Posted April 28, 2010

Friends of Bellevue group trying to raise awareness
Group holding concert at Nazrey AME Church May 8 by Ron Giofu, The Amherstburg Echo

AMHERSTBURG — A historic building many in town feel is endangered was the topic of an educational event held at Christ Church Sunday afternoon.

The Friends of Bellevue group presented "Bellevue – Amherstburg's Jewel" to roughly 50 people with starting with an educational presentation and capped with a demonstration of music from the period. Group chairperson John McDonald said they are just trying to keep the people aware of the privately-owned historic building.

"I think the idea is to keep the idea of Bellevue in front of people," said McDonald. McDonald said a lot of people go past the building and wonder what is going to happen next. The group is interested in preserving the building. "We don't have the answers. We are raising the questions," he said. "We're hear to bring people together and focus on ideas."

The group was described by McDonald as a "catalyst" and that they want to inspire dialogue on what can be done to preserve the almost 200-year-old building."Let's get the dialogue going. Let's not walk by it and say 'too bad.'"

McDonald said the group has had conversations with the building owners and "apparently it's for sale." He believes there are those interested and, while admitting he doesn't know a price, figures it would be "substantial."

Robert Honor, a retired interpretive staff member from Fort Malden National Historic Site of Canada, said the building goes back to Robert Reynolds and his sister Catherine and was built around 1816. Catherine Reynolds was a prominent artist from the period and likely designed the structure based on plans and drawings she saw of similar architecture around the world. Honor said Bellevue is one of the few buildings of that style of architecture left in Canada.

"There is really no architectural documentation for the building," said Honor. Honor added while there are no plans or designs for Bellevue, it was predominantly "oral tradition" through the years that linked the design to Catherine Reynolds. He would later show further sketches and drawings of the building signed by Reynolds.

Honor indicated that Catherine Reynolds may also have had a hand in the design of Christ Church, built only a few short years after Bellevue. Both had bricks come from the same brickyard in Detroit during that time period. "It's quite the detailed building," he said of Bellevue.

The Friends of Bellevue are also planning another event in the near future. They will co-host a concert along with the North American Black Historical Museum featuring the music of Same Latitude as Rome and Jackie Robitaille. The concert is scheduled for May 8 at 8 p.m. inside the Nazrey AME Church. Tickets are $10 and available at the museum. For information, call 519-736-5433.

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