A historic former World War II prisoner of war (PoW) camp cafeteria faced potential demolition but received a reprieve. Clarington, Ontario municipal council deliberated the fate of the 100-year-old deteriorating structure on Monday. Instead of making a decision on its preservation, council opted to seek a second opinion.
Marilyn Morawetz, chair of the Jury Lands Foundation (JLF), expressed relief at the council’s decision. The JLF, a non-profit dedicated to conserving the Bowmanville-based site known as Camp 30, proposed stabilizing the building to explore future uses and refurbishment costs.
Initially a reform school for boys in the 1920s, Camp 30 later housed German PoWs during World War II. The site closed in 2008 and has since deteriorated. The cafeteria, the only municipally owned heritage building on the land since 2022, presented a financial challenge for restoration.
A recent structural assessment estimated Clarington would need $4.5 million to stabilize the cafeteria for public safety. Manorville Homes, specializing in heritage restoration projects, suggested they could complete the work for nearly half the cost. Matthew Jamieson, the company’s president, highlighted their successful restoration of the Belmont house in Newcastle as a comparable project.
Jamieson emphasized the need for a detailed structural assessment and expressed confidence in completing the restoration within a year. The responsibility for funding and consultations shifted to Morawetz’s group, allowing Manorville Homes to bid on the construction contract in the future.
Clarington’s mayor cautiously welcomed the JLF’s plan but raised concerns about long-term sustainability. He previously suggested demolishing the site and constructing a replica to preserve history. The JLF had secured $1 million, with half from a federal grant and the remainder matched by the municipality. The group aims to raise the total restoration funds and is encouraged by the council’s 30-day extension.
With potential funding secured, the JLF’s efforts to stabilize and revive the building align with the mayor’s hopes for preserving history while ensuring structural integrity.