Leaskdale church features ‘Maud-ern’ new entrance

Submitted by Brian Case

The Historical Leaskdale Church is ready to welcome summer visitors with its new information panels and a new entrance. Submitted photo

The busy tourism season is approaching, and the Historic Leaskdale Church is ready to welcome guests to its splendid exhibition of the life of Lucy Maud Montgomery via a new streamlined, fully accessible, welcoming entranceway.

In the parking lot (which is soon to be expanded) three beautiful panels filled with information greet visitors. Spearheaded by the creativity of consultant Annie Dalton, each panel introduces specific information, pictures and collages about the world of Montgomery.

The first presents historical information about Leaskdale while the renowned author lived there; the second contains surprising tidbits about Maud herself; the third prepares the visitor to appreciate the difficulties that this Canadian icon experienced in trying to juggle motherhood, celebrity and community life all together.

The striking new double-door entrance has full glass panels now facing the parking area. Attractive board-and-batten wood siding, a welcome sign shaped like the gothic arches of the church windows and three exterior light fixtures all serve to improve the outside view.

An energetic volunteer fundraising committee, led by Earle Lockerby, worked for two years to amass finances for the sole purposes of improving the layout/content of the museum and expanding the parking area for buses. Parks Canada’s National Cost-Sharing Programme for Heritage Places provided $25,000.

More information about the ‘fantastical’ Maudern changes to the Historical Leaskdale Church’s Museum will be provided in future editions of the Cosmos.

To discover information on when and how to visit both the Historical Leaskdale Church and the Leaskdale Manse, visit lucymaudmontgomery.ca