Private Boblo Island is home to many public historic sites. Some worry about their upkeep.

For Amherstburg resident Bill Brundage, the restoration of the war-time Blockhouse on Boblo Island has been a labour of love — but now, not permitted to care for it himself, he's worried about its future.

The island, owned by Amico, is a private residential community. Only residents and approved visitors are allowed on the Amico-owned ferry that brings vehicles back and forth across the Detroit River from the mainland.

"They let me go over, but that's it. I just go over and look at it," Brundage said.

On Boblo, the new residential homes live alongside the old, with various structures of historic significance still standing throughout the island: old amusement park buildings from the island's heyday, an 1836 Parks Canada limestone light house, and the 1839 Blockhouse heritage building that was used by British troops to protect against military threats from Americans. 

It's that Blockhouse that Brundage has dedicated years to restoring. Its significance to Brundage is evident for anyone who steps into his apartment. Memorabilia is ever-present: a poster of the original engineering drawings, photos on the walls, plus an album full of memories from the restoration effort. 

A community restoration effort

It all began in 2010 during a visit to the island, when Brundage went to see the Blockhouse site and found the roof had caved in. 

"I was appalled at the condition it was in," he said. "I said, 'Somebody's gotta do something.' This is a very historic building."

It's the last remaining Blockhouse out of three that had been built in the 1800s. Brundage, a retired elementary school teacher and history major, says the Blockhouse is a "treasure" of great significance to Canada. 

Brundage led the charge to get the old building fixed up in order to preserve and honour it, with support from other community volunteers and donors — and most especially, with support from the late engineer Norm Becker. Becker's company donated the engineering, inspection and project management services required for the historic restoration of the Blockhouse.

During the restoration process, Brundage and volunteers excavated dozens of artifacts from the ground in and around the Blockhouse. He put those items on display inside the building. He would also welcome students on field trips to the Blockhouse and teach them about its history. 

'It should be open to the public'

But in the last few years, Brundage explained that his access has been limited by the company, citing safety concerns.

Even though the building is a National Historic Site of Canada, the public has no access to it anymore either. There is a fence surrounding the building at this time intended to protect the island's endangered snakes. 

"It should be open to the public," Brundage stressed. 

Prince says the company is making arrangements to have the Blockhouse accessible to the public in the near future — potentially in the next five years, when the new housing builds intended to be constructed on that side of the island are completed. Furthermore, Prince said a new restaurant is expected to be completed in the next few years, at which time the public will once again be permitted to use the ferry to come across.

But Brundage doesn't believe he'll ever see that day. 

He also laments that he is not able to collect the artifacts that are inside. He'd like to display them on the mainland for the public to view.

But Prince told CBC in a statement that that would not be appropriate. 

"I have spoken with Parks Canada about the artifacts and have been told that they are best left in the Blockhouse and certainly not under the possession of one individual," Prince wrote.

Brundage wonders why Parks Canada doesn't take ownership of the Blockhouse. In an e-mailed statement to CBC, the federal agency said it's not in a position to acquire additional assets on Boblo Island and that maintenance is the responsibility of the property owner.

Amico says buildings are properly cared for

The limited access also doesn't sit well with local historian Meg Reiner. She's the collections co-ordinator at the Marsh Historical Collection. 

"I think people should always have access to exploring parts of the history of the area," she said.

In addition to the Blockhouse, Reiner points out the signifiance of the old limestone lighthouse.

"That's an important building because it represents the marine history of the area. You know, Amherstburg was a huge port, and that's a big part of our history here," she said.

It's managed by Parks Canada and maintained according to heritage conservation standards, according to the agency, but is closed to the public. 

Technically, members of the public could view it from the outside. The federal land it is on is accessible via the White Sands Conservation Area by private boat.

She pointed out that the amusement park buildings are also of significance as they were built with limestone from the local quarry and designed by architect John Scott of Detroit. 

"It's sad to see them falling apart. It would be great if there was some sort of adaptive reuse for them," she said.

Prince would dispute the claim that the amusement park buildings aren't being well cared for. 

"People that are worried about the future of the buildings on the island really don't need to concern themselves. Everything is done according to a provincially approved plan and monitored very well by the town of Amherstburg as well," she said.

The amusement park buildings like the old dance hall and the theatre building have also been identified by the municipality of Amherstburg as "properties of interest" but do not have formal heritage designation. 

Reiner says being a property of interest only protects structures from demolition. 

"They can still experience demolition by neglect," she said.

Giving old buildings new life?

Prince said the company would like to one day repurpose some of the buildings, like the Dance Hall, which is something Amherstburg's Mayor Michael Prue would love to see happen, but he's skeptical.

Prue, who lives on the island, says he's not aware of any preservation work on the buildings. He worries some of them might be too far gone to save.

"It's been 15 years of neglect at this point," he said.

But Prince says the mayor is incorrect. She said the company has followed the recommendations in the Heritage Plan.

"The buildings are being cared for," she said. "There has been considerable work completed."

The municipality's heritage planner confirmed to CBC that they last went over to Boblo Island in the fall and did a walk around to make sure the buildings were properly boarded up and that the company is following the Conservation Plan. 

As for Brundage, he remains steadfast that the Blockhouse, and the island as a whole, should be accessible to the public as soon as possible.

"It's not to show off what I've done, that's the not the idea, because we had all sorts of volunteers working on it. It's just something that is history," he said. 

"We gotta keep it."