Writers question wisdom of Kincardine council in destroying Secord Monument

To the Editor:

I get the impression that members of the Kincardine municipal council believe themselves to be a very knowledgeable group. However, they seem rather short in the wisdom department.

Councillor Bill Stewart says the Dr. Solomon Secord Monument has already been destroyed. I wonder if it was done respectfully, as the mayor said it would be.

Council has won the battle, but I wonder if it will win the war.

Secord was a well-respected doctor in Kincardine for more than 40 years. By taking down the monument, Kincardine council has destroyed his reputation. Having served as the surgeon-general of the Southern Army in the United States Civil War was a big no-no to a handful of people in Kincardine.

Whose reputation will be trashed next?

Why has council spent more than a year trying to justify the removal of the sundial erected by area residents for Secord?

Why did council hire a big city “facilitator” for $15,000 to advise council on its decision-making?

It was money poorly spent because councillors seemed to have a lot of trouble justifying their decision. Obviously, council didn’t pay much attention to residents who voted them into office.

It’s the little things that give a community its identity and that residents, past and present, can take pride in. Things such as the Secord sundial, the pipe band, the volunteer gardens at Station Beach and at the foot of Harbour Street.

Why do supposedly liberal-minded officials act like hard-right demagogues? No opinion counted in the Dr. Secord case, it seems, except that of the seven “doctrinaire” members of council.

Council won the battle, but it has lost the respect of many Kincardine residents. That’s not good for the community.

I figure the Biblical Solomon and Dr. Solomon Secord leave council in the dust when it comes to the wisdom department.

Eric Howald
Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

Kincardine councillor Bill Stewart was not alone on the monument vote.

Earlier this summer, it was mentioned to me that it was decided that the monument would not be returned to the main street. I headed to my neighbour’s place and in a discussion on this matter, his words were, “The monument is going to be returned to its place in front of the library.”

Sorry Doug never made it to the vote.

Why would I be so concerned?

Solomon Secord’s great-great-grandfather, Daniel Secord (1698-1765), a United Empire Loyalist, and his wife, Catherine Mabie, had 12 children.

Solomon Secord (1834-1910) was named after his grandfather, Lt. Solomon Edwin Secord (1755-1799).

My wife’s fourth great-grandmother was Margery Patience Secord (one of Daniel’s 12 children).

It’s my hope that any of the councillors never have a reason to honour the doctors for their practices or anyone else for that matter; you will not believe the feelings you get when you find out others have obliterated your wishes.

My thoughts are - the decision was made well ahead of the vote and the hiring of the consultant. The whole process was nothing less than a modern day version of book-burning.

Pete Chisholm
Kincardine