Addington Publications Ltd.

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An important initiative that celebrates the rich history of Guysborough County is making progress. Those who see local heritage as key to the future prosperity of eastern Guysborough County (and there are many) welcomed last week's progress report from the Commercial Cable Rehabilitation Society. With the engineer's report complete and fundraising progressing, the volunteers behind this ambitious project are making headway. It's been a long haul. For years different individuals and groups have urged for the redevelopment of the historic Commercial Cable Building in Hazel Hill, just outside of Canso, but progress was slow "“ until recently. The society's board has secured operational and project funding for the first phase of redevelopment plans. The engineering report lays out a framework for next steps. It clarifies what can and can't be done, given the physical state of the structure, and recommends a course of action. The society is committed to preserving and restoring as much of the historical integrity of the building as possible. Unfortunately, the building has fallen into serious disrepair over the years. Much of the final building will be new construction, with careful restoration work ensuring the historical character of the structure is prominent in the finished product. It's a storied past worth preserving and celebrating. The Commercial Cable Building was an impressive operation on the world communications stage. The routine business involved being one of the largest clearing houses to receive and retransmit messages between senders and receivers on different continents. The station relayed the terms of an armistice, provided word to loved ones on both sides of the Atlantic when the Titanic went down, tracked Lindbergh's flight, not to mention the maintenance of a dedicated cable between a president and a prime minister during wartime. The Canso Station is obviously an important historic component of our international communications, cultural and built heritage. The Commercial Cable Rehabilitation Society has recognized these values and commenced conservation activities in the fall of 2004. They are committed to bringing the building back into service life within the community. The engineering report tells us it is paramount to maintain the historic character and heritage value of the exterior of the building. All new construction will mimic closely that of the original building with regard to material and detail consistency with the end result being a "reasonably accurate exterior aesthetic with an efficient, flexible and durable building envelope." Securing tenants for the rehabilitated building and continued fundraising for the project remain top priorities for the dedicated volunteers behind the effort. We are pleased to see the support the society's work has garnered to date and look forward to seeing their plans and ongoing success take shape in the coming months and years.

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