Old Boys’ Memorial Entrance repairs needed to save building

By Sharon Harrison
The disrepair and on-going deterioration of the Old Boys’ Memorial Entrance was discussed at the recent Built and Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee meeting – with the hope that the roof could be fixed before winter if the building is to be saved.

The Old Boy’s Entrance building, closest to Main Street, was constructed in 1920 as a pedestrian entrance and ticket booth, and commemorates County residents who sacrificed their lives in the First World War.

County author and columnist Margaret Haylock Capon has recalled The Old Boys was “a group of men from Prince Edward County who left to find their fortunes elsewhere, (many relocating to the Toronto area), but never forgot their roots. From 1900 to the early 1940s, they travelled home to Picton and the County on excursion trains each year to visit their boyhood homes.

Former ticket booth and fence. – PEC Archives photo

“Following the First World War, they sought to memorialize the County men who did not come home and decided on construction of a ticket booth and entrance at the fairgrounds. Money was raised through public subscription, with the Old Boys contributing generously from their own pockets.”

In a 2021 report to council, Dr. Carl Bray of Bray Heritage, retained by council with Branch Architecture and Letourneau Heritage Consulting to prepare a master plan for the fairgrounds, cited the memorial entrance as one of four key structures of the site. It was recommended the ticket booth, entrance wall and fence be restored and the Old Boys dining hall reconstructed. (see that story below)

Discussion at the recent Built and Cultural Heritage Committee meeting included what overall repairs may be necessary, along with timelines, especially as it relates to the state of the deteriorating roof, rotting floorboards and walls, as well as interior mould growth.

The small structure sits roadside on Picton Main and forms part of a group of heritage designated buildings at the Crystal Palace site (including the Blue Bird building) at the Picton Fairgrounds. The Old Boys’ Entrance was designated a heritage building in April 1990.

Constructed in 1920, the Prince Edward Old Boys’ Memorial Entrance is an illustration of colonial revival architecture, this form of architecture being a revival of earlier styles. The Memorial Entrance and Ticket Building is an example of Tudor revival at its best with its steeply pitched roof and decorative half-timbering mimicking in-filled timber framing and stucco wall cladding. Adding to the charm of the facade are five sash glazed patterned windows.

In his report, Mark Gilbert, community facilities supervisor with the recreation and community facilities department, outlined how a roofing and revitalization program was undertaken in 2011 to replace the roofs of the Crystal Palace, Blue Bird building, Old Boys’ Entrance and the public washrooms with cedar shakes.

“By all aspects, this has not been successful in the repair of the building, mainly from supplies, and some of the work that was conducted on the building, the main building that is seeing the worst at the Old Boys’ Entrance,” outlined Gilbert, who said the aim is to get the building water tight again, so that it can be preserved to make it last indefinitely.

He said when the work was done, the roof replacement life expectancy was identified to be least 25 years or more.

“Unfortunately, due to poor insulation, and less than adequate materials, the roof started to leak in 2020 and has continued to deteriorate since that time,” said Gilbert. “When it went out to tender in 2011 and was installed, I don’t believe the proper materials were originally purchased.”

“Going back, you have old-growth lumber, which was originally in use for cedar shakes, which would actually give you a lot better quality and the installation will allow the air flow to be proper,” he said. “I don’t believe that the installation was done 100 per cent correctly, and I don’t believe the materials were sourced in the proper manner which leads us to be where we are now with the understanding that we were trying to get a lot longer life span out of these cedar shakes than what we have actually achieved.”

There is currently $50,000 allocated in the budget (previously approved by council) for the revitalization of the Old Boys’ Entrance. However, Gilbert said he didn’t know if all the work needed could be financially achieved with the budget to having the roof repaired, along with dealing with floor rot and mould issues. He said funds are limited and they have to figure out how to make this work.

“I was hoping to secure the building and then a later date, we can re-visit the potential of bringing it back,” said Gilbert.

“I am very fearful if the water damage continues in this building that we are going to have structural issues, and we are already seeing that in some of the floor boarding and the walls, so my hope was to use some of the funds available to try and make a likeness that would pay respect to the building and the cedar shakes that are character and then guarantee us the funds to move forward that would allow this project to go forward this year.”

It is hoped the roof replacement can be completed this year, where Gilbert indicated he wanted it done before winter if the building was to be saved.

It was noted in the report that the roof of a heritage building serves as the primary barrier against environmental elements, with its structural and functional integrity vital to preserving further deterioration.

“This is why starting with the roof is critical for the project,” he said. “Decisions on the best plan forward for the roof and the cost will determine the scope for the rest of work. The Crystal Palace, Blue Bird building and public washroom at the Picton Fairgrounds will need to be taken into consideration when deciding on the Old Boys’ Entrance roof due to their heritage designation and proximity to each other.”

Gilbert noted that staff will be working with the legions and the Prince Edward Agricultural Society on the revitalization plans for the building once the roof plan has been finalized.

Two options are being considered for the roof replacement of the Old Boys’ Entrance:

(1) Replace the cedar roof with the same cedar materials and installation company that was used for the Macaulay House roof – estimated cost $26,175;

or

(2) Consider a new product called cedar creek shake by Vickwest – estimated cost $20,575.

Cedar creek shake shingles provide all the aesthetic benefit of a shake roof without the degradation, notes the report. Quadra-Loc technology securely locks the shingle on all four sides ensuring exceptional water-tightness and nearly eliminating uplift caused by high winds and heavy rains. Additionally, the deep keyways channel water away from the roof effectively.

Advisory committee member and councillor John Hirsch said fully agreed from a durability standpoint and through lasting forever that the metal shingle would be the way to go.

“The notable point here from a heritage standpoint is that the designation itself doesn’t say that the cedar shakes are one of the features,” noted Hirsch, “and if it did, then we would probably be struck having to replace them with cedar shakes. I would proceed with the less expensive and much longer lasting imitation product.”

Advisory committee member Edwin Rowse said his only concern was that the committee understand what the roof assemblies were for both the existing roof, and what’s now being proposed with the metal shakes.

“The cedar shingles available right now cannot be put on a deck, it’s not possible any more, they just disintegrate, and this is exactly what’s happened on the Old Boys’ Entrance,” Rowse explained.

He said, there are various ways of improving that.

“Because of this question of authenticity, I think we owe it, from the point of view of the significance of these buildings, and in terms of the authenticity, of using the original product.”

One of the challenges faced with the Old Boys’ structure (and the Crystal Palace) is they are unheated buildings (with cedar roofs) that sit empty most of the time. Gilbert said he hopes decision on the Old Boys’ Entrance roof repair can help facilitate discussion on the Crystal Palace roof repair going forward, given that both buildings share the same issues with no heating system.

“There isn’t a specific study focused solely on the effects of having no heat in a building on cedar shake roofs during winter. However, we can look at potential effects based on the general understanding of how cedar shake roofs perform in cold climates and the impact of temperature and moisture.”

Gilbert’s report noted the potential effects of having no heat in buildings with cedar shake roofs during winter that include increased moisture retention, increased risk of rot and decay, moss and algae growth, freeze-thaw damage, impact on ventilation, potential for ice dam formation, slower drying after snow or rain, and no direct heat stress.

While ventilation is crucial for all cedar shake roofs, it becomes even more critical in unheated structures, he said.

“Proper airflow helps to dry out any moisture and equalize temperatures, mitigating the risks. A lack of heat might reduce the natural convection that can aid ventilation in heated buildings, making passive ventilation through soffit and ridge vents even more important.”

However, he said on the positive side, the lack of internal heat eliminates the potential stress on the cedar shakes caused by significant temperature differences between the interior and exterior of the roof.

“Extreme heat can cause the wood to dry out excessively and become brittle over time. In the case of the Crystal Palace, I feel there is a strong case for heat stress playing a part in fast decay of the roof. “

Gilbert said his recommendation, after looking into what has happened in the past, the failed attempt to use cedar shake roofing on the building, the framing of the building will not last another 10 years of moisture affecting the building without there being serious structural repairs needed.

“There is already signs of floorboards failing and needing replacing due to moisture, and I am sure we will find some structural repairs that will need fixing on the roof,” stated Gilbert.

“Changing the roof to a more stable and cost-effective product is a good idea and this would be a good chance to have a look at this product on a small building and make sure it does not take away from the look of the building –and I take comfort in knowing it can be changed back, if the desire and resources are there in the future.”

“I feel with this building, we have just run out of time,” Gilbert added.

Let’s be realistic said Rowse, “If we are putting metal shingles on, we are not going to be taking them off in five years since they’ve got a 50-year life probably, they are there for the long-term”.

Rowse also asked if all the other buildings [Crystal Palace, Blue Bird] would be clad in the same way.

“That is the issue,” said Gilbert, who noted there is leakage in the Crystal Palace now, but not to the extent of the Old Boys’ building.

“My hope was to use the Old Boys’ Entrance as a kind of test to see if it’s acceptable or not to go forward with this idea before we start talking about the bigger, more historical structures that are going to have more cost associated with them.”

He also noted that Macaulay House has had very good success rate with the same cedar product which Gilbert said are holding up, they are not discolouring, and there is no mold growth.

“We have a good insulator installed and we have good cedar shakes being used on that site. If we’d like to go back to that option to cedar shake, I would strongly recommend that we use the same installer, the same materials as the Mac House.”

The issue of a guaranteed product came up where Gilbert explained that it is difficult to get those companies installing cedar shakes to provide a guarantee because the product is a natural one.

“They don’t like to warranty them with the cedar shakes they are using because they can’t guarantee every cedar shake is going to be made equally because it is a natural product, so to try and get a warranty past five or 10 years is really hard.”

“As noted in the report, because the building is unheated, and presumably will remain unheated, that causes more trouble for the real cedar shakes,” added Hirsch. “They don’t behave as well and they are not likely to last as long in the case of a not heated building, which would not be the case with Macaulay, which is used and heated, so that speaks in favour of the metal.“

No decision was made at this meeting, except to receive the staff report and discussion, but it was indicated that further discussion and information may be forthcoming at the next built and cultural heritage advisory committee meeting set for June 11.

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