La Vieille Maison closed in 2002. There were many factors that played into this decision. When the Tourist Bureau outgrew the museum space, this left a small group of aging volunteers with more responsibility than they had the capacity to handle. The museum closed stating only volunteer exhaustion. La Societe Historique, in all academic senses had reached the end of it's lifecycle in respect to managing a museum. The USA ferry disruption also played a major factor in sustainability.
It was this decision to close the museum that plunged it in the deep abyss of legal convolution. A clause from Adolphe Robicheau's 1978 Last Will & Testament which was registered to the Deed by irrevocable instruction, stated that if the Historical Society could no longer operate the museum, that the property, the building and it's collection be returned to the respective living heirs or respective issues of Adolphe Robicheau's siblings, that they shall own equally, and that no single shareholder could make decisions about the property without the consent of the whole. In 2002, that was already up to eleven respective issues.
The problem: the eleven people don't actually all know each other. They are distant cousins, already one generation apart, and dispersed all over the United States.
...and so the house sat derelict.
In the spring of 2018, while still battling my major illness, I was contacted by an individual who presented himself as somewhat of a "local custodian" for the building, and distant relative of one of the registered shareholders. On his invitation, I was able to to complete a first photospheric mapping of the entire house. This individual claimed that all but one of the shareholders were deceased, and this was an opportunity to rally to save the house. He asked me if I could pull on my previous cultural experience to put together a group to save the house, but I declined as I was more preoccupied with my health.
This same individual continued to occasionally contact me to create some sort of rally around the house. Still only overcoming my health misfortune, I agreed to do a small letter campaign and write to Council and councillors. I did this naively based on the information provided, that "only one shareholder was still living". In hindsight this made me look quite foolish. This was not true at all. There a dozen very alive shareholders.
Around winter 2019, Harold Robicheau informed he that he was in contact with some of the living shareholders, including 80something Jos Robicheau of Boston, who had been quietly paying the taxes for over two decades. As such, we knew that Jos Robicheau had force majeure over the other shareholders (by virtue that he was in a position to file a claim of adverse possession, his share could now vito the others). While it seemed like a great leap forward from our perspective, it was not at all quite so simple to explain such an extraordinary legal process to the aging, and rapidly declining Jos. What happens next is serendipity. Shortly after this, I created a digital painting of Adolphe dancing in the parlour of La Vieille Maison and submitted it to Le Conseil des Arts de Clare's "FevriArt" facebook project. As these images were public, it meant anyone searching for Adolphe on the internet could find it, and several days later I received these messages in my "Dan Robichaud Tisserand Acadien" facebook page.
The entirely random message was from Chrisanne, Jos Robicheau's daugher (...and POA). This is really where our conversation with the family and the group of owners became serious. She also knew that her cousin Katherine, in Seattle, had a great interest in the museum and the family's genealogy. Katherine's mom, is also one of the shareholders. Both Katherine, in Seattle, and Chrisanne in Boston began speaking with us regularly, over the internet, over the phone, and this is how the facebook research group started, as a common place to post information. Harold continued his monthly conversations with Jos, who was now in seriously declining health. Harold also had occasional contact with another shareholder, Mr Paul Kelley of Vero Beach, FL. Unfortunately, Jos passed away during the summer of 2021, but by this time we already had Chris and Katherine both dedicated to preserving the house.
Some time in 2019-2020, Jos Robicheau of Boston had a conference call with David Dow and Harold Robicheau to discuss the legalities of the deed. At that time, Mr Dow advised that the situation was not practical to resolve. The legal fees for skiptracing a dozen or more strangers in the USA would far outweigh the value of the house itself, and there would be no guarantee any of them would agree to release their share. Undaunted, Chris, Katherine and myself took upon the challenge of trying to find (the adult children of...) all of the registered shareholders. In the era of facebook, how hard could it possibly be? As it turns out, it would be very difficult indeed. Even with intimate family knowledge, some of these were complete strangers, some did not even know they owned property in Nova Scotia. It was a long and daunting process of building trust and finding the right people to help build bridges along the way. One can not simply message a total stranger in the USA and say "Hey! Are you your dad's power of attorney?"
As time moved on, we learned that Jos had not made the municipal tax payment in his last declining year. By this time we are in 2021 and the tax bill was in arrears. Chrisanne was now the direct shareholder herself, and offered to pay any taxes that were outstanding. We knew that paying the tax bill would avoid loosing the property, but it also locked it for another year in it's legal enigma. Chrisanne and Katherine decided to consult an attorney in the USA, who again saw very little practical solution. Katherine then spoke to Susan O'Connell at the tax office, several times, to get a good understanding of what situation the house would be in if no one paid the taxes.
While she was having these conversations with Susan, I began lobbying Stephane Cyr using the Heritage Status as leverage, to see if we could negotiate *any* alternative other than public listing at a tax auction. Stephane graciously offered to task the municipal attorney, Lynette Muise, to look into the legally viable options. One option that was presented, and offered by Mr Cyr, to avoid public auction was by issuing a tender (RFP). Both the cousins and myself strongly urged Mr Cyr to include language in this tender to the effect of preserving it's Heritage Status. We were now November of 2021. The Municipality, having no choice in the matter, was obliged to send an official notice of default to all the registered shareholders. Our focus now shifted again to contacting everyone - but this time it was to explain to them "whatever you do.. do NOT pay the taxes!!"
Incredibly, and at the 11th hour, we had managed to contact all the shareholders who agreed that none shall pay the taxes. This would immediately dissolve the complex deed and legal enigma - and wouldn't cost one legal cent. The Municipality of Clare issued an RFP in January of 2022, indicating a strong preference for bids which included a conservation plan in respect to the Heritage Status. In February of 2022, the Municipality of Clare awarded the property to Chrisanne Craven (of Boston) and Katherine Marsh (of Seattle), both respective issues of Adolphe Robicheau's siblings, who proposed to "work with a local group of preservationists to save the museum". Currently, the property is in warranty possession of the Municipality, while a statutory six-month waiting period elapses. To this effect, our ad-hoc group (represented in this case by myself), has authorization from the Municipality to access and secure the building, and gain entry for the purposes of organising this project. With this authorization, Harold, Chris (by video) and myself changed the lock and posted a temporary notice of vacant possession, along with the letter authorizing us to do so. In June of 2022, a new deed will be issued to Chris and Katherine, who will have clear title to the house and power to make decisions such as signing a Management Agreement with "a group of local preservationists".
Throughout all of this, a group has slowly formed around the cause, we've had a number of meetings in person and online, some more formal than others. The research forum on facebook has grown beyond all expectation. Several prospective members have been able to tour the site, and we're at the point where an ad-hoc group has to now become an Association bonafide.
As for our new owners, this is precisely where their adventure starts, which you can follow at unlockingthebluedoor.com