Norfolk to split Teeterville museum property

Michael Columbus, Ward 3 Councillor.

Luke Edwards

Grant Haven Media

Some Teeterville history will be preserved as Norfolk County looks to sell portions of the property that was once home to the local Women’s Institute and Pioneer Museum.

Councillors at the March 10 meeting approved an option presented by staff to divide the property into two parcels, preserving the rear lot - which contains the historic log cabin known as the Mason House and the Velrose Chapel - as parkland. The remaining front lot will be sold.

Ward Coun. Michael Columbus said that choice was the best option for a community that’s lost a lot of amenities.

“They have been robbed of their facilities, so to maintain the park and some heritage value for the people of Teeterville and area, I think this is the right decision,” he said.

While staff recommended this option, they also presented three others for councillors to consider. The first would have seen the County sell the entire property “as is” and the second was to sever it into three lots to sell. While this option offered the greatest revenue potential, a staff report said it was also complicated by the potentially costly need to move the cabin and chapel.

A final option was to divide the property into two parcels and sell both.

A council vote in 2020 led to the closure of the museum, with the lands being declared surplus. 

Collections were integrated into the remaining museums in Norfolk.

Some remaining museum artifacts will be relocated to the Gilbertson Administration Building with others possibly going to other museums, the report said.

The Women’s Institute building is a heritage designated site.

In addition to the revenue from the property sale, the staff report suggested the move could save the County future capital costs, removing more than $500,000 in planned projects required for the buildings.