The Bayfield Town Hall was packed on the evening of May 31 for the official launch of the Bayfield Lions Club and the Bayfield Historical Society's Penhale Carriage Barn Raiser.
It's aimed at honouring the historical significance of Tom Penhale's Horse-Drawn Wagons & Carriages to the village.
Lions Club member Ian Mathew says it's been a great project.
“This has been a great project, something that the Lions got behind, the Historical Society got behind. We need to purchase this Landau and then we're going to build what's known as a two-cow barn to house it permanently on Main Street with a big glass front so that everybody can see it and it will stay there forever," Mathew shared.
It looks like they're ahead of their fundraising goal at this point, Mathew says, and that's good news, because that will allow them to improve the building they're going to build to house the Landau.
“We thought originally around $35,000 but I think we're now closer, probably, to $45,000. We have raised to date, I think, well over $30,000. Depending on the cash flow, if it's sufficient, we could get started probably within, I would say, ninety days," Mathew stated.
Mathew says they'll be starting by September at the very latest and that will mean it will be completed and in its place on Main Street for next season.