Church demolition outrages Latchford

I am outraged that on a Sunday morning, without all the necessary permits in place and without appropriate safety precautions to protect passers-by and adjoining property, demolition began on the Methodist-Episcopal Church on Picton Main Street. This appalling action demonstrates a blatant disregard for government process and for the County’s heritage, and shows a total lack of respect for our citizens and religious groups.
Apart from the destruction of a magnificent 135-year-old main-street edifice that in many ways exemplifies the historic character of Picton and our county, I am greatly concerned that Council allowed this to happen. We had the opportunity to allow 30 days to pursue the historic designation of the property as architecturally significant and could have possibly saved it. Unfortunately, I was outvoted.
When will we stop abdicating our responsibility for the stewardship of the County’s culture and heritage? What will it take to stop the seemingly wholesale destruction of the historic churches, houses, farms and factories that illustrate the rich diversity of the County’s architectural and cultural past? It is time for members of the community to take a stand on this important issue. A large percentage of the visitors to the County, particularly to Picton, come here to see examples of buildings that exist nowhere else. At the rate we are going, in the name of alleged ‘progress’, there will be little character left to attract them or anyone else to Prince Edward County: our built and natural heritage as well as our rural character will be gone forever, and our fragile local economy will be the worse for it.
I am saddened that we have lost this beautiful church, and incredibly angered by the thoughtlessness of those who let it happen.
Sandy Latchford