Built Heritage Fund Grants Support Preservation of Historic County Landmarks
Date: August 07, 2025
Several historically significant buildings in Prince Edward County are receiving financial support this year through the 2025 Built Heritage Fund (BHF) grants, helping ensure important local landmarks are preserved for future generations.
Representatives from organizations receiving funding gathered recently at the Al Purdy A-Frame in Ameliasburgh to mark the occasion and acknowledge the community support behind the grants. This year’s recipients include projects connected to the Al Purdy A-Frame, the Baxter Arts Centre in Bloomfield, and the Bloomfield branch of the Prince Edward County Public Library.
The Built Heritage Fund provides interim financial assistance to projects focused on the conservation, restoration, or protection of buildings that hold cultural or historical significance within the County.
Funding for the program comes primarily from proceeds generated by the annual Prince Edward County Christmas House Tour, which draws hundreds of visitors each year. In 2025, the fund also received a $1,500 contribution from the Prince Edward County branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario.
Peter Jepson, one of the tour’s organizers, said this year’s event attracted approximately 400 participants. Revenue from ticket sales is directed to the Built Heritage Fund, where it is distributed through grants to help maintain key heritage properties. He credited homeowners, volunteers, sponsors, ticket buyers, and The County Foundation for the ongoing success of the initiative.
The Al Purdy A-Frame holds a special place in Canada’s literary history. During poet Al Purdy’s long-standing summer residencies from the late 1950s until his death in 2000, the modest structure became a gathering place for many of the country’s most prominent writers, including Margaret Laurence, Michael Ondaatje, and Milton Acorn.
Meanwhile, the Bloomfield branch of the public library is marking 102 years in the community. The library first opened in its current location in 1923 on land donated by Emily Fraleigh, following its relocation from Stanley Street. The building has served generations of residents as a community hub for learning and connection.
The Baxter Arts Centre, formerly known as the Don Baxter Memorial Building, also has a rich history. Originally constructed as a cafeteria for workers at the Baxter Canning Company, the building later served multiple roles in Bloomfield, including a village hall, warehouse, and bunkhouse. It was eventually repurposed as a creative arts space and has become an important cultural venue in the community.
The Built Heritage Fund is administered by The County Foundation. Interim Executive Director Gillian Armstrong said the foundation is proud to support projects that safeguard the County’s architectural heritage, noting the fund was established to explore innovative ways of protecting historic buildings.
The fund itself was created in response to the demolition of the Methodist Episcopal Church on Picton’s Main Street in 2010. The loss of the 135-year-old structure prompted local residents to take action, recognizing the need to preserve Prince Edward County’s built heritage before more landmarks are lost.
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