A local organization hopes to commemorate Sackville’s historical foundries by turning a 300-tonne steel press into a monument.
Susan Amos of the Tantramar Heritage Trust asked Sackville town council for support with the project on Tuesday.
She said the Heritage Trust plans to apply for federal funding to establish the monument, a 14-foot tall steel press that was formerly part of the Enterprise Foundry.
It belongs to Dan Bowser, owner of Bowers Construction, and his family, who have agreed to donate the machine, she said.
Amos asked the Town of Sackville to contribute by preparing the ground and building a pedestal for the monument.
Chief Administrative Officer Jamie Burke said town staff would look into the question ahead of next week’s regular council meeting.
The monument would be placed on the former site of Fawcett’s Foundry on Main Street, which is now a parking lot for Mount Allison University. The university has already agreed to the idea in principle, Amos said.
She told councillors the foundries were a major presence in the community for more than 150 years.
Local foundries employed thousands of people over the course of eight generations, producing items such as stoves, water heaters, pots and pans.
This year marks the 170th anniversary of Fawcett’s Foundry and the 150th anniversary for the Enterprise Foundry, according to Amos.
She has written a book about the foundries of Sackville which will be launched this fall as part of events commemorating the historical industry.