By Kevin J Sabo For the Advance
The Lauderdale Community Association is no more.
The community association, which has been taking care of the Lauderdale School building, has informed the County of Paintearth of its intention to dissolve and is transferring the care of the property back to the county.
The school was built in the early 1900s for under $1,000 and operated as a school until 1955 when the school was closed and it was converted into a community hall under the care of the association. At one time, the building was used for weekly card games, seasonal get-togethers and other rental functions.
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As the population has continued to age, and the population has moved to more urban settings, the card games stopped a few years ago, and according to Lauderdale Community Association Treasurer Kathy Oram, the hall hasn’t been rented “more than a handful of times” in the last four or five years.
“It’s quite a chore to rent out due to the mice,” said member Tom Bunbury. “We need to go in and give it a good cleaning before every rental. It’s time to let go.”
The property, which does have gas and electricity, is located North-West of Castor just off Township road 390. Paintearth County CAO Michael Simpson said to council that administration’s recommendation is to sell the property.
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“We own it,” said Simpson. “Leave the services in, offer for sale, and make it a taxable property.”
Coun. Maurice Wiart agreed.
“It’s a schoolyard that has power and gas,” said Wiart. “It’ll make a fine acreage.”
In a unanimous decision on a motion made by Deputy-Reeve Doreen Blumhagen, the Lauderdale school building will be offered for sale as is, once the market value is established, per administration recommendation.
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