Marilyn Morawetz gazes at the deteriorating walls of a historic cafeteria building, appreciating its prairie-style architecture that is rarely seen in an industrial setting. She expresses concern that if the building is demolished, it would be a tremendous loss alongside five other heritage structures at the former Camp 30 site in Bowmanville, Ont., which closed in 2008.
Originally established as a reform school for boys in the 1920s, the site later housed up to 800 German prisoners of war during the Second World War. Morawetz recalls a reunion in 1992 where former PoWs gathered at the cafeteria to share memories of their time at the site, including the Battle of Bowmanville, a unique three-day revolt fought with makeshift weapons.
As chair of the Jury Lands Foundation, tasked with preserving the site, Morawetz faces a pivotal moment as Clarington’s council debates the future of the cafeteria, the only municipally-owned building on the property. The council is considering various options, ranging from demolition to temporary stabilization for public use to full restoration, with costs exceeding $20 million.
One proposal involves stabilizing the building to serve the community for the next two decades, catering to local groups and events. A garden near the cafeteria has already been utilized to support food banks, demonstrating the potential for the land to be a valuable community resource.
Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster favors demolishing the cafeteria and constructing a replica to preserve its history more cost-effectively. However, the Jury Lands Foundation advocates for exploring funding options to stabilize the building and leverage provincial and federal grants for heritage preservation.
A recent settlement offer from the landowners, Kaitlin Corp., proposes returning all remaining buildings and land to the municipality for park space, thereby avoiding future development on the site. This offer could significantly benefit the community by preserving the cultural heritage of the property while posing financial challenges for Clarington.
With conflicting viewpoints on the table, Clarington councillors are set to deliberate the fate of the cafeteria building in an upcoming council session, weighing the historical significance against financial constraints.
