By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Rotting timber on the nearly 130 year old Fairview Jail has resulted in an urgent fundraising appeal by the Oliver and District Heritage Society (ODHS) as it seeks community support in the restoration of one of the very few Fairview heritage buildings still standing.
The ODHS has created a campaign on Canada Helps titled “Historic Gold Mining Town of Fairview BC- 1896 Jail Refurbishment” with a goal of raising $15,000. The campaign can be accessed online.
The former Provincial Police and Royal Canadian Mounted Police station was originally located three kilometres west of the current Town of Oliver at the site of the former gold mining town of Fairview.
The former Townsite of Fairview serviced a number of gold mines between about 1890 to 1910, before falling gold prices saw the decline of the town. In its heyday Fairview boasted over 500 residents, many houses, hotels including the famed Fairview Hotel, schools, stores, and churches.
Portions of structures from the mining town were relocated to prominent locations within Oliver, including Main Street.
Fairview Jail dry rot.
ODHS photo
Through the philanthropic efforts of the Society and local community, the 1896 Fairview Jailhouse was moved to the museum property on School Ave. in the summer of 1980.
With the relocation of the jailhouse, a significant conservation project resulted in renewed foundations and many new timbers, according to Darren Halsted, Executive Director of the Oliver & District Heritage Society.
“Over the past 45 years, the Society has tirelessly worked to conserve and maintain the structure, however, despite the determined efforts of the ODHS, the hot summers and chilly winter frost has taken its toll on the vulnerable and distinguished timbers,” he said.
To ensure the future safety and conservation of the structure, “the time has come for significant structural repairs.”
ODHS photo
The ODHS is currently seeking support from the community to fundraise $15,000 to ensure all necessary restorations can be completed on the heritage Jailhouse, with dry rot discovered in many of the timbers.
The ODHS said expert opinion urged widespread replacement of the failing timbers which must be done in a heritage sensitive manner, followed by the careful repainting of the building, all to ensure its ongoing conservation into the future. Professional estimates for the structural repair and painting are between $13,000 and $15,000.
ODHS photo
The building currently contains various relics of the mining days of Fairview and nearby Camp McKinney.
The Oliver and District Heritage Society is a not-for-profit charity incorporated in 1980, initially as the Oliver Heritage Society, with a mission to preserve the historical structures and heritage of the South Okanagan community of Oliver.
