A long-standing piece of Pelham’s local heritage has been preserved through a collaborative effort between community volunteers and students, ensuring that the historic Temperanceville miniature village will continue to be displayed for years to come.
Temperanceville was the name used for what is now Fonthill between 1842 and 1856, before the community officially adopted the name Fonthill, reportedly inspired by Fonthill Abbey in England. In 1993, the Rotary Club of Fonthill took a leadership role in commemorating that history by establishing the Temperanceville miniature village display. The installation was first set up behind Town Hall and quickly became a valued community feature.
To launch the project, the Rotary Club invited approximately 35 community representatives and builders to construct miniature buildings reflecting Temperanceville’s past. The first five buildings were created and donated by Luchetta Builders (Silvano and Walter Luchetta), Skyland Homes (Rick Toth), Pelham Printing (David Park), Fonthill Baptist Church (Al Topolinsky), along with a nativity scene constructed by Paul Ryan.
The original vision was to expand the display annually by adding new historic replicas. This goal was realized every year beginning in 1993, with the exception of the 2024/25 season. Over time, the collection grew, though exposure to age and weather caused deterioration to several of the structures.
By the fall of 2024, it became clear that most of the remaining buildings required significant refurbishment to accurately represent the community. With limited time available to complete the work prior to the annual installation, the Rotary Club explored alternative options.
Through an existing partnership with E.L. Crossley Secondary School, discussions led to the creation of a restoration project within the school’s woodworking program, overseen by instructor Mr. Ryan Huxley. While initial plans focused on restoring five or six buildings, Rotary members ultimately delivered all 15 structures to the school in October 2025.
Mr. Huxley, alongside teacher candidate Eric Silverthorne, guided students through the restoration over a two-month period. Students replaced rotten or broken plywood and fabricated new elements including windows, doors, dormers, shutters, and shingles. They also learned about materials and construction techniques suited to withstand harsh outdoor conditions.
Once structural repairs were completed, all of the buildings were repainted. In addition, students from Ms. Bronwyn White’s art classes recreated a stained-glass effect on the windows of one building, allowing the removal of faded inserts and restoring visual detail to the structure.
Mr. Huxley noted how quickly students embraced the project, observing a growing sense of excitement, enthusiasm, and pride as the work progressed.
On December 5, all but two of the restored buildings were returned to the Rotary Club and installed in Peace Park in time for the Pelham Winterfest event.
The Rotary Club of Fonthill expressed its sincere thanks to Mr. Huxley and his team for their dedication and craftsmanship, noting that their efforts played a key role in preserving an important symbol of the community’s history and identity.
