Township holds fast with heritage designation for jail and newer portion of counties’ building

Despite a request from the United Counties of Prescott-Russell to have the heritage designation removed from the administrative offices portion of the counties’ building, Champlain Township councillors rejected the idea after a brief discussion at their December 16 meeting. The counties’ building, which includes the historic L’Orignal Jail, was designated a heritage building by the township in 2007. But the administrative offices which are part of the larger structure are not historically significant and the heritage designation which is attached to this newer structure should be removed to facilitate renovations or changes. As it stands, any modifications or renovations to the newer administrative structure must take place in accordance with heritage conservation standards.
Longueuil councillor Helen MacLeod, who is a member of the L’Orignal Jail Committee and is also involved in the L’Orignal-Longueuil heritage group called “Patrimoine L’Orignal-Longueuil Heritage”, said, “If you leave it, (the designation) it helps to protect the building. Then the whole structure is safe.”
“This is up to council; the Jail Committee is not a committee of ours,” Barton clarified, adding, “The Heritage Committee wants to leave it the way it is.”

Council ultimately opted to leave the heritage designation in place for the entire building.