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St. Aidan's stained glass tagged for future Ukee history museum

A stained glass window currently shining light through the building formerly known as St. Aidanson-the-hill is set to become a key piece of a future Ucluelet museum.

During last week's Ucluelet council meeting, Coun. Geoff Lyons spoke to a recent Ucluelet and Area Historical Society (UAHS) meeting.

He said the society has met with the current owner of the former church Leif Hagar and acquired a stained glass window that will be stored as a historical monument.

"It's good to hear that we've been able to acquire that," Lyons said.

Hagar told the Westerly News the window was not his to give because when he purchased the church from the diocese in 2011, for about $185,000, its two stained glass windows were not part of the sale agreement.

One of the windows will be returned to the family it was dedicated to and the other will go to the UAHS.

Hagar has volunteered to help take the window out of the church but a date for the removal has not yet been set, according to society chair Barb Gudbranson.

She said the society appreciates Hagar's assistance in its efforts to secure the window, which will join an array of historical artifacts the society hopes to showcase at a potential museum.

The society is still working towards bringing a new museum to Ucluelet's Amphitrite Point but is hoping to receive more specific information about where such a museum could best be located, according to Lyons.

"I've been asked to let council know that the society is interested in either using the house (by the lighthouse) or even part of the Coast Guard facility, if it's vacated, for a tea house and museum," he said.

He said the society is having a tricky time presenting a business plan to the district without knowing which facility the potential museum would be in.

The society has partnered with the district to infuse Ucluelet's downtown-core with historical signage to showcase the community's history to walkers.

During last week's meeting, Lyons displayed a finished sign earmarked for The Crow's Nest building and said other signs are on their way for other locations.



Andrew Bailey

About the Author: Andrew Bailey

I arrived at the Westerly News as a reporter and photographer in January 2012.
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