Massive steel press that punched out parts for Enterprise products. Photo: Tantramar Heritage Trust
Sackville Town Council voted unanimously last week to contribute up to $7,000 worth of labour and materials as well as up to $15,000 in cash to support plans for a massive steel monument to commemorate the Fawcett and Enterprise Foundries and the thousands of workers who toiled in them manufacturing such products as stoves and heaters, furnaces and fireplace grates as well as enamelled sinks, toilets and tubs.
Councillors were responding to a request from local historian Susan Amos who has just completed a book in honour of the 170th anniversary of Fawcett’s, Sackville’s first foundry, and the 150th anniversary of the Enterprise Foundry.
In her presentation to council earlier this month on behalf of Tantramar Heritage Trust, Amos listed various events being held this year to commemorate the foundries including her book launch on September 17th, two dinners and a play about some of the people whose lives were connected to the foundries.
“But what happens when this year comes to an end?” she asked.
“How will we commemorate our foundries, which contributed so much to our community for so many years?
“Well, what about a monument?”
Other sculptures
Local historian Susan Amos addressing town council on Aug. 2nd
Amos pointed out that the sculpture of George Stanley, seated on a park bench outside the Post Office, honours the designer of Canada’s flag while the Chignecto Balance installation beside the Lorne Street flood control pond reminds people about the effects of climate change.
“Why not a sculpture to commemorate the foundries?” she asked.
“The good news is, we already have one,” she added, pointing to a slide showing the massive steel press that sat in the shop at Enterprise for many years punching out parts for the foundry’s products.
“It’s big!” she said. “Fourteen feet high, eight feet wide and six feet deep.”
Amos said Mt. A. has already agreed in principle that the steel press could be installed on the former site of the Fawcett Foundry where the university now has its King Street parking lot.
She said Danny Bowser of Bowsers’ Construction and his family have agreed to donate the huge steel press while Tantramar Heritage Trust plans to apply for a federal legacy grant to help finance the monument.
“The catch here is that the dollar value of the grant must be matched by the community, either in dollars or in-kind contributions,” Amos said before asking the town to help in site design and preparation that would include pouring a concrete pedestal.
She said that if Tantramar Heritage Trust is successful in getting the federal grant, installation would begin next spring.
Some concerns
Jon Eppell, Sackville’s new town engineer said he had a few concerns about the project that would have to be dealt with by others, not by the town.
He said, for example, that there could be contaminated soil on the site, the steel press itself may be covered with lead-based paints and there could be petroleum fluids inside it.
Town Engineer Jon Eppell
“We suggest that it should be cleaned up properly before being moved, make sure that it’s emptied of fluids, make sure there’s no lead paint,” Eppell said.
He added that perhaps the surface could be blasted and repainted or a clear coat applied to preserve it.
He also expressed concerns about safety.
“It’s 14 feet high, there’s lots of handholds, there’s lots of bolts and nuts that protrude from it so that if a child did choose to climb it, there is the potential that their clothing could catch on it, so we’d be interested to know what the measures are that would be proposed to discourage climbing or eliminate those catch points.”
Eppell emphasized that the town would neither own nor maintain the monument and that depending on its exact location, lighting may need to be installed.
Treasurer Michael Beal also pointed out that since the monument would be on university property, the town would have no legal liability for it.
Council support
Councillor Bill Evans thanked town staff for expressing concerns, but voiced his own strong support.
“Let’s find a way to say yes that is both prudent [and] supports a worthwhile initiative, but is careful in limiting our liability, our exposure, our costs, so I like the fact we’re being careful,” he said.
“I like this project,” Councillor Bruce Phinney declared.
“It’s got 150 and 170 years history behind it and it certainly will be supported by the people of the town.”
Here we go again with a town council who believe they’re qualified to discuss and make a decision for a monument. Hilarious!
Who is “qualified” to decide what is appropriate as a monument. Let’s agree that a monument is not necessarily art.
I agree, monument can be anything, this is to represent the foundry workers of Sackville. I like the idea.
My Father worked at Fawcett Foundry his whole life and it was not an easy job, most days dad would come home so black from the dirt you could hardly recognize him. My father managed to raise a family on very little pay and saw all his children have professional careers. I’m grateful for the work ethic he instilled in me, if he was around today I’m sure my dad would be happy to see a project celebrating our history.
This is history of Sackville. It’s not costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
To have some sort of monument of the foundries is something for those of us who remember and can talk and show some part of the foundries that are no longer. If we let go of our heritage ( which , as far as I’m concerned is like stories that can be told or forgotten)( and I can still remember the foundries),who is going to remember the hard working , and pride of the many ,many people who worked there?
Yes , we need to think of health care, housing and food on peoples table,., but that was what the foundries did too.!
I’m pleased to know serious consideration is being given to historical recognition of our foundries. My father began working at Fawcett in his teens and died there from a sudden, massive heart attack at age 44. Many others in my family were dedicated employees. I wonder if the story of the foundries could accompany this or other commemorative structure?
A worthy project carefully planned. The concerns discussed in this article can be resolved; financial, liability, hazards, restoration, installation. The book to be published by Susan Amos will be a valuable historical resource documenting the major role the foundries played in our industrial heritage for 150-170 years. I am very pleased to see this initiative nearly complete and look forward to the book in Sept and a significant monument next year.
My father, Gerald Ward, was a career employee at Fawcett until they closed. He was part of production management, enamel shop foreman. As a boy I accompanied him many times into the rambling warren of buildings and worked there briefly 1969-70. The two foundries were the major employers in Sackville and their contribution to the economy here needs to be kept visible.