A significant piece of Port Rowan’s fishing history may soon be preserved near the shores of Long Point Bay.
The Port Rowan/South Walsingham Heritage Association has proposed installing a pavilion in Port Rowan Lions Park to house a Becker Puller, a historic machine that once revolutionized the region’s shore-based fishery.
That was Heather Smith, president of the Association, who spoke at council on Tuesday.
This display is meant to both be visually eye catching and informative.
The machine, powered by a stationary engine, used a system of gears to haul in both sides of the net at different speeds, easing the workload for fishermen and making the industry more efficient.
The proposed pavilion would be a 10-foot by 16-foot post-and-beam structure with a metal roof, tempered glass panels, and a concrete pad.
The project is estimated to cost $87,000, and the heritage association has already raised $45,000.
The group is not requesting financial support from Norfolk County, it is seeking permission to build the pavilion on county-owned land.