Dear Editor:
What an incredible weekend we had during the Potter Foundry exhibit (Oct. 16 and 17), thank you all for coming. We wanted to welcome the public to enjoy the restoration of this historic building and have an opportunity to connect with the community.
Over the weekend, nearly 1,000 residents, locals, visitors and tourists came to the exhibit. It was also an opportunity for us to hear directly from you about our project on the south side. Of course, we heard from our new condo owners and their excitement about their next home and living in the heart of Elora. What was incredible to me, was the number of personal stories and connections to the Potter Foundry building. So many local residents shared family stories of grandparents or aunts and uncles who made much of their living working in the building. They were so happy to see it restored to its former glory and available to the public.
Many also shared memories as kids playing in the building. It was a fitting commemoration for a building that has meant so much to so many people here in Elora. There was also a good deal of anticipation for our next restoration project, the Walser Building. Again, I heard many family stories and connections to that building.
We also heard some concerns regarding access to the trail behind the Potter Foundry building. Although the trail is on our private property, we are committed to working together to ensure a re-opening of the trail and public access once the area is no longer a live construction site, approximately in 2024.
Once again, the public will be able to enjoy views of the iconic Tooth of Time from the south side. We ask for your patience as we continue to make construction progress. In the coming months, we will share much more about our project and hope to build upon the exhibit’s excitement. Once, again thank you all for coming and I hope you enjoyed the Potter Foundry building exhibit.
Aaron Ciancone,
The Elora Mill