As a concerned resident of Dundas 
and an active member of our community, I am starting this petition to: 
Save, Restore and Preserve the historical building, 
2 Hatt Street in Dundas. 
This is the oldest building in Dundas and one of the oldest in
the new/amalgamated City of Hamilton. 

This tangible piece of our history was built between 1799 and 1805 by Richard Hatt for his Dundas Mills. In 1814 it became the first Post Office for the area, and in fact, the first one established west of York (Toronto). Over the years it has been a blacksmith shop, R. Folkes Lighting business, and a private residence. 

The latest owners, who reside in Chesley Quebec, have left this structure abandoned and unattended for many years, our heritage building has been neglected and left in terrible condition. 

The heritage assessment observed that, while the south wall has bowed somewhat, it is stable. It has been like this since 1960. The building is structurally sound, but its exterior has not been maintained. The overgrown, invasive trees and shrubs surrounding the building are nearly growing out from the foundation and likely causing damage to the structure. We are uncertain about its interior condition. 

This is an important historical building for Dundas and Hamilton, and it is in desperate need of repair. 2 Hatt Street is not currently designated by the city/municipality and is therefore not protected under the Ontario Heritage Act. It is not even on Register / Hamilton Built Heritage Inventory (HBHI) that lists non-designated properties identified as being of cultural heritage value or interest. 
We need it to finally receive its heritage designation, which has been pending since 2017. 

Save our history before it’s ‘Demolished due to negligence!’. In the heart of Dundas and next to our town hall, this building could be transformed into a wonderful artist-run gallery space or tourist information Centre.
Signed are others that share the same/similar concerns.