City investigates stability of Caetani House

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: May 11, 2010 7:00 PM

The City of Vernon wants assurances that a heritage site is worth fixing up. Staff will inspect the integrity of the Caetani House before council considers a $52,342 grant request from the Caetani Cultural Centre Society to replace the roof, furnace, boiler and galvanized piping. “We keep throwing money into heritage buildings,” said Coun. Jack Gilroy. “Before we do that, we should check the foundation and make sure it’s viable.”Coun. Bob Spiers believes a full inspection is necessary to ensure tax dollars are being spent wisely. “It’s a precautionary step to make sure the building is worth putting a roof and furnace into,” he said.

The Pleasant Valley Road house was built in 1896 by Samuel Sommerville, a tax collector and city councillor. Several additions increased the size of the house including a new wing which was added in 1903. In 1913, the property was sold to H.G. Mueller, a hotel owner, and then in 1921, it was acquired by Italian immigrant Leone Caetani. It remained with that family until artist Sveva Caetani died in 1994. The house was given to the city so it could be used by the community for artistic activities.

Gilroy is reluctant to speculate on what the city will do if staff determines the building’s stability is questionable. “Then we’ll have to make a decision on whether we use taxpayers’ dollars to replace the foundation, which will be expensive,” he said. “I want to preserve heritage buildings but they only go so far.” Spiers also doesn’t want to consider the city’s options if the inspection doesn’t come back positive. “Putting more money into a building in that condition is not something I’d want to do. But it (review) is not likely to come back that way,” he said.

Caetani House is operated by the non-profit Caetani Cultural Centre Society.