The heritage streetscape in downtown Guelph, Onatrio, is both sad and oh-so-very hopeful. The buildings have aged a lot over the years and not always gracefully. Note the application of a thin coat of concrete to the first floor stone of the building on the right. The maintenance of these old structures has not always been in keeping with the architecture. In fact, the repairs have often been downright destructive.
But, and it is a big but, the buildings are intact to the point that these places can be restored with far less effort than is often necessary. It does seem clear that there is more interest in saving these buildings than in demolishing them. It is not hard to envision a day when the magic wand of restoration will have touched many of these buildings, leaving the downtown with many sparkling, architectural jewels.
3 comments:
This is a familiar sight.
The next time you go, you should pay a visit to the Civic Museum, up beside the big Catholic church. And the McCrae House.
I'll make a note of it. Thanks. We have someone in Guelph we must visit. That means we will be back for sure.
I tried getting in that church again when I was down, but once again it was locked. I've been in there once, and it was magnificent.
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