| Submission to City Hall and the Sarnia Heritage Committee Re: Consideration for Historic Structure Designation for the Cull Drain Bridge Attention: Mr. Max Williams - City Planning Mr. Wayne Wager - Chair, Sarnia Heritage Committee Ms. Pat McLean - Sarnia Heritage Committee Dear Lady and Gentlemen: It is with pleasure and great anticipation for hearing the results of your deliberations that I submit a series of documents, their source the archives at the Sarnia, Wyoming and Petrolia Public Libraries, that relate to this particular long neglected bridge. Also find a series of photos I've taken this year that show its deteriorated, but not beyond rescue, condition. My own particular interest in this bridge is an outgrowth of my own research for causes and solutions for what I consider to have been quality and safety issues in the rebuild of 1.1 km. of Lakeshore Road east of Murphy Road in 1996 when this segment of the city received sewer service. A lengthy criticism directed at the city and county - where, relevant to this submission, I noted the absolutely critical importance of this structure in an expanded waterfront trail network - led to my appointment to the Bluewater Trails public committee in May '99. I am pleased to report that at the recent public meeting held Oct. 10 in city hall, on the subject of the Draft Official Plan, I again raised the issue of the importance of this bridge. Further to this, the Bluewater Trails committee, at their last meeting Oct. 18, asked city staff to report on the status of the former Old Lakeshore Road right of way in that stretch east from this bridge to Huronview Park. Anecdotal evidence offered by Mr. Stewart Jamieson, current resident (and direct descendant of Angus Jamieson as per expropriation enclosure) on the property that abuts the east side of the Cull Drain, points out that the bridge was actually 100" 1' in length. Long enough for grant eligibility apparently - the $2300 given by Lambton County to Sarnia Township at the time. If this is true then it certainly gives new meaning to the colourful phrase: "You trying to squeeze an inch in on me?" The enclosures listed all have reference to this bridge and are only part of the archival material I've photocopied. Your expertise might shed light on the actual type of this structure, which is certainly noteworthy. With the momentum seeming to build, I hope this submission can contribute to its restoration so this bridge can again serve a much broader public in an accelerated program of our own waterfront renewal in Sarnia. Yours truly, George Sunaitis October 21, 2000 Enclosures list next page. 1.Notice for Tenders - Sarnia Observer, Fri. May 6, 1910 2.Report on the Cull Drain Bridge - Lambton County Reports 1910 3. Auditor's Report of the Township of Sarnia 1910 - (4 references to bridge) -- Jenks and Dresser - Constructors -- Alfred Kirkpatrick - abutment builder from Petrolia -- F. Gutteridge - cement supplier 4.Notice of Motion to County Council - Sarnia Weekly Observer, June 17, 1910 5.Bylaw #430 - Sarnia Weekly Observer, July 15, 1910 6.Land Expropriation news clipping - dated 1910 from county archives 7.Photocopy of original wooden bridge over Cull Drain - (spiles from that construction are apparently evident today with low water - see photo) 8.Canada West's Last Frontier - 1st edition, page 93 (reference to S. Cull, civil engineer) 9.Canada West's Last frontier – 2nd edition, page 82 (reference to James Cull, civil engineer) 10. Reference to Jenks & Dresser - Sarnia Observer, "Town Topics", August 30, 1910 11. 1924 map showing lot numbers on Lake Huron 12. Text of writer's submission for Suncor Energy Foundation Grant (bridge references 13. Photo series |
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