will also introduce visitors to the history of the creation of the municipality in 1879, and the communities that comprise the Municipality of the District of Chester today.

By Land and by Sea - Industry and Business in the Municipality: This exhibit will trace the history of the diverse businesses and industries in which the residents of different parts of the Municipality have made their living over time, including shipbuilding, fishing, forestry and wood product manufacturing, agriculture and mining.

Destination Chester - How Tourism and Recreation Shaped the Chester Area: This exhibit will examine how Chester grew into an important tourism and recreational destination. It would trace the history of the Americans who began visiting the area in the early 1800s and have continued to the present day, as well as legacy they have left. The exhibit will also examine how Chester became Nova Scotia's premier sailing destination. The story would start with the first sailing regattas in the 1850s, and continue up to the present day, when Chester draws thousands of visitors for Race Week. This exhibit would also explore the other assets that make the area a tourism magnet, such as the golf courses that are considered to be some of Atlantic Canada's most picturesque.

At Home in Chester-Yesterday and Today: The kitchen area of Lordly house maintains a number of its original features. It will provide a unique setting for the interpretation of culinary and domestic traditions of the area. This exhibit might also juxtapose household equipment and practices that would have been used when the Lordly family lived in the house with their modern equivalents.

Rising to the Challenge: The Community in Times of Conflict: This exhibition will examine the role residents of the area have played during and after times of conflict, including the "red coat defense" of 1782, when locals successfully repelled an attack by American privateers; the attack of the ship Young Teazer during the War of 1812; care of convalescing Norwegian soldiers during World War II; and the operation of the Canadian forces Station at Mill Cove.

Local Government and the Evolution of Democracy in Nova Scotia: As the site of the first municipal office, and located adjacent to the home of the first two Municipal Clerks, Maple Cottage will provide a unique location for an exhibition that will explore the formation and early workings of the Municipality. The creation of the Municipality will also be examined within the context of the birth and evolution of democracy in Nova Scotia. Maple Cottage will be a fitting location for researchers to access municipal records and other archival material related to the history of the Municipality and its residents.

Temporary Exhibitions

In order to encourage repeat visitation, one of the rooms in Lordly House will be devoted to an annual changing or temporary exhibition that commemorates an important event, highlights unique stories, such as the Butterbox babies, or facilitates discussion on an issue that is of contemporary importance to the community. This space will allow the Society the opportunity to collaborate with other museums and historical societies in the Province to mount exhibits of mutual interest.

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Chester Municipal Heritage Society

Lordly Estate Restoration Campaign

Windows on the Past - Opportunities for the Future

NAMING OPPORTUNITIES AND BENEFITS

Major Donor _____________ Name the Endowment Fund, or the Video/Photo/Genealogical Archives *

$100,000__________________ Name the historic Municipal Building, the Keeper's Cottage in Lordly Park, or Endow the Executive Director position*

$50,000 ___________________ Name the Exhibit Room, the historic pre-confederation Kitchen, the Perennial Garden, or the Pavilion in the Park*

$40,000 ___________________ Name the Children's Activity room, , the Salon/dining Room, the front Bedroom, the Horseshoe pitch/Skating Rink or Endow a Program offered by the CMHS for 25 years*

$25,000 ___________________ Name the Catering Kitchen, the Privy, one of the 3 Rooms on the 2^nd floor, the old Well, the new Well, or Endow a Program offered by the CMHS for 15 years*

$10,000____________________ Endow a Program offered by the CMHS for 5 years; Recognition in all program promotions and in all listing of supporters and a year's membership in the CMHS

$5,000.____________________ Recognition on a bench; Recognition in all listing of supporters and a year's membership in the CMHS

$1,000_____________________ Recognition in the Board Walk or on a tree in the park; Recognition in all listing of supporters and a year's membership in the CMHS

*In addition to the naming opportunity:

Life-time membership in the CMHS, Recognition in the listing of supporters, Complementary invitations to all events and programs

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Chester Municipal Heritage Society

Lordly Estate Restoration Campaign

Windows on the Past - Opportunities for the Future

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Program Ideas for Lordly Estate Heritage Centre

Guest Artists, Craftsmen, Writers, Painters, Performers and Demonstrations of everyday activities of the 1800's

Boat Building, Model Boat Making, Carving, Trap Making, Decoys, Blacksmithing, Quilting, Ironing with a Flat Iron, Baking in an Oven, Washing Clothes, Making Soap and Cleaning Solutions, Simple Remedies For the Sick, Dying Cloth or Wool, Spinning, Tatting, Crocheting, Quilting, Knitting, Weaving, Embroidery, Samplers, and Quilt making, Preserving Food, Period Clothing, Heritage Plants and Gardens, Traditional Mi'kmaq Crafts, Foods and Traditions, Heritage Animals, and Musical Instruments.

Activities reminiscent of the 1840's

Teas, Garden Parties (with fashions for the family of different time periods), Amateur Theatricals, Musical Evenings, Christmas Celebrations, Period Games for Children and Families, School Days, and Picnics.

Special Programs and Services

Genealogy and Village Archives, Files and resources on local history (stories and pictures), Video and Audio displays

Research on the Internet, Use of the Inventoried Properties Binder

Exhibits featuring Heritage Centre Collections like "Butterbox Babies," Programs on Natural History and Environment

The House as Architectural Resource

Visual Timeline of Municipality History

Antiques: How to recognize an antique, How to restore antique articles made of metal, wood, paper etc, Insuring your antiques, Displaying antiques (collections) in your home

Special Events

Antique Road Show ;Travelling Exhibits and Displays developed in cooperation with other museums and historic buildings; Hobbyists with Collections of stamps, coins, artifacts

Garden Parties and Teas

Children's Story Hour, Children's Classes, Children's Summer Camps focused on history, nature and art

Arts and Craft Days geared for different age groups and different seasons (like Christmas decorations)

Musical Performances and Heritage Dancing

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CHESTER MUNICIPAL HERITAGE SOCIETY

LORDLY ESTATE RESTORATION CAMPAIGN

WINDOWS ON THE PAST - OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE

CHESTER MUNICIPAL HERITAGE SOCIETY  BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers

Carol Nauss - Chair

Duncan McNeill - Vice Chair

Glenda Redden - Secretary

Sandra Dumaresq - Treasurer

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