Those who don’t want Belfountain’s historical community hall to be stomped here’s the dust-swirling, heart-throbbing, yippee-kye-yay way to say NO WAY.
Show up mid-afternoon on Aug. 22 in the green meadow opposite the Caledon Ski Club at the liveliest ‘Under The Maples’ blues festival ever to strum through Caledon hills. The $40 entry ticket (parking is free) will garner the famed gallop of Stompin’ Tom’s original band and a host of other high-kicking blues stars.
It’s going to corral a salvaged future for the deteriorated heritage hall built 122 years ago.
Caledon council voted Aug. 11 to invest $216,393 on ‘minimum maintenance repairs’ for the hall – mainly to install a $35,000 septic system, fix up the floor structure for another $35,000 and spend $74,393 for a new roof and trusses.
Until now, the hall operated at a loss of nearly $1,000 a month. But under the new plan, the OPPO intends to pay rent and establish a satellite police station in the hall this fall.
The minimum repairs voted through by Council don’t allow for amenities and décor. So the Belfountain Community Organization (BCO) will pour all profit generated from the Under The Maples festivities into upgrades.
The hall was closed March 3 until the snow melted and has now re-opened until the snow flies again, said Tom Darlow, facility manager for Caledon public works.
“The facility is a compact frame building with no particular architectural style,” stated the public works report that Darlow presented to council.
This is because the original building was just a single-storey wooden structure built and operated by the Belfountain Mechanics’ Institute.
In 1931 the hall was jacked up while a concrete block first floor was installed underneath along with an electrical system. A quarter century later money was raised for a kitchen extension and two downstairs toilets. Finally in 1973 Caledon took over the building.
Round up friends and mosey up to the Under The Maples jamboree to have a stompin’ good time while the ticket cost goes to a great cause.
