LTE : Is this the best way to preserve a table that  dates to the founding of Eastern Ontario?

To the Editor

Is this the best way to preserve a table that  dates to the founding of Eastern Ontario?

After many years I visited our fine Community Museum in Lamoureux Park to see the changes.  I enjoyed looking at the new displays and layout, and refreshing my memory about Cornwall’s proud history, but left confused about the relocation of one of the artifacts. 

When I last visited the Wood House, the summer student proudly pointed out a small dining room buffet table, dating from the early 19^th century that came from the Sir John Johnson Manor House in Williamstown.  They enthusiastically suggested that this was one of the Museum’s oldest and prized pieces of Canadian made furniture, and even hinted that it might have belonged to Johnson. 

To my surprise this “prized” piece of furniture was now doing duty in the entrance hall as a sales table, where it could be easily damaged.  I wonder if this is the best way to display this 200 year old plus treasured  table?  Is this the best way to preserve an artifact of such historic importance?  A table that dates back to the very founding of Eastern  Ontario  and Cornwall. 

Doesn’t the museum have something less historically significant to sell mementoes from?

John Leroux
Cornwall