The historic Waldie Blacksmith Shop has a new cement sidewalk!
It leads right up to the north-side entrance of the Shop. The construction was completed mid-June. It was officially opened on Canada Day by Milton Mayor Gord Krantz and Milton Historical Society President John Challinor II.
The installation was thanks to a $6,419 grant provided by the Town of Milton Community Fund. The Fund was established back in 2001 by Milton’s Town Council. It allots funds received from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s Elements Casino Raceway at Woodbine Mohawk Park for the benefit of the community. Over the last 20 years, more than $6.6 million has been awarded to those artistic, cultural and recreational organizations providing programs and services that improve the quality of life in our community and enhance Milton’s image, in the process.
“The Society would like to thank Milton Council, the Milton Community Fund Advisory Committee and Town of Milton staff for their continuing support of its activities, most recently through the awarding of funds for the replacement of the sidewalk, ” says Challinor. “The old sidewalk was a major safety concern for the Society, but no longer. We are most appreciative of this grant.”
The Waldie Blacksmith Shop is the only privately-operated museum of local history in urban Milton. It includes a working blacksmith shop, meeting rental space, the Society’s administrative offices and the Alex Cooke/Jim Dills Archives.
In a recent Milton Street Names segment, myFM News, along with John Challinor, highlighted the history of Waldie Avenue. The street is named after the Waldie family that operated out of the Waldie Blacksmith Shop for four generations. Hear about it here.
