The volunteer Dionne Quints Museum Friends are working tirelessly to prove that keeping the Home & Artifacts in North Bay is an asset to the City, not a liability. They have investigated all aspects and formulated a solid vision and long-term plan for the Home. That "vision" needs to be publicized and understood.
The 'vision' is to relocate the Home to a properly designed base placed in the Waterfront Park Area in close proximity to the Discovery North Bay Museum. The Home, which has been neglected for many years will require reinforcing prior to any move, and repairs after moving. Many of these repairs were recommended in the past to the tune of $85,000.00 but only a very small portion was carried out afterward. Neglect on the City's part has contributed to the building’s present decline.
There is (and was) funding available to help with this and ongoing costs! If the Home and artifacts are placed in the suggested location, the Friends of the Dionne Home Museum volunteers are committed to continued cooperation with the City and the Discovery North Bay Museum in operating the Home and will continue fund-raising in support.
The desire of those working to keep the Home and Artifacts here is not to simply transfer the Home to the new location and let it sit there on a permanent basis as a static display or, that it be opened as the type of museum it was in the past but rather to add insight to the project where co-operative efforts between the Home, the Discovery North Bay Museum and the City of North Bay would work together to develop a Heritage Park within that Waterfront Park area.
It is proposed that the development of the Home be a ‘staged process, initially starting as a static display for a period of time until repairs are completed at which time it would be opened as a museum, eventually developing into a museum/interpretive centre.
There are many other solid proposals for the future of the Dionne homestead which would be developed through time and as funding permits. It is anticipated that Municipal Heritage Status will be sought for the Dionne Home and eventually an application made to declare it a Heritage Building under the Ontario Heritage Act. Available Federal and Provincial and other funding will be applied for.
These two magnificent buildings compliment each other. The North Bay Area Museum Society was established in 1973 as a not-for-profit organization and registered charity to preserve and celebrate the history of North Bay. It is housed in the old, well known, C.P.R. train station. The Dionne home was built in 1903 about the same time as the Discovery North Bay Museum and although it was not originally built in North Bay it is a genuine replica of the style and type of home the early settlers in North Bay built and resided in. The Dionne Quintuplets were born in that very home. The effects of the historic, unique and 'star-like' quality of the Dionne Quintuplets birth and the story of their early childhood cannot be separated from the history of North Bay.
Once established, developed and promoted, this would further validate, enhance and beautify the area, The two entities and surrounding area would share in the benefits of increased exposure and attendance as well as share resources which would be mutually beneficial to both. As well as drawing more people to that ‘heritage space’, the Dionne Home Museum would “stand on its own merits” but also fit in perfectly with future Waterfront proposals.
The City’s contribution to the Home would be a ‘drop in the bucket’ of the annual budget and would not significantly affect taxes. Funds can, and also should be, provided from the successful recent land sale.
The operation of the Home in the location suggested would turn what is now regarded as a drain on the City and a taxpayer burden into a valuable asset to the Waterfront Park Area, the D.I.A. and to the City in general.
Edith Benoit
North Bay
