CORRECTION: This article has been updated to correct information about the impending demolition of Glencairn Hall.

Chimney bricks, fragments of a blue porcelain chandelier, a few pieces of basement doors and windows, a fireplace surround and mantel, a wooden side door and Greek-style columns.

This list represents some of what’s left of the 213-year-old Glencairn Hall, the historic building destroyed by a fire this spring, the remnants of which are set to be demolished.

The town salvaged these pieces of the property for their heritage significance and, as part of ongoing talks to officially remember the home and its legacy, wants to use them in a commemorative display.

Talks have been happening among Niagara-on-the-Lake’s heritage community since the fire was deemed a total loss for Glencairn Hall, with ideas like a plaque, a digital exhibit through the NOTL Museum, school tours and an annual day to commemorate lost heritage sites.

During the municipal heritage committee’s last meeting, heritage planner Sumra Zia confirmed the owner has allowed the town to recover historical materials from what’s left of the site.

Alanna Wilson, the town’s heritage planning intern and a student at the Willowbank School of Restoration Arts, shared details about the recovered pieces of history from the property and what could be done with them.

During the Aug. 6 meeting, she shared the list of items that the town has salvaged from the ruins, saying they are “some of the most impactful things from that site.”

She suggested incorporating the salvaged artifacts into the commemoration, although certain components — such as foundation stones — can’t be recovered if the property owner reuses them.

Wilson said the town is in talks with several conservation and heritage organizations, including the NOTL Museum, the Niagara Foundation, Niagara College Canada and Willowbank.

All have expressed interest in supporting the project, including fundraising.

“There’s nothing that’s been finalized,” Wilson said, including where the commemorative spot would be located.

Proposed locations for the commemoration include the Glencairn Hall site on Niagara River Parkway, the Willowbank school area and the NOTL Museum, which could house a digital archive and display salvaged items.

Those involved in rescuing the items haven’t ruled on the condition of everything they’ve found. 

While they’ve determined the Doric columns may need reconstruction, they’re not sure of the condition of some others, including a black porcelain chandelier, Ionic columns, elements of the west entryway and another fireplace surround and mantel.

Wilson said fundraising could involve selling some of the recovered artifacts. 

However, she emphasized the priority is to “salvage as much as they can.”

Committee member Alexander Topps suggested gathering community stories and photos related to Glencairn Hall.

“We would like to reach out to the community through the media to search out stories through Glencairn,” he said. 

“Personal stories, with photographs, anything to feature that might be appropriate for that digital presentation.”

Glencairn Hall, a classical Greco-Roman style residence, was designed by John Latshaw and built for John Hamilton in 1832. It was destroyed in a fire on April 16.

daniel@niagaranow.com