Lincoln's Commons - Message 01- 11-12-08

Lincoln's Commons has been set up as a Channel dedicated to the civic interests of the Town of Lincoln, Region of Niagara, Ontario Canada.

Here we will help identify opportunities to reinvent ourselves and we will review land development issues that go to the heart of of who we are and where we have come from.

One such issue is fate of the Beamsville Fairgrounds located as the geographic heart of Beamsville which is slated to be sold by its 150 year old not for profit custodian - for housing, townhouses and apartments.

Text of Message
The Beamsville Fairgrounds have had an illustrious past - they have a better future than curbs, asphalt town housing and apartments. Lincoln Commons Voice Over Text 08-12-08 The Town of Lincoln is home for folks like you and Isome families have been here for 7 and 8 generations and more . This unique escarpment dominated Carolinian territory nestled between two great lakes has been a gathering place for peoples of many nations for millenia .The Spring Fed Caves on the escarpment were a sacred place for first Nations peoples most today would be unable to find them like many others, we too have a severe case of civic alzheimers The Town of Lincoln is a recent name for a collection of much ealrlier named places like Jordan, Putts Inn, Vineland, Vineland Station, Camden, Upper Thirty, Lower Thirty, and Beamsville . named after an early settler and community builder Jacob Beam. In the heart of Beamsville lies a special place known as The Fairgrounds which is owned by a not for profit group known as the Lincoln Agricultural Society LAS for short. The fairgrounds have been operated as such for more than 150 years here in the centre of Beamsville Alas - LAS wants to move to a new location - up over the hill out of sight were many of us would need a car to get to.we have no bus service. These lands are - our Commons we call them Lincolns Commons Given the recent and severe changes to all economies, employment, politics and indeed politicians themselves, we believe there is no time like the present to consider the future of our commons to reset a Vision of and a vision for ourselves, our children and their childrens children together we can blaze another trail to tomorrow for others to follow. To transform these precious civic central lands into common homes, apartments, curbs and gutters, to the benefit of a singular developer and to the long term tax burden of our children and grandchildren all at the expense of the the Commons is more than short sited it is an unacceptable abdication of civic responsibility. Lincoln has changed over the years but accessible, open space, parks, common areas and public services are as important now as they have ever been. If LAS wants to move so be it we will help them develop a budget for the land and facilities they need and we will help them finance their move - but not at the cost of selling the commons selling the commons to move the Fair is far too high a price to pay ! There are many long established famous family names in Lincoln, family names like Culp and Tufford, Hipple and Stouck, Konkle and Dickie, Smith and Staff, Moyer and Honsberger.there are famous new names as well including Akroyd and Gretsky With this message we respectfully ask these families and you the viewer to join in the movement to preserve and celebrate Lincolns Commons

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Lincoln's
• Commons
• Beamsville
• Fair
• Grounds
• Save
• Celebrate
• Fraser
• Earle
• StonewallStudios

[LincolnsCommons]

If you are able to watch in high quality - it is well worthwhile. Your comments are welcome

Tom Salter

Fraser Earle

Save the Fairgrounds

Celebrate the Commons

[argylle92]

Very nice video, love Stan Rogers music too. I grew up in Beamsville and will miss the grounds when it goes, I will miss the fair too as once it moves I will no longer be attending. It wont be the fair i grew up with and I will no longer travel back to Beamsville to attend it with my own children. A fair up on the escarpment will do nothing for the town. Did we not learn from the old Kinsmen pool and park, that most could not walk to.

[mandytamaki]

I volunteer for the Beamsville fair

[GSGTBaker]

If / when the fair grounds is sold and they move the Town gets there land back....

O,O the town owns from the back of the old Cashway to the supper ditch and its 10 feet from there park. What they own is a road allowance. So the town isn't getting involved in this b/c not many people know about this. They also cant do anything with it now b/c

1) they cant get at it

2) they cant do anything with it as long as the firgrounds is there.

[lilgreenthumb29]

I think the growth of the town is MORE than evident as more and more orchards are plowed over to CRAM more subdivisions in in every nook and cranny that can be found... I don't think it's necessary to plow over this area as well to show the town is "growing". It has grown so much already it takes you 15 minutes of slow traffic to get to hwy #8 from the highway....

[MochaBear33]

I have to disagree with that comment! I brought my family here to a SMALL town feel! Also I think it should be a histroic site, since so much happens and did happen on this land. Also Im young and stand strong against this happening!

[GSGTBaker]

I like the idea of house going there... shows that the town is growing witch is a great thing

and by the time that it is down most of the people that are complaining will be dead or close to it