For those who have been following this story, you may be interested to learn
of the most recent developments - as reported in last night's local paper
(July 29, 1997).

As most people will recall the Seagram Corporation and the Seagram Museum
Foundation, closed the Seagram Museum in Waterloo, Ontario on March 29 of
this year, laying off staff, selling the building and having to reach a
decision as to how they would disperse of their international collection
related to wines, spirits and distillation.  (The latter decisions were made
more than a month ago, so if you missed out, it's too late.)

The ultimate insult in all of this matter was that the Seagram Corporation
had entered into an agreement with Cineplex Odeon to renovate and add-on to
the Seagram Museum building (the original 1857 Seagram distillery which
underwent a $5 million restoration in the early 1980s) all to create a
cineplex of six movie theatres.  To many of us, it seemed bad enough that
the museum was being closed and our colleagues were being laid off, but to
turn the place into movie theatres!  Aargh!

In last night's paper, it was reported that the Cineplex Odeon deal has
fallen through. And the City of Waterloo has agreed to buy the entire
Seagram property including the now former museum building for an undisclosed
price.  The City has also entered into an agreement with computer software
developed Waterloo Maple Inc. to lease the museum building as its worldwide
headquarters.

What was more interesting in the news report is the following: "the company
will add some office space in the huge interior of the Seagram building,
compatible with the existing architecture.  But virtually everything will be
retained on the inside and outside to preserve its historic character.  And
a portion of the building will be used to display some of the museum
artifacts donated to the city [when the museum closed] and be open to the
public."

Indeed, the City of Waterloo was one of the beneficiaries of the Seagram
Museum closing, having been given the artifacts that relate to the Seagram
family and the Seagram distilling operation in Waterloo (as opposed to those
artifacts related to Seagram's worldwide operation).  The City has not made
any comment (previously or in light of the current developments) as to how
they intend to manage these artifacts.  The City does not operate any other
museums and employ no curatorial staff.

Stay tuned!



Thomas A. Reitz
Manager/Curator
Doon Heritage Crossroads
R.R. #2
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2G 3W5

Telephone:  519-748-1439 ext. 227
Fax:        519-748-0009
e-mail:     [log in to unmask]
http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/doon/