A First World War cenotaph in Ridgeville will receive a $33,600 makeover.
The town along with Royal Canadian Legion Branch 613 and the federal government through Veterans Affairs Canada will pay for the restoration project.
Pelham town council approved its $11,800 share at Monday’s town council meeting. The legion branch will contribute $5,000. The federal government will match the $16,800 raised locally.
Mayor Dave Augustyn said the deteriorating condition of the cenotaph has been discussed during recent Remembrance observances at Old Pelham Town Hall.
With the renovation of the Old Pelham Town Hall, it seems appropriate to repair the cenotaph so it could last another 100 years, he said.
The monument was placed in front of what was then the Pelham Township hall in 1920 to remember those from the township lost in the First World War. In front of it is a German trench mortar.
Over the years, some of the lead letters on the monument have fallen off and it was feared they may all disappear.
Earlier this year, town staff met with legion members, along with Canadian Armed Forces and Kirkpatrick O’Brien Monuments representatives at the site to discuss restoring the monument and trench mortar.
The cenotaph will be removed for refacing on all four sides, staff said in a report.
While the channel around the top of the tablet will be maintained, professionals will resurface the sides to accept sunk lettering with the exact information currently on the cenotaph.
“The new lettering will be permanent and will require no further maintenance because no paint or artificial substance will be used to enhance it,” said the report.
The mortar will be replaced by another piece of surplus defence department equipment.
The goal is to complete the project in time for the 2015 Remembrance service. On the Sunday before Remembrance Day, the town and legion hold ceremonies at cenotaphs in Fenwick, Ridgeville and Fonthill.
